In August approximately 140 outdoor arts professionals from the UK and further afield descended on the North East of England for the XTRAX International Showcase event, as part of the 32nd Stockton International Riverside Festival 2019 (SIRF).
A packed programme consisting of over 40 companies performed all over Stockton from Thursday 1st of August until Sunday 4th, entertaining crowds in their thousands. 14 international shows from France, Spain, South Korea, Finland, Switzerland and Belgium showcased the fantastic diversity of this sector, complimenting an incredible 27 UK-based shows, of which 14 are new-for-2019 shows supported by Without Walls, highlighting the current strength of UK work to audiences and our international delegates.
15 countries were represented by 30 delegates, including colleagues from Belgium, China, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea and Spain. These were joined by 110 delegates representing artistic companies, festivals and key organisations from across the UK to take part in the XTRAX International Showcase events. These events are designed to encourage connections, collaborations and as a platform for artists to present new work and ideas. The events included:
- An Introduction to East Asian Outdoor Arts Panel Discussion with delegates from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Korea supported by Asia-Europe Foundation and Department for International Trade
- XTRAX Shorts – pitches from artists about new work in development
- A Discussion on creating dance work for outdoor contexts
We want to say a huge thank you to all delegates who attended over the weekend to exchange news and ideas, catch up with old friends and make new connections. Another huge thank you goes to all the staff at the ARC Stockton, who hosted our events all weekend and made us feel very welcome. Last but not least well done to the SIRF team for delivering a truly amazing event!
We would like to invite you to join us at our next XTRAX International Showcase taking place at Freedom Festival in Hull, between 30th August and 1st September 2019. This is our second year partnering with this distinctive festival, unique in its exploration of Freedom and themes such as democracy, equality and protest through its programme of performances, talks, seminars and lectures on international human rights. Join us in celebrating the breadth of diversity of UK street art festivals and carry on the conversation, make new connections and engage with the high-quality professional programme.
To register for a free space on the XTRAX / Freedom Festival Showcase click here