International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM)

IETM-International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts

Founded	1981; 43 years ago (1981)
Founded at	Polverigi, Italy
Type	Cultural institution
Location	Brussels, Belgium
Area served	Worldwide
Membership	530+
Secretary General	Ása Richardsdóttir
Key people	Jeffrey Meulman | Susