Next Stage will support innovation in the opera and dance sectors by investing in transformative projects in Sustainability, Equality and Digital Transformation.
Next Stage is an intensive partnership between Opera Europa and FEDORA, the European Circle of Philanthropists of Opera and Ballet. FEDORA has already built a successful European platform around its annual prizes which encourage and support innovation in the fields of Opera, Ballet, Educational and Digital. FEDORA will coordinate the fundraising effort from public and private sources, working closely with Opera Europa as the expert partner, alongside specialists in the fields of Sustainability, Equality and Digital Transformation.
Following the launch of Next Stage at Opera Europa’s November conference with 30 interested companies, and further consultations in January, we have together assembled a diverse group of 45 companies from 17 countries who have registered their commitment towards the initiative.
Belgium - LOD Muziektheater Gent, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen Antwerp/Gent, La Monnaie/De Munt Brussels, The Airport Society
Bulgaria - Stara Zagora State Opera
Croatia - Croatian National Theatre Rijeka, Croatian National Theatre Zagreb
Czech Republic - National Theatre Brno, National Theatre Prague
Finland - Finnish National Opera & Ballet Helsinki
France - Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Opéra de Lille, Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier, Opéra national de Lyon, Opéra national de Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Paris
Germany - Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg, Staatsoper Hannover, Oper Leipzig, Theater Magdeburg, Nationaltheater Mannheim, Staatsoper Stuttgart
Greece - Greek National Opera Athens
Ireland - Irish National Opera Dublin
Italy - Fondazione Teatro alla Scala Milano, Fondazione Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Fondazione Teatro Massimo Palermo, Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Sociale di Como AsLiCo
Netherlands - Dutch National Opera & Ballet Amsterdam, World Opera Lab Amsterdam, O.Festival Rotterdam/Muziektheater Transparant (BE)
Poland - Poznań Opera
Portugal - Ópera do Castelo Lisbon
Spain - Fundación Castell de Peralada, Teatro de la Maestranza Sevilla, Teatro Real Madrid
Sweden - Royal Swedish Opera Stockholm
Switzerland - Grand Théâtre de Genève
United Kingdom - Birmingham Opera Company, Garsington Opera, Opera North Leeds, Royal Opera House Covent Garden London, Sadler’s Wells London
SUSTAINABILITY
Green initiatives increasing eco-responsibility and decreasing carbon footprint
EQUALITY
Inclusive initiatives encouraging equal access and diversity
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Efficiency gains and creative opportunities through smart tech innovation
PROJECT TIMELINE
• Spring 2021: Grant application for EU funds
• Summer 2021: Field surveys by expert partners
• End Summer 2021: Results of the Creative Europe application
• 25 October 2021: World Opera Day with official Next Stage launch
• Winter 2021: Call for projects
• Spring 2022: Announcement of selected projects
Next Stage aims to provide financial support to help boost transformation and innovation through sustainability, equality and digital transformation to build resilience within the performing arts sector.
Grants will be awarded to the organisations or groups of organisations with the most compelling projects that will help meet these objectives on, behind and beyond the stage.
The programme will start with a centralised market study in order to understand where the industry stands in the three fields.
In winter 2021 calls for applications will open for opera and dance companies to make their grant applications that will be assessed by expert committees to receive project funding.
Throughout the year the initiative will provide professional development activities as well as peer-learning and interdisciplinary best practice sharing events for professionals who are interested in developing their skills in these three areas. Opera Europa will develop dedicated forums for each strand, so that the full membership may benefit from the expertise gathered during the project.
