ETC is the largest network of publicly-funded theatres in Europe, with 70 members in 33 countries. We organise a wide range of activities to create brilliant new theatre, support and develop people working in theatre, and fight for the European theatre sector in a political context.
These activities are open to a combination of member theatres, theatre workers, artists across the continent and audiences interested in theatre.
ETC History and Values
Founded in 1988, the ETC promotes European theatre as a vital platform for dialogue, democracy and interaction that responds to, reflects and engages with today’s diverse audiences and changing societies.
ETC fosters an inclusive notion of theatre that brings Europe’s social, linguistic and cultural heritage to audiences and communities in Europe and beyond. Powerful and professional ETC governance ensures that the network will thrive and grow, taking into consideration the latest trends and developments.
The ETC’s current three-year programme of activities, "TRANSFORMATIONS - Recharging European Theatres and Audiences in a Post-Covid World", offers our Member Theatres many opportunities and project possibilities. This comprehensive, groundbreaking programme is supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
These are activities to bring people together to create or exchange about artistic work.
These include:
- Young Europe IV, a major cross-border theatre project for young people
- ETC International Theatre Conferences, bi-annual meetings to exchange ideas and network
- Artists in Residence Programme for emerging artists
- Staff Exchange
- Women Directors Networking Group
- See the full list
These activities are workshops, mentoring programmes and monthly meetups.
These include:
- Webinars & Workshops on key themes ranging from sustainability, to diversity and gender equality, to digital
- Alumni Network, a community of artists of the future
- Self-Monitoring Tools, of provide practical guidance for European Theatres
- See the full list
These are activities to strengthen and support the European theatre sector in a political context.
These include:
- Lobbying for Theatre, regular dialogue and exchange with EU policy makers
- Policy Recommendations, distilling learning from activities on digital theatre, youth theatre, participatory theatre and diversity and gender equality
- Research, by academics on key themes conducted across our 26 member countries
- See the full list
European Theatre: BREAK THE MOULD
Our name for the entire programme of activities is 'European Theatre: Break the Mould'. We are delighted that ETC has been selected to deliver this work as one of the European cultural networks, in a long-term partnership with the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Publications
ETC produces regular magazines, interviews and feature articles with leading figures from the European theatre scene. These can be read individually or downloaded as an entire publication.
Past Activities
ETC has spent decades making challenging and exciting new theatre. Explore previous high-profile projects:
Our Values
Read our Statutes, Our Charter, and the ETC Code of Conduct
ETC Statutes
DownloadETC Charter
DownloadETC Code of Conduct
DownloadMember Feedback
"Uncomplicated, personal and down to earth."
"Very active and productive. It is not a 'travel agency' as with some other organisations, but always comes with very interesting projects...I like the variety (green theatre, PR activities, playwriting"
Anonymous reflections from our member theatres about what they value from ETC membership, made during evaluation sesssions in January and February 2021.
Watch a roundup of everything we achieved - and experimented with - over our last funding round, from 2017-2021!
Video by Marijana Verhoef and Jan Joost Verhoef
