During Dance Umbrella Festival 2025, we were joined by five artists from across Europe as part of the Visiting Artist Programme.
Visiting Artists and some of the Dance Umbrella Team at Somerset House
Visiting Aritists at the Barbican
With 23 partners in 22 countries across Europe, the Visiting Artist Programme is a collaborative project aimed at stimulating artistic development, creative exchange and valuable networking.
Having started as an initiative by the Big Pulse Dance Alliance, the Visiting Artist Programme quickly gained momentum and interest from partners and artists alike. This success led to the programme being awarded its own Creative Europe funding for a 2-year project.
The artists who travelled to Dance Umbrella were Yana Reutova (Czechia), Elinor Tollerz Bratteby (Sweden), Kara Hergils (Iceland), Khamlane Halsackda (Sweden) and Kimiko Terada who joined the VAP via an overseas performing arts coordinator training programme, supported by Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan.
Thursday 9 October
Touring Somerset House
During their time here in London, the group took part in a number of activities, starting with a tour of Somerset House (DU’s base) and a chance to chat Emma Hannon, Somerset House’s Head of Studios.
The group then travelled to the Barbican where they met with producer Jill Shelley. They then had the opportunity to look around the iconic venue before attending Change Tempo in the Pit Theatre.
Checking out the Barbican theatre
Friday 10 October
The artists and DU team at Battersea Arts Centre
The following day, the group met back at Somerset House where they had a chance to share and exchange on their work and practices.
They then travelled to Battersea Arts Centre where they met with Pelin Barsan, Head of Programmes for the venue, before attending the Arts & Class panel discussion. They then had the chance to see Dan Daw’s newest creation EXXY in the venue’s main space.
Saturday 11 October
On Saturday, the artists were given a tour of one of London’s newest venues – Sadler’s Wells East. Whilst there, they attended Studio Sessions where they were given the chance to see works in progress and presentations by Bullyache, Lost Dog, Sung Im Her, Yinka Esi Graves & Poliana Lima, Becky Namgauds and Jean Abreu.
They then travelled to Shakespeare’s Globe for Ben Duke’s Artist Encounters which took place in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
The Visiting Artists at Studio Sessions, credit Rocio Chacon
Sunday 12 October
The final day included a trip back to the Barbican for Dance Umbrella Film Screening: Sunday Shorts, a curated film programme with a focus on artists from Taiwan.
Freddie Opoku-Addaie and the Visiting Artists on Waterloo Bridge
For more information on the Visiting Artist Programme, visit visitingartistprogramme.eu