Past Congresses

Nicola Benedetti, world-renowned violinist and Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, delivers a provocation on the role of the performing arts in building resilience — across organizations, communities, and the international field.

How can collaboration with other sectors expand opportunities, community, and possibilities for the performing arts? What are successful examples of cross-sector collaboration, and how are they mutually beneficial? While commercial opportunities may generate new revenue, how do we balance them with mission?

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera, and Eugene Downes, Cultural Director of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, engage in a candid conversation on leading major arts institutions through periods of profound uncertainty and geopolitical instability.

An industry forum examining the rapidly evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and the performing arts — from how AI is being used in creation, curation, and administration, to the ethical questions it raises for our field.

Geopolitical unrest, conflict, and economic volatility continue to affect artists and organizations. Yet the arts remain a potent source of resilience, awareness, and community.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Art can raise awareness about important issues, create a sense of community, and give people a voice. In this final session we'll explore current programs through which the arts create change and offer new perspectives.

Leadership models are changing from a traditional hierarchical structure to ones that encourage greater participation. During this discussion we will explore an artist-centered leadership model as well as hear perspectives and examples from different regions and contexts.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

A regional update from the Middle East and North Africa, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in the region and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

Alex Sarian opens the congress with a provocation on creative leadership — what it means to lead arts organizations with creativity at the center, and how that changes the relationship between institutions and the communities they serve.

Australian cultural leader, and Perth ISPA Thinker-in-Residence, Wesley Enoch will deliver a provocation on the congress theme and what's on his mind when he thinks about the breakthroughs we've seen and are yet to see in the performing arts. Over his 30 year career in the performing arts, Iain Grandage has become one of Australia's most highly regarded collaborative artists. Recently completing his five year tenure as Artistic Director of Perth Festival, in his keynote address, Iain will provide his perspectives on artistic programming and the role of the arts in reflecting the world back to itself, in a time where we've never needed it more, and simultaneously meeting the audience where they are at in a complex and difficult world.

With great leadership comes great breakthroughs. Navigating the deeply challenging contexts of recent years, this panel will platform their brave examples of transformation, embedding sustainability, equity, and access as the prevailing goals, and the creative and cultural breakthroughs that have emerged.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Chief Artistic Officer at the Kennedy Center, delivers a searing and poetic provocation on the gaps that exist within the performing arts sector itself — and what it means to truly bridge them.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Across much of the world, audience attendance has decreased significantly due to various factors like aging demographics, changing culture, and shifting audience habits. This session will explore strategies for audience recovery and growth through programming, outreach, and improved experiences.

A performance by the Villalobos Brothers, the acclaimed Mexican-American string trio, bridging musical traditions across cultures and generations in a celebration of ISPA's 75th anniversary.

The ISPA Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who have made exceptional contributions to the global performing arts. This year's ceremony, held at the 75th anniversary congress, honored an extraordinary group of honorees.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

A performance by Ladies of Midnight Blue, a Manchester-based collective whose work spans music, storytelling, and community arts — an embodiment of the congress theme of co-creation rooted in place.

International conflicts continue unabated around the world. There are many examples of arts projects that move to address these conflicts and/or raise awareness about those who are impacted. In what ways are these projects effective, and do they address underlying sources of conflict? Can the arts co-create and promote healing and resolution?

Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Towns movement and author of "From What Is to What If," delivers the closing keynote — a call to imagine boldly and co-create a future for the arts rooted in community, creativity, and hope.

Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, Director General of the National Art and Culture Museum Complex "Mystetskyi Arsenal" in Ukraine, delivers the opening keynote — a powerful call to address urgent challenges facing the global performing arts sector and honor the commitments made in previous years.

During recent years, many inequalities in the performing arts have been identified, along with the urgent need for systemic change. As the sector reopens, how are we honoring those commitments and ensuring equity and cultural safety?

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Opening welcome from congress hosts marking the start of the 2022 ISPA mid-year congress in Hong Kong.

A regional update from Thailand, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in Southeast Asia and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

The ISPA Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made exceptional contributions to the global performing arts. Honored at this congress: Winsome Chow (Merit Award), Shen Wei (Distinguished Artist Award), Tseng Sun Man (Angel Award), and Yan Huichang (Distinguished Artist Award).

Post-COVID-19 trauma is a challenge to audiences as they return to public spaces and performing arts venues. Veteran arts leaders will delve into the value of arts and healing and share their insights in highlighting the potential of the arts as a powerful vehicle for (re)connecting the local community and the world. What is the social role of the arts and how has it deepened the shared experience of local communities in recent years? Speakers share their expertise in arts programs that have successfully built community-wide rapport.

ISPA Distinguished Artist Award recipient Shen Wei delivers the closing keynote, reflecting on creativity, connection, and the power of the performing arts to bridge cultures and communities.

How can we think about the future today? Marina Gorbis of the Institute for the Future speaks to delegates about how to envision a new landscape, followed by an exploration of the assumptions that the arts are inherently good, the democratization of power and how it can be redistributed within the arts, our communities, and society.

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Governments, arts councils, associations, and other groups can all play a critical role in reshaping the sector in response to the pandemic and its impact. What can and should be achieved? How can we learn from mistakes?

Today the reality of climate change, government focus on domestic agenda, travel restrictions and economic uncertainty have changed the face of international relationships. How should we move forward to counter the rise of insularity and ensure meaningful cultural exchange?

A new tri-national collaboration between Kenya, the UAE, and USA speaks to the many issues artists and presenters are considering right now — innovative uses of technology in the developing world, minimizing the carbon footprint, creating equitable partnerships, and opportunities for cross-cultural exchange.

A performance by Caleb Teicher and Nic Gareiss, two of America's most inventive percussive dance artists, bringing virtuosity and joy to the congress floor.

When it comes to innovation, looking into what happens in other sectors can contribute to new insights. The hospitality, travel, and sports sectors were all impacted to greater or lesser degrees than the arts — this session explores how other sectors met the challenges and seized the opportunities.

A video invitation to the upcoming Hong Kong mid-year congress, showcasing the city's arts scene and making the case for gathering in Asia for the first time since the pandemic.

The ISPA Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made exceptional contributions to the global performing arts. This year's honorees were Jack Charles (Australia) and Carmen Romero Quero (Chile).

A regional update from France, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in Western Europe and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

A regional update from Lebanon, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in the Middle East and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

A regional update from Singapore, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in Southeast Asia and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

A regional update from South Africa, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in sub-Saharan Africa and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

A regional update from Australia, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in the Asia-Pacific and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

The arts often serve as a lightning rod to discuss social issues, the concept of entitlement, and a vision of justice. Yet, in the past few years, there has never been more examples of abuse of power and privilege in our industry. Where have the arts begun to address these underlying and prominent global social issues? What can we learn from those who have moved from commitment to new forms of leadership and practice?

A regional update from Russia, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in Eastern Europe and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

A regional update from Hong Kong, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in East Asia and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

Increasingly other sectors are embracing performance as a tool to enhance learning, messaging, and understanding. Libraries, museums, social justice organizations, and indeed brands are seeing performance as an opportunity to become more relevant. What is this intrinsic power of the arts and how are we leveraging it to expand our impact and reach?

Artists and companies from around the world pitch their new works to an audience of international presenters, producers, and arts leaders. One of ISPA's signature events, Pitch New Works is a fast-paced showcase of emerging creative work seeking international partners.

Yaron Lifschitz, Artistic Director of Circa, delivers a provocation on imagination, risk, and the borders we place around what art can be — and what happens when we refuse to accept them.

Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O'Farrill performs, bringing together Afro-Latin jazz traditions in a performance that embodies the congress theme of crossing borders through art.

A performance by Candoco Dance Company, the acclaimed integrated dance company whose work with disabled and non-disabled artists embodies a vision of arts that is truly inclusive.

The time for talk is past. The time for action is now. What can we as leaders do to affect positive change in our organizations, our communities, and our lives? While there have been many affirmative steps, how do we change a global culture of inequity? Each of us has a role to play in determining a shared future justice.

A regional update from Zambia, offering delegates a view of the performing arts landscape in southern Africa and the opportunities and challenges facing arts organizations in the region.

Lee-Ann Buckskin delivers a powerful provocation on the future of First Nations arts in Australia and globally, challenging delegates to consider whose transitions matter and who gets to lead them.

One of the biggest responsibilities and challenges of every curator is building a connection with artists, audiences and local communities based on trust. The ideal situation and the aim of every programmer is to be able to introduce cutting edge projects or unknown artists. Is this possible? How do we deal with the long term process of trust building?

Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director of Graeae Theatre Company, delivers a provocation on disability, leadership, and what truly balanced arts leadership looks like when it includes everyone.

A performance by Flor de Toloache, New York City's first all-female mariachi band, blending traditional Mexican musical heritage with contemporary artistry in a joyful celebration of culture and community.