Anthropo(s)cene: Environmental issues, ecological thinking, and sustainability in Slovak theatre
The multi-year project is aimed at researching how Slovak theatre (especially as regards its themes and knowledge concerning the activities and operation of theatres) relates to the tendencies in environmental sustainability as well as the approaches in fine arts that address the interaction between humans and nature. In the project, we will focus on two main areas: the ecological and environmental themes in Slovak theatre and the broad possibilities of ecological thinking in theatre practice.
National
Slovakia
{Empty}
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): The Theatre Institute, Bratislava; Inštitút cirkulárnej ekonomiky / Institute of Circular Economy, Bratislava Type of organisation: Other public instituion and NGO First name of representative: Vladislava Last name of representative: Fekete Gender: Female Nationality: Slovakia Function: Director of Theatre Institute Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Jakubovo námestie 12 Town: Bratislava Postal code: 811 09 Country: Slovakia Direct Tel:+421 2/204 871 02 E-mail:miloslav.jurani@theatre.sk Website:https://www.theatre.sk/en/antroposcena
URL:https://www.theatre.sk/ Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): https://www.facebook.com/divadelnyustav
Yes
New European Bauhaus or European Commission websites
The project was developed in 2022 as a complex initiative for applied research at Theatre Institute. The aim is simple: Reconnect environmental situation with theatre circumstances in two different but inseparable ways. The first part is dedicated to ecocritical research of Drama and Productions from Slovak Theatre history, as well as contemporary plays and performances from the region, that variously refer to the ecological state of Earth, environmental issues and new ways of cohabitation. We examined how theatres can develop more sustainable aesthetics in the first part. We organised, managed and led a special colloquium for theatre researchers. This public event for scholars, students and audiences examined the well-known or overlooked Slovak plays and contemporary theatre productions. They reconnect them with historical and current environmental thoughts or identify how they support or deny the modern dualism of nature/culture. Now we are working on a particular textbook.
The second and essential part of the frame of this award focuses on theatre as a material medium that might rethink processes within their everyday and creative operations. We are focusing on sustainability issues in Slovak theatres. In collaboration with environmental experts and theatre representatives, we are working on a locally specific toolbox (an e-book) designed for theatre makers, representatives and employees to simplify their sustainable practice.
We hope that the side-effect can be uncountable. Theatre is a role model for thousands of audience members.
applied research
mutual learning
participation
theatre transformation
sustainable practice
Sustainability is present in every step of our project. The first part of the project, oriented on theatrical research, was based on an open-call, open to all aspects of theatrical representation of Nature, relations of man with Nature, environmental injustice or outdoor theatrical practice in Slovakia. It was essential for us was to allow the applicants to come up with their own perspectives. Finally, they filled the conference with "theatre/ecological papers" that naturally rose from their engagement. Academic research turned to sustainable research with meaningful results. Slovak art researchers took the overlooked and marginal topic of ecology to the foreground for the first time. (The bulletin of the conference was just a simple paper. Water from plastic bottles and also plastic glasses was not allowed.)
The second part of the project is oriented toward sustainability at the core. By collaborating with experts, we are trying to create a manual to open and simplify this complex topic for creators, scenographers and theatre representatives. To teach them how to change their practice would be impossible. It is more or less about participation and sharing knowledge, experience and creative gaze. The process began with a meeting. Here, experts, facilitators and theatre people could share knowledge and opinions in an informal atmosphere. Theatre people are our best advisors on creating a locally specific and usable guide integrating sustainability into practice and everyday operations in theatre. The research process is fundamental because it shows what is crucial for a change in developing the theatre from a socially to an ecologically thinking institution. (The main tools for our experts are meetings, survey, communication, understanding the environment and, after all, their know-how in sustainable solutions and circularity.)
We use different forms of design for our project. First is the way how we design research. It is based on participation with the community that we want to reach. For example, cooperation with the Slovak National Theatre allowed us to participate in the creative operations of making performances, looking into the garbage, and speaking with staff. In an exchange with theatre members, our experts gained experience and answers for their part of the work: accelerate the possibility of change and create valuable advice. All aspects of these essential exchanges were informal and perhaps appraised in a toolbox. Potentially, they help to create a better community related to the final toolbox. Because we cooperate with circularity and sustainable solution experts, they know how to design our digital guide to share messages clearly and understandably. We hope that simple, minimalistic and friendly graphic decisions can support the narrative of possibly changing the practices. It is identical to the textbook focused on ecodramaturgy in Slovak contemporary theatre and history. We are creating a beautiful collection of theoretical texts with photographic material designed by a small local and awarded graphic studio Zelena Luka.
