Annual planning
WIPCOOP is a year-round development course that takes place in various phases
January-April = Kick-Off of the new edition
In each city, WIPCOOP’s local partner organisations meet to discuss which artists want to take part in the next Work In Progress. These may be artists who have come to MAP themselves, or who are tipped off by partner organisations because they are brooding on an idea.
MAP will meet with the artists to get acquainted and to check expectations and needs.
If you would like to participate, please let us know before March:
tine@mestizoartsplatform.be or mulanga@mestizoartsplatform.be
During the partner meetings, we also discuss the processes of artists who have previously participated in WIP: Where do they stand today, and what is still a need for who…?
May = Introductory meeting
Per city, we meet with all artists for the first time during a WIPCOOP COMMUNITY moment. This way we already get to know each other and see how the collaboration will proceed.
May– September = Preparations
MAP follows up on the involved artists and their progress towards the Work In Progress: How is the rehearsal process going, what about the technical rider, planning and communications, how can one prepare oneself for feedback sessions,…?
September-December = Work In Progress presentations
Work In Progress days in Leuven/Mechelen, Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent! Accordingly, in an evening programme, you can see many finished performances – #WIPCOOPPLAYS – by artists from previous WIP editions.
After that = To be continued
Together with the involved artists and organizations, MAP discusses further steps and follows up on them. We keep everyone up to date with #WIPCOOPSESSIONS, #WIPCOOPPLAYS and #WIPCOOPFRIENDS.
To support the artists in various phases of their work, WIPCOOP, in cooperation with a few specific organizations, offers other impulses:
#LET’S TALK ABOUT
Artists and organisations engage in discussions on certain themes, such as ‘creating for young audiences’. For instance, every year during and together with Het Theaterfestival in September, there is also a group workshop on:
- dealing with feedback as an artist
- how to prepare for this
- how to organise this yourself
- how to pitch your project, talk about your artistry,
- …
#SESSIONS
Showcase moments from artists who previously participated in a WIP edition. This allows them to try out the next stage of their unfinished creation in front of a targeted audience (often with discussion afterwards). This is done in collaboration with partners.
#RESIDENCIES
Artists are given space, time and resources to work, research, create, … This too starts from the right match and based on each individual’s trajectory with partner organisations.
#PLAYS
Try-outs or premieres of finalised performances from a previous WIP edition. We gladly give these a place in one of the theatres of the network of partners. We also boost other play dates by communicating them along.
#PROSPECTION
In January we organize a programmers day.
Several artists show their creation in full or reduced form for programmers and we pitch other performances that are touring. Each piece will be followed by a short aftertalk. A nice first stepping stone for artists to perform at cultural arts centres and festivals. We do this in cooperation with Theatre Agency Thassos.
