IETM - Glasgow

IETM is an extraordinary meeting of theatre and live performance makers and presenters from across Europe and beyond. The rain lashed down on Glasgow, 4th-7th November, people discussed and argued, did deals and saw a wonderful programme of Scottish theatre. This meeting is not really a place to be pitching Biding Time but as I carry the project around with me and try to find suitable international fits, I am continually exploring the theatre context that I am responding to and the future I want to help create. IETM are setting a new agenda for their next three year plan and want to be more outward looking, campaigning for the importance of the arts. And of course I agree that the arts are vital but I am also sure that the reason many people in our communities are not championing this cause is because it has not been vital to them. We, the artists and producers, have to accept some responsibility for our failure. I went to a fascinating session on gender, a working group on Asian Creative Producers (although it was quickly decided that creative producers are a western/European construct), met some wonderful new people and chewed the fat with old friends. I look forward to the next meeting in April in Stockholm.