The inclusion in various forms is a crucial part of our project. FIRST. INCLUSION in the RESEARCH phase: The research started with a meeting. We invited representatives from all theatres in Slovakia - governmental, non-governmental, and commercial from the east, middle and west. They could come to the first meeting, share their view on and experience with sustainability in their organisations, and confront our experts (theatre researcher and environmentalist). This meeting was also a base for our survey sent to all theatres. To fill it, theatres had to include specific theatre staff members with their know-how (workshop managers, technicians, prop makers, cleaning service). Meanwhile, researchers visited some theatres and theatre production sites to gain experience. On these occasions, we could meet a wide range of artisans and theatre staff members and discuss with them to understand their work routines and waste production. The full inclusion of all types of theatres and their members helps to customise the toolbox for various theatre entities. SECOND. INCLUSION of the RESULT: The planned toolbox will reflect a different kind of inclusion. It will be a digital material that aims to simplify the difficult, concretise theory, and beautify complexity. We use simple and readable language, examples, quick tips and graphic design that highlight the most important thoughts and contribute to clarity. Everyone in the theatre can use the toolbox. Especially those open to more sustainable practices (directors, managers, technicians, set designers, marketers, and administrative employees...). The final part of the project also contains a workshop: How to use the sustainability toolbox. Here the aim is to extend the usability of the toolbox to everyone who will come.
The project is designed to focus on the theatre community and its employees. Their benefit is easy access to critical information and new skills to reduce the impact and create a better work environment. Citizens and civil society won´t be primarily affected by our initiative. We assume a secondary effect on citizens and society. We understand the theatre as a role model for the audience members. Internal changes in theatre processes can influence the aesthetics, production quality, communication, and infrastructure of theatres. Finally, the theatre can transform into a better institution that will be in close contact with its spectators. When theatres build a bike parking house, when they accept the informal, touristic or sporty dress code, they also extend possibilities for how and when the citizens visit the cultural event. If theatres build rain gardens, they change their surroundings, attract citizens and non-human entities, etc. When they use an eco-set design, they can show their audience how to do things otherwise. Probably, this is just speculation, but it can enable a new and more sustainable relationship between the theatre and its spectators. The entire research process emphasizes the potential of the project to awake unexpected connections and live interest of both researchers and involved theatre employees. There is another benefit. We have met many ecologically engaged persons in theatres that didn´t have a strong partner for dialogue. The research gave them hope to change. The final toolbox (with quick wins and long-term challenges) gives them a better position for argumentation and to reach green aims.
On top of the initiative, two stakeholders designed the research's base, methodology and final aim. The outlines of the project were created at Theatre Institute in 2021. They suggest cooperation with the non-government organisation INCIEN with circularity know-how. The Theatre Institute, Bratislava, is a specialised institution directly subjected to the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. It conducts comprehensive research, documentation, scholarly analyses and provision of information on theatre culture in Slovakia dating back to the establishment of the first professional scene in 1920. The Institute for Circular Economy is a non-governmental organisation focusing on the implementation of principles of circular economy in the Slovak Republic (business, cultural and art sector, government). Theatre Institute is the project's primary financial supporter, organiser and facilitator. Institute for Circular Economy designing the research and changing the data and theories into applications.
Together closely cooperate with the other stakeholders.
Other stakeholders are local, regional, and national theatres from Slovakia (east, middle, west; governmental, non-governmental; drama, puppet theatre; dance theatre; complex theatre houses). They provide the project with necessary data (survey, meetings) and collaborate in various ways (Slovak National Theatre allowed researchers to visit their "workplace" and reveals all processes. It gave them a chance to understand the most virulent environmental issues.) Theatre festival Dotyky a spojenia from Martin, Slovakia, offered in 2022 (and also for 2023) a particular time dedicated to the presentation of the project's visions and for showing and discussing interim results and creating new connections. On the European level, we stay in touch with IDU - Institute of Arts from the Czech Republic and the City Council of Prague. They organised a similar survey in 2021. We want internally to compare results.
The initiative's design is based on two disciplines: theatre research and environmental science. Collaboration of both fields was fruitful from the first moment. The research team with an environmental background and researchers from Theatre Institute began with resource change, regular meetings and sharing the vision. They organised the meeting for theatre representatives together. It was the beginning of the interaction chain of mutual learning that didn't stop until now.
Environmental researchers learn the context of Slovak theatre. They: 1) enter into direct and personal contact with the theatres, 2) understand the specificity of processes in theatre (because they experienced the reality of theatre processes), and 3) identify the most critical and essential problems in theatres.
Theatre researchers learn the context of circular economy and sustainability. They: 1) absolved the lecture and meetings with environmentalists, 2) provided a connection with theatres, were an active part of all meetings, 3) divided theatre processes for researchers, and 4) consulted possible solutions and suggestions for the toolbox.
