Abstract

2014-2018 / 2018-2022

Be SpectACTive! was a set of two pan-European projects co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union for the first time in 2014, and again in 2018.

Its 19 partners operated to “give the audience a decision-making role providing people with individual responsibilities, within a common space of creation”. Be SpectACTive! participatory practices, to involve citizens and spectators in creative and organisational processes. It encompassed the creation of opportunities for community groups and audiences to shape the programming of cultural venues, resulting in the selection of approximately 350 shows by 50 groups of active spectators over Europe, the production of 15 new theatre and dance shows, and involved 8 local communities in the European Art Commissioners project, which fosters direct interaction between artists and communities, encouraging meaningful dialogue that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Goals

Be SpectACTive! aimed at: facilitating connections among local audience groups and encouraging participation in audience development activities; fostering direct interaction between artists and communities; experimenting with research methods to assess the impacts on audiences, artists and organisations; researching and advocating for the role of cultural participation in fostering democracy.