IETM Global Pod

IETM

After welcoming 10 new Global Connectors into IETM at the beginning of 2026, five IETM members hosted a series of conversations with them to get to know more about them and their values, as well as the ways their work shapes both their local communities and international collaborations. The result? A brand-new podcast series! Introducing IETM Global Pod, where across five episodes we bring together two Global Connectors in dialogue. For professionals from across the globe, this is your opportunity to discover new perspectives, new ideas and potential new collaborators!

Episodes

  1. Working with indigenous artistic communities, how to support, advocate for them and disseminate their knowledge

    Jun 11

    Working with indigenous artistic communities, how to support, advocate for them and disseminate their knowledge

    In this episode of IETM Global Pod, moderator Gulli Sekse is joined by Global Connectors Andreia Duarte (Brazil) and Louise Gallagher (Aotearoa New Zealand) for an important conversation about working with Indigenous artistic communities, supporting Indigenous-led artistic practice, and rethinking collaboration through decolonial perspectives. Together, they explore how Indigenous knowledge systems, languages, cosmologies, and artistic practices challenge institutional structures and offer new ways of understanding community, ecology, identity, and collective responsibility. GuestsGulli Sekse (Norway) Founder of Vertica, a platform for dramaturgy, artistic strategy, and distribution based in Bergen, Norway. Gulli works internationally across performing arts collaboration and artistic development. Andreia Duarte (Brazil) Art director, curator, actress, and researcher based in São Paulo. Andreia has spent more than twenty-five years collaborating with Indigenous artists, leaders, and communities across Brazil, focusing on decolonial artistic practice, ecology, embodiment, and cultural exchange. Louise Gallagher (Aotearoa New Zealand) CEO of Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ). Louise works closely with Māori and Pasifika artists, advocating for Indigenous contemporary performance practices nationally and internationally. Episode HighlightsWorking ethically with Indigenous artistic communitiesMāori contemporary performance and cultural revitalisationIndigenous artistic practices beyond Western categorisationDecolonising institutions and leadership structuresThe relationship between art, land, ecology, and collective knowledgeLanguage preservation through contemporary performanceCollaboration through listening, consultation, and shared decision-makingThe risks Indigenous artists and communities face politically and economicallyKey Discussion PointsIndigenous Knowledge & Contemporary PerformanceLouise and Andreia discuss how Indigenous contemporary performance practices combine storytelling, spirituality, ecology, language, and political reflection in ways that often move beyond Western artistic categories and structures. Decolonising Artistic InstitutionsThe conversation explores how organisations can work intentionally to decolonise their internal structures through representation, consultation, cultural protocols, and Indigenous leadership embedded at every level of decision-making. Art, Ecology & Collective ResponsibilityAndreia reflects on how Indigenous cosmologies understand land, rivers, forests, plants, and animals as interconnected living systems rather than resources to exploit, fundamentally reshaping ideas about community and artistic responsibility. Language as Cultural SurvivalLouise shares how contemporary Māori theatre and performance contribute to language revitalisation and cultural continuity, demonstrating that Indigenous language is not a barrier to international audiences but a source of artistic strength. Collaboration Through ListeningBoth guests emphasise that meaningful collaboration begins with listening, long conversations, trust-building, and shared decision-making — particularly around representation, institutional relationships, and financial structures. Protecting Indigenous Rights & Cultural FuturesThe episode highlights the ongoing political and economic pressures facing Indigenous communities, including land exploitation, underfunding, and policy changes that threaten Indigenous rights and cultural progress. Memorable Quotes“It’s important to listen to their point of view, what they think about what they want.” — Andreia Duarte “What is good for Māori is good for all of us.” — Louise Gallagher “It’s not for me necessarily to understand, but for me not to block.” — Louise Gallagher “The land is not ours — it’s a collective space.” — Andreia Duarte About IETM Global ConnectThe IETM Global Pod is part of the IETM Global Connect programme, bringing together performing arts professionals from across continents to exchange perspectives on urgent global issues shaping artistic practice today. More information: IETM Global Connect — IETM CreditsProduced by: Margherita Petti, Lottie Atkin, Giselle Musabimana & Ilaria De March Recorded, edited & produced by: Ben Phoenix /  NEXI Media Co-funded by: IETM Associate Members & the European Union