Theatre practitioners: 1) confront themselves with the sustainability aspects of their practice, 2) formulate the problems and limitations and get some answers, 3) share their particular knowledge that influenced the entire research and result.
The main innovation is the project as such. Cross-disciplinary research is a rare category in Slovakia. This is the first national research focused on the environmental aspects of arts. The chosen methodological approach is unusual. It combines methods like expert analysis, inquiry, discussions, meetings, and workshops and highlights different aspects of collaboration. What is innovative at the national level is a form of cooperation between governmental and NGO stakeholders and - last but not least - orientation not just on results but on the research process. Of course, there are similar research projects (in the process) with some effects on the (national level - Germany or European - the Theatre Green Book - ETC manual for sustainable solutions in theatre). Both are very important and inspirational, but they are not identical. We purposely focus all activities on the local context and his specificity. We don´t examine the environmental impact. Instead, we suggest immediate solutions that meet sustainability with the requirements of the heterogeneous universe of Slovak theatres.
The whole process is applicable in any country. The project's ground is in rethinking the one-way orientation of the public institution (with funds, support, history and name in the theatre field) willing to open for collaboration across sectors and disciplines and stakeholders from different categories. Partners should be organisations with particular knowledge and experience capable of transforming their know-how in other fields (theatre). The vital part is an attempt to applicate experience-based, inquiry-based research - involve the theatre partners and persuade them of the seriousness of the topic. The methods and processes like meetings, sharing knowledge, mutual learning, analysing, and gathering experience are transforming into the product - toolbox. The process is easily reachable in any context. The product - toolbox (plus another project result: a textbook of ecocritical analysis of drama and plays) - is untransferable. To do theatre sustainably needs a local orientation - it depends on local conditions, available solutions and resources. The initiative's core can be identical from place to place, but results will be different in various geographies, nations and contexts.
The methodology was tailored to the specificity of interdisciplinary research dedicated to applying circular models and sustainable solutions in Slovak Theatre. The creative methods used various quantitative and qualitative research approaches like ex-situ, in-situ, action, applied, inquiry, focused group, survey, and process-oriented research. The mixed methodology was based on meetings, discussions, visits, surveys and analysis. It supports the connection of both artistic and research perspectives. How it was designed: The first point was a general meeting for theatres and researchers, which opened the topic and allowed the research team to understand the state of affairs. In the second point, researchers analysed the event recording and prepared the survey based on the discussion. Third point: We created the survey oriented on the main problems, impact, and barriers in the frame of the topic, sent it to all theatres and collected and analysed the answers. The fourth point: Researchers absolved (and still absolving) a series of visits and meetings in theatres to collect experiences and practices of theatres and shared their knowledge directly in communication with theatre employees. The fifth point: Researchers and experts use all gathered material to prepare the locally specific, practical, usable toolbox (in digital form).
Mainly: Transformation and development of contemporary (European) art institutions (in an era when the world challenges multiple environmental crises that are also the result of western actions and development of the last centuries) towards sustainability, carbon neutrality and positive impact on eco-relationships on Earth.
Re-explore the narrative of nature and natural in drama, plays, and performance events to reveal the overlooked role of nature in theatre.
Besides: climate change; the role and function of art; material or immaterial impact of art; energy and waste management; material redistribution; etc.
In June 2022, we organised a conference for art historians and theorists that examined the narrative of nature in Slovak performing arts. Now we are working on publishing those texts as a collective publication (May 2023). In June 2022, under the umbrella of Dotyky a spojenia Theatre Festival, we had serial of discussions with members of the research team who partially informed theatre makers and visitors about the possibilities of greening the theatre in Slovakia. In January 2023, we published and sent out the document called Some findings from the survey on sustainability and circular solutions in Slovak theatre. It is an overview describing Slovak theatres' situation based on research. It also contains the degree of environmental consciousness, engagement and level of openness of theatres to sustainable solutions and circularity. The next step is to create a toolbox - digital material usable for theatre makers to apply particular solutions - from quick wins to sustainable creative processes to structural building changes, renovation of the technology park to waste management. After we finish the toolbox (May - June 2023), we will continue with workshops (September 2023) to enable the potential of this material for theatre employees and creators and allow those people to react, ask and once again confront the experts and researchers. Besides this part of the initiative, we want to develop an effective way to communicate the message of theatres (the problem of finances and existing legislative limitations influences sustainability topic) to the government.
Our initiative actively involves theatre staff and authorities in research of sustainability.
Initiative working with Institute for Circular Economy. They are experts (educators) with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for a greener and more sustainable economy and society.
It´s future-oriented and supports the values of sustainability. It has a possible secondary impact on audience members. Theatre as a social role model.
