The Producers' Academy is a dedicated time to reflect, think, co-learn, encounter, and question the practice of the producer. With open minds and open hearts, integrity and fun, this four-day seminar delves into the current urgencies and issues around producing work and being a producer. It also takes place during Kunstenfestivaldesarts, an international performing arts festival in Brussels.

A focus on producing participatory projects and/or contextualized work

In 2026, the Producers' Academy will focus on practices of producing participatory projects and/or contextualized work.

Facilitated by curator and dramaturg Bek Berger (DE), these four days will be dedicated to tackling some of the ethical questions linked with participation and public space, enlightened by the perspective of producers Rita Serra e Silva (PT) and Rita Westwood (PT). We will also learn methodologies to support collaborative work within projects, such as Action Learning with Rachel Nelken (UK) and Delia Barker (UK).

The different subjects will be explored while talking, listening, walking or playing, using the expertise of inspirational guests and the knowledge within the room.

Programme

Getting to know you - Bek Berger

Through several warming up exercices our facilitator Bek Berger will help everyone to get to know each other.

How to build an artistic progamme today? - Daniel Blanga-Gubbay

Reflecting on his experience, Daniel will raise the questions “How to build an artistic program today?”, “How to work within an institution with a history and bring it elsewhere?”.

Introduction to Action Learning - Rachel Nelken & Delia Barker

An opportunity to get to know each other and work together on reflective problem-solving!

The session, run by experienced facilitators Rachel Nelken and Delia Barker will include an extended introduction exercise and then the chance to try Action Learning.

Action Learning is a formal process where one person in a group will present a challenge (personal/professional) they are facing. The group (called a ‘set’) helps them to find solutions via ‘actions’ that they can take away. The set can only ask ‘open questions’ to support the presenter to find their own solutions. The set works together to ask questions which will help open the presenter’s thinking. There is no two-way conversation, no talking about our own experience and importantly, no giving of advice. This unusually reflective opportunity provides time and space for the presenter to come up with new options or ideas. It is a disruption from normal dialogue and the way we generally interact with each other. The process can lead to real ‘lightbulb moments’. Participants generally leave an Action Learning set feeling uplifted having connected with each other at a deep level.

There will be the chance for 2 producers to present any challenge they are currently facing professionally and work on it with the group, so do have a think if you would like to take advantage of this great opportunity!

reciprocities of doing: being with/for in (participatory) art projects - Rita Serra e Silva & Rita Westwood

Focusing on 'reciprocity' as a means of sustaining projects and relationships, Rita & Rita invite you to consider how to nurture collaborations, acknowledging the producer's role in 'bringing into being or existence'. Drawing on their experience of participatory artistic and cultural projects in areas of low and medium cultural density and low audience engagement in contemporary artistic practices, Rita & Rita will share their practices. As always, when 'doing with/for' as producers, body and space weave this session.

Decolonial Tour - Collectif Mémoire Coloniale et Lutte Contre les Discriminations

MCLCD organises tours in Brussels and its surroundings to inform the public about the construction of a decolonial citizen’s conscience through history, the cultural values of Africa and by occupying public space. We will tour the area around Beursschouwburg on foot and learn more about Belgium’s colonial history.

Free session - Group

We have left this session free, to give the group some wiggle room but also to go with the flow on what the group’s desires and needs are. This session could be another moment to connect with your peers, to invite somebody to come and share their knowledge, to share an artistic practice... You name it!

Commitments and celebrations - Bek Berger

A moment to make new commitments concerning your practice as a producer and to celebrate your achievements to end the seminar.

Speakers

Bek Berger

Bek Berger is an artist, curator, and dramaturg originally from Australia, now based in Berlin. Her practice blends curiosity and innovation, creating new models of connection, collaboration, and reciprocity between artists and communities. Recent highlights include co-developing a new tarot deck with Gob Squad (DE) for their 30th anniversary, creating a new project for Belgrade Pride with Petr Dlouhý (CZ) at Heartefact, and collaborating with James Batchelor on a multi-generational dance piece spanning Australia and Berlin.

From 2020 to 2024, Bek served as the curator of the International Festival of Contemporary Theatre, Homo Novus, in Riga, Latvia, where she initiated a range of international collaborations, including Baltic Take Over Helsinki (LV, LT, EE, FI), The Shake Down with Rosendal Theatre (LV, NO), and The Festivals Path with ANTI Festival (LV, FI). Since 2017, she has worked as dramaturg with dance artist James Batchelor, premiering four works and touring globally to renowned contexts such as Centre Pompidou (FR), Tanz im August (DE), Dance Massive (AU), Spring Forward/Aerowaves 19, and ImPulsTanz (AT).

Bek currently serves on the board of IETM and, in 2020, was awarded the Australia Council HIAP Residency. She was also granted the Kone Foundation SARRI Residency in Mynämäki, Finland, for 2023 and 2025.

Bek is currently focused on exploring the magic of togetherness, fostering new conditions for collective creation, and improving the performing arts through pleasure-centered design. Her expertise lies at the intersection of festival curation, dance dramaturgy, and karaoke.