    45 min
  2. Holding on to your identity as a contemporary artist: community, queerness, perceptions and traditions

    May 28

    Holding on to your identity as a contemporary artist: community, queerness, perceptions and traditions

    In this episode of IETM Global Pod, moderator Silvia Ribero is joined by Femi Adebajo (Nigeria) and Miloš Janjić(Serbia) for a rich and deeply personal conversation about artistic identity, marginalisation, queerness, community, and the realities of creating contemporary performance work outside mainstream structures. Together, they explore how artists navigate social expectations, build alternative support systems, connect local and international communities, and use art as a tool for resistance, visibility, and social transformation. GuestsSilvia Ribero (Italy) Performing artist, artivist, and cultural strategist based in the Italian Alps. Silvia works with Biloura, an intercultural and transdisciplinary performing arts collective focused on both local and international artistic exchange. Femi Adebajo (Nigeria) Dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, and artistic director of Future of Dance Company in Lagos. Femi’s work combines movement, film, performance art, objects, and multimedia to explore identity, tradition, queerness, and contemporary Nigerian society. Miloš Janjić (Serbia) Choreographer, multimedia artist, producer, and representative of Serbia’s independent dance scene. Based in Belgrade, Miloš works across contemporary dance, collective organising, queer artistic practice, and cultural advocacy. Episode HighlightsArtistic freedom beyond disciplinary boundariesBuilding contemporary dance communities in Nigeria and SerbiaCreating art outside mainstream cultural institutionsQueer identity, visibility, and representation in performanceSelf-organised learning and peer-to-peer artistic exchangeThe relationship between local communities and international collaborationArt as activism, resistance, and social responsibilityChallenging traditional perceptions of artists and performanceKey Discussion PointsFinding Artistic Freedom Through Interdisciplinary PracticeThe guests reflect on how their artistic journeys evolved beyond single disciplines, combining dance, film, performance art, multimedia, costume, and community work to create more authentic forms of expression. Creating Contemporary Art in Marginalised ContextsFemi and Miloš discuss the challenges of working in environments where contemporary dance and experimental art remain underfunded, misunderstood, or socially marginalised, and how independent communities become essential support systems. Self-Organisation & Peer LearningThe conversation explores the importance of informal education, collective learning, and self-organised artistic spaces where artists exchange knowledge, skills, and support outside traditional institutions. Queerness, Identity & VisibilityThe guests discuss how queer perspectives shape artistic practice and reflect on the social pressures, stereotypes, and public perceptions surrounding queer bodies and non-conforming identities within their communities. Tradition, Ritual & Contemporary PerformanceFemi shares research from his performance work exploring gender expression and masquerade traditions in Nigeria, revealing how historical and cultural practices complicate modern assumptions about identity and queerness. Art as Social ResponsibilityThe episode closes with a powerful reflection on the responsibility artists carry to challenge oppression, respond to social and political realities, and create spaces for empathy, visibility, and change. Memorable Quotes“You teach me what you know, I teach you what I know.” — Silvia Ribero “I needed to go to a place that my dance language would be appreciated.” — Femi Adebajo “The surroundings are somehow also queer because of this fluidity of identity.” — Miloš Janjić “Once someone shifts their point of view, this is a change that is going to provoke actions.” — Silvia Ribero About IETM Global ConnectThe IETM Global Pod is part of the IETM Global Connect programme, bringing together performing arts professionals from across continents to exchange perspectives on urgent global issues shaping artistic practice today. More information: IETM Global Connect — IETM CreditsProduced by: Margherita Petti, Lottie Atkin, Giselle Musabimana & Ilaria De March Recorded, edited & produced by: Ben Phoenix /  NEXI Media Co-funded by: IETM Associate Members & the European Union

    51 min
  3. Creating platforms for artists, responding to crisis and displacement and how to advocate for your community.

    May 14

    Creating platforms for artists, responding to crisis and displacement and how to advocate for your community.

    In this episode of IETM Global Pod, moderator Julia Reist is joined by Global Connectors William Ruiz Morales (USA/Cuba) and Viktor Ruban (Ukraine) for a powerful conversation about artistic advocacy, cultural survival, diaspora, and building platforms for artists working under political pressure, war, migration, and displacement. Together, they explore how artists create networks of solidarity, sustain cultural identities across borders, and imagine alternative futures through the performing arts. GuestsJulia Reist (Belgium)Moderator and international arts professional working with the Flanders Arts Institute in Brussels, supporting sustainable international artistic collaboration across borders. William Ruiz Morales (USA/Cuba)Cuban dramaturg, artist, and program architect based in Los Angeles. William’s work focuses on networks, alternative governance models, diaspora communities, and creating independent artistic spaces beyond institutional control. Viktor Ruban (Ukraine)Ukrainian choreographer, performer, curator, and activist based in Kyiv. Viktor works at the intersection of artistic practice, institution building, cultural advocacy, and contemporary dance development in Ukraine. Episode HighlightsThe role of artists in responding to war, migration, and authoritarian systemsBuilding independent artistic platforms outside state-controlled structuresDiaspora as both displacement and cultural continuityHow political polarization shapes artistic freedomContemporary Ukrainian cultural resistance and decolonizationRebuilding artistic infrastructure during conflictThe importance of networks, solidarity, and collective governanceWhy artists are “experts in imagination”Key Discussion PointsCreating Space Beyond PolarizationWilliam reflects on growing up and working within Cuba’s highly polarized political landscape, where artistic voices are often forced into ideological extremes. He discusses the challenge of building independent artistic spaces that resist both state control and political co-option. Art as Cultural ResistanceViktor speaks about Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against cultural erasure and Russian colonial narratives, highlighting how contemporary artistic practice has become deeply connected to questions of identity, heritage, and resistance. Platforms as Community InfrastructureBoth guests explore the importance of platforms—not simply as venues or organisations, but as living ecosystems where artists can exchange knowledge, support one another, and collectively imagine new futures. Diaspora & BelongingThe conversation examines what it means to continue creating from exile or displacement, and how artists maintain connections to their communities while rebuilding lives abroad. Supporting Artists Beyond MobilityThe guests question dominant international cultural models focused solely on mobility and relocation, advocating instead for long-term support structures that strengthen artistic ecosystems within regions experiencing crisis. Memorable Quotes“Art is about creating possibilities and saying things differently.” — William Ruiz Morales“A platform is a space where different realities can meet.” — Viktor Ruban“You are an expert in imagination.” — quoted by Viktor RubanAbout IETM Global ConnectThe IETM Global Pod is part of the IETM Global Connect programme, bringing together performing arts professionals from across continents to exchange perspectives on urgent global issues shaping artistic practice today. More information: IETM Global Connect — item.org CreditsProduced by: Margherita Petti, Lottie Atkin, Giselle Musabimana & Ilaria De March Recorded, edited & produced by: Ben Phoenix / NEXI Media Co-funded by: IETM Associate Members & the European Union

    58 min

About

After welcoming 10 new Global Connectors into IETM at the beginning of 2026, five IETM members hosted a series of conversations with them to get to know more about them and their values, as well as the ways their work shapes both their local communities and international collaborations. The result? A brand-new podcast series! Introducing IETM Global Pod, where across five episodes we bring together two Global Connectors in dialogue. For professionals from across the globe, this is your opportunity to discover new perspectives, new ideas and potential new collaborators!