Inpertrain project
About the project
Innovation in the performer’s training practices – Research on individual performer training structures and methodologies
The partnership of Ladder Art Company, La Forge du Vallon and the University of Arts Târgu-Mures has designed a project to address the upskilling needs of performers at European level by co-creating a new innovative solution in performer training. This 20 month long project is to be realised in 2022-2023 with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU.
The project objectives are to address the upskilling needs through innovation in VET (vocational education and training), bridge a gap in the current VET offer in the field of Performing Arts, and boost the capacity and resilience of the Performing Arts sector.
As a result of the research programme the partners are going to make a manual, a training guide for performers with the aim of introducing an innovation in performer training. The manual is a theoretical and practical guide for an individual actor training structure. It provides performers a guideline to develop their own actor training programme, which can be done regularly and individually, in order to maintain and improve their performing skills. During the research phase, a community of practice will be implemented to provide a platform to discuss and debate the upcoming questions about the topic with a wider group. Moreover, pilot training will be organised in each participating country in order to test methods and reach the target group.
Project phases
The project consists of the following phases, which you can explore in more detail by clicking on the titles.
study and a knowledge-sharing (2024. january – march)
The first step of our project was a mapping study and a knowledge-sharing phase.
As part of this, we collaborated with organizations and individuals active in environmental protection and climate advocacy to gather insights, information, and best practices related to sustainability that could be adapted for the performing arts sector.
Using the knowledge gained during this process, the partners developed a framework for sustainable artistic creation in the field of performing arts. This framework integrates environmental considerations into the artistic process, ensuring that the creation of art takes place in a way that does not have a negative impact on the environment.
Artistic creation (2024. ápril – 2025. february)
To test and refine the model, a core group of artists from various disciplines—including theatre, dance, visual arts, and music—will be brought together to collaboratively develop the project’s artistic concept, including theatre performances and visual art exhibitions.
They will draw on insights from the previous mapping studies to ensure that each performing arts production is implemented in an environmentally conscious way.
The core group will work on the proposed artistic concepts between April and July 2024, and will participate in three-week residency periods in each partner country—August 2024, February 2025, and May 2025.
During these residencies, they will collaborate with local artists from different disciplines, such as visual arts, music, and performing arts, selected through open calls.
First residency (2024. august 3-25.)
To test and refine the model, a core artistic team composed of creators from various disciplines—including theatre, dance, visual arts, and music—will come together to work collaboratively on the project’s artistic concept, including theatrical performances and visual art exhibitions. They will draw on insights from the earlier mapping studies to ensure that each artistic production is realised in an environmentally conscious way. The core team will develop the proposed artistic content between April and July 2024 and will travel to each partner country for a three-week residency (August 2024, February 2025, and May 2025). During these residencies, they will collaborate with local artists from disciplines such as visual arts, music, and performing arts, selected through open calls.
Marofka Mátyás
Létra Produkció
Ladder Art Company is an emerging interdisciplinary cultural association based in Budapest, Hungary. They have been organising cultural events, workshops, artistic collaborations and producing theatre productions since their establishment in 2016. The purpose of the association is to encourage responsibility, consciousness, acceptance, open-mindedness, and supportive way of life through artistic projects. Their motivation in the research program is to raise the consciousness of established expertise and techniques for a new generation of actors and theatre practitioners.
The key person involved from Ladder Art Company is Mátyás Marofka, artistic director, performer, director and actor trainer, who studied different training approaches all around Europe. He has been teaching professional performers both in academic and non-formal environments. He is a researcher of individual performer training practices involving western and eastern educational approaches. He has been organising international workshops in Hungary (Theatre Master Courses, the International Theatre Workshop Forum), inviting
Mirabelle Kirkland
La Forge du Vallon
La Forge du Vallon is a residential place in France dedicated to supporting creative and artistic activities. Members have a broad knowledge of the French cultural sector. They are hosting and organising numerous creative training programmes through the years. Their goal is to host and support creative projects in the perspective of nurturing emergent practices.
Key person involved from La Forge du Vallon is Mirabelle Kirkland, who is an actor, director and screenwriter. Born in France, she trained as an actor at Northwestern University, before continuing her studies at the Cours Périmony in Paris. She held leading roles in numerous productions and national tours. Today, she has created La Forge du Vallon, an eco-village and retreat centre focussed on nurturing creativity in all of its forms.
Kozma Viktor Gábor
Marosvásárhelyi Színművészeti Egyetem
The University of Arts Târgu-Mures is currently preparing actors, puppeteers, directors, choreographers, impresarios, playwrights, theatre critics, designers, music teachers in Romanian and Hungarian. The University is also an institution that holds a theatre and a puppet theatre, which organise professional artistic performances in every season. The mission assumed by the UAT focuses on the following:
- Organising graduate studies, master and doctoral training, ensuring the improvement of creators and specialists in theatre arts, music, decorative arts at the best quality requirements of a knowledge-based society and culture;
- Promoting creative activities for teachers and students in theatre arts, musical and dramatic arts, as well as scientific research in accordance with the requirements of national and international values;
- Ensuring multicultural, multilingual and interfaith interference to carry out teaching, learning, creation and research
On behalf of the University, the key person involved is Gábor Viktor Kozma. Actor, Coach, Teaching Assistant at UBB Cluj, Co-Artistic Director of the Chance of the Hunter, Gábor has graduated with his master degree (as an actor and pedagogue) and received his PhD at University of Arts Târgu-Mures. He is a teacher of Tadashi Suzuki’s technique as well as the Viewpoints approach developed by SITI Company. He has been leading workshops for professional performers in Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Spain. As a trainer he conducts workshops from 2016 for professional and non-professional performers in Hungary and abroad. He had a scholarship position at the Hungarian Academy of Arts between 2018-2021. Recently he received an alumni scholarship from the institution. Gábor focuses his research on analysing actor training structures and the logic behind the different methods. He teaches acting, movement and improvisation at university level.
Project outcomes
Manual
Here you can download the outcome of the Project, the InPerTrain Manual – Towards An Individual Performer Training.
Facebook group
You can join the Facebook community of the InPerTrain research program at the following link: www.facebook.com/groups/inpertrain/
You will be up to date with the research, pilot training and you can also express your opinion concerning the discussed topics.
Food (3 times a day) and accommodation in shared rooms are supported by the project for all participants.