Daniel Blanga Gubbay

Daniel Blanga Gubbay is a Brussels-based performing art curator and researcher. Since 2018 he serves as artistic co-director of the Kunstenfestivaldesarts. He has worked as an educator and independent curator in performance and public programs, among which: The Telepathic School (Ural Biennale, Yekaterinburg 2021), Yogurt and Other Spaces of Labour (Ashkal Alwan, Beirut 2021, together with Zeynep Öz), Four Rooms (2020), Sonic Dawn (Homo Novus, Riga 2019), Can Nature Revolt? (Manifesta, Palermo 2018), The School of Exceptions (Santarcangelo, 2016).

Rachel Nelken

Rachel Nelken - CEO Raw Material Music and Media, freelance facilitator and consultant - Rachel’s 20+ years in the London creative sector have included work with many high-profile and grassroots arts organisations designing, developing, and running creative programmes for communities, developing artists, producing events and shows, and working with strategic music funders. Senior roles include Head of Creative Programmes at The Albany theatre in Deptford from 2017-2019, and Senior Producer at Camden’s Roundhouse in 2013-2017.

As CEO for NPO Raw Material Music and Media, Rachel has redefined and grown the Brixton based charity, in the heart of London’s most diverse communities. She has developed new representative and reflective governance, collective leadership and cultural democracy structures, raising over £3m towards the programme and building development. Rachel is also a parent to 2 lively and opinionated teenagers. She is passionate about the creative arts and is a keen cellist and musical facilitator.

Delia Barker

Delia Barker leads Brixton House, a lively cultural venue in South London, drawing on a wealth of experience from senior creative roles. Previously, she partnered with major players like BT and NHS England on culture change and diversity and equity initiatives at Deeds and Words. At The Roundhouse, she focused on music, performance and engaging young people, enriching the lives of thousands aged 11-25.

Delia's experience spans arts institutions like the English National Ballet School and Phoenix Dance Theatre and is always interested in supporting the development of individuals and organisations. She regularly delivers mentoring sessions and public speaking engagements across a few sectors as well as facilitating executive and board awaydays. She's also passionate about fundraising for Dementia UK and still enjoys social dancing whenever time permits.

Rita Serra e Silva

Rita Serra e Silva (1991, she/her) is an artist, spatial researcher and cultural mediator. She specialises in creating collective experiences that foster territorial literacy. Since 2017, she has been responsible for the design, coordination and monitoring of artistic and cultural projects, working across production, programming, mediation and consulting in both local and international contexts. Her artistic practice encompasses participatory art, spatial literacy and collective walks, developing embodied methodologies that connect body, territory and community. Shaped by an itinerant life path and an architectural background, Rita's practice-based research explores how we relate to the places we inhabit and how a sense of belonging is formed through shared experience.

Rita Westwood

Rita Westwood (1983, she/her) is a transdisciplinary artist-researcher who explores art and pedagogy. She works with material objects in self-publishing, collage and visual landscapes, as well as with her material body in performance and movement research. Completing a master's in Gender Studies reinforced her belief in art as a transformative societal tool. Her research interests revolve around exploring, practicing and imagining alternative methods of generating knowledge within and beyond academia, fostering a dialogue between the body and art. Her work centers on vindicating pleasure, agency and the micropolitics of bodies under colonial-capitalist domination. #1 pós-silêncio pré-apocalíptico is her first participatory performance-installation about silencing and oppression. It is touring in Aba Yala (South America) and Europe.

Rita & Rita

Rita & Rita met in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, on São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal). It was there that they began to collaborate by imagining and putting into practice a politics of being with. Together, their work revolves around proximity and reciprocity, proposing participatory and collaborative art projects that grow from the territory's specificities and its inhabitants, creatively enhancing the existing strengths.

Conditions

Criteria of eligibility

• Special focus and priority to producers* who are working in/with public space and/or participatory projects
• Open to producers/cultural entrepreneurs who have developed or are in the process of developing innovative way(s) to support creation in an international dimension and/or with a trans-sectorial approach (decolonisation, feminism, fair practices, climate change, accessibility, etc.)
• Producers from all nationalities
• At least five years of experience as a producer in the performing arts** sector
• Language: English

* Producers: supervise, support, follow an artist or a collective/company.
**Performing arts: except opera and music-only related projects.

If you have any question regarding your eligibility, please get in touch with Beth Gordon: beth@cifas.be

Conditions

Participation is free of charge (Programme includes lunch + two performances at KFDA).

We do not cover travel and accommodation*. We can send official invitation letters to those who wish to activate ways to support their participation costs.

Our partner On the Move can provide advice and guidance about available mobility support programmes.

* Travel support can be considered on an exceptional basis, see below.

Bursaries

Cifas offers a limited number of travel grants to support producers from countries where little or no financial support is available for international mobility.

Applications

Deadline to apply: 3 February 2026, midnight CET

Applications are now closed.