Reports over Moving Identities
Moving Identities gives otherwise underrepresented groups the opportunity to develop their performing arts practice across Europe. The project inspires the movement of people, ideas, and perceptions, challenges norms, creates connections, and rethinks European identities.
In April 2025, there was an open call for the third and final edition of the international residency collaboration Moving Identities. The collaboration gives performing arts groups based in Denmark, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Spain, or Latvia the opportunity to offer their unique perspectives on the overarching themes:
- European identities
- Diversity
- Inclusion
One project from each country is selected for a year of residencies, seminars, mentoring programs, and cross-border collaboration in Europe.
The selected groups will have the opportunity to develop a project and an artistic vision through three paid residencies—one in their home country and two abroad at our partner venues.
They will be affiliated with local organizations abroad, where they can cultivate networks and showcase their process in worksharing sessions.
You can read the report from Moving Identities 2024-2025 here
Venue partners
Davvi – Centre for Performing Arts (NO)
UP – Udviklingsplatformen for Scenekunst (DK)
HELLERAU (DE)
Kunstplaats Vonk (BE)
Nau Ivanow (ES)
INITIUM (LV)
About Moving Identities
Moving Identities is an innovative residency program that aims to create a transformative platform for performing artists across Europe. Focusing on themes such as diversity and inclusion in relation to contemporary European identities, Moving Identities promotes collaboration, cultural exchange, and artistic exploration.
Over the course of three years, Moving Identities aims to redefine boundaries, challenge conventions, and spark conversations that resonate with audiences across the continent and beyond.
The program runs for three years in six European countries, with a group from each country selected each year via open call to be in residency in their own country and two other countries.
The goal of Moving Identities is to explore contemporary European identity from an artistic perspective and contribute to a more sustainable, diverse, and inclusive base for European independent performing arts.
Through artist exchanges in residency, the project contributes to greater diversity in European performing arts and strengthens the international networks and visibility of underrepresented artists. Moving Identities also facilitates knowledge sharing between partner institutions and promotes greater diversity among artists and themes.
Each selected group will participate in three residencies: one in their home country and two in other European countries. This provides an opportunity to develop creative practice in a European context. In each country, the artists in residence will be assigned a local host and mentor. Artists will also meet online to network and receive advice.
Over the course of the project, 72 artists will exchange between their home country and two other countries to explore contemporary European identity.
Moving Identities will explore how the performing arts connect us and contribute to a more just and united Europe. Moving Identities gives artists the opportunity to develop a project idea and artistic vision through three paid residencies. Moving Identities focuses on sustainability and will prioritize slow travel, e.g., by train, as much as possible.
Experts and mentors
UP is the initiator and leading partner of Moving Identities. To enhance the project's professionalism, five advisory partners are participating in the project and helping to work towards a more sustainable and diverse culture in European performing arts.
The advisory partners are:
- CKI (Denmark)
- Sustainable Performing Arts NOW (Denmark)
- Himhearandit (Denmark)
- ITI (Germany)
- Danish Cultural Institute DCI (Estonia).
Who can apply?
Moving Identities closed for applications on April 24, 2025.
Moving Identities is for performing arts companies or groups with a strong artistic vision and/or practice related to the themes of contemporary European identities, inclusion, and diversity.
All members of the company/group must be residents of the country from which they are applying and have a valid work permit.
Artists who are underrepresented in the performing arts in Europe will be given priority.
How does it work? How long are the stays? What should we consider?
Selected groups will have the opportunity to work intensively on a project for one year. In your application, you describe the idea and the project, elaborating on your perspective and angle on the program's overall themes: European identities, diversity, and inclusion.
During the year, you will be in residency at three locations in Europe—each time for just under two weeks. One of the stays will be in your home country, the other two abroad. In each case, you will be assigned a local host and mentor. The stays are paid.
The new groups in Moving Identities 2025-2026 will be announced in August 2025.
Follow Moving Identities
Find the homepage for Moving Identities here
Sign up for the Moving Identities newsletter here
Follow on Instagram here
Supported by
