EC Europa
EU2020 Deutschland
European Theatre Forum logo
11–13 November 2020
Read the Dresden Declaration

The “European Theatre Forum 2020: European Performing Arts in Focus” is an international platform for vision, discourse, exchange, networking and policymaking to strategically strengthen the structurally highly fragmented European theatre and performing arts sector.

The "European Theatre Forum 2020: European Performing Arts in Focus" was organised in the frame of the German EU Council Presidency and in cooperation with the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media and the European Commission. It offered, for the first time, a European representation for the entire sector as one of Europe’s major art forms, within and outside Europe. In focus: Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the performing arts and perspectives for the sector.

The recordings from the live-streamed sessions are now available to watch: view them here.

Objectives of the European Theatre Forum

The aim of the "European Theatre Forum 2020: European Performing Arts in Focus" is to make visible and promote the outstanding importance of theatre in Europe with its diversity of performance forms, across language barriers, both as an art form and an important public space for cultural-political dialogue. It establishes a creative dialogue process within the sector and with policymakers through partnership and international collaboration.

To strengthen the European theatre sector through international networking and policy dialogue.

To address the issues and implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for European performing arts.

To connect the European and national performing arts and theatre scenes.

Initiative Group

European Theatre Convention, Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste and International Theatre Institute – German Centre are the initiative group for a European Theatre Forum, in the frame of the German EU Council Presidency, in cooperation with the German Minister of State for Culture and Media and the European Commission.

Funding Partners

The European Theatre Forum 2020: European Performing Arts in Focus is funded by the German Minister of State for Culture and Media in the frame of the German EU Council Presidency, the European Commission and European Theatre Convention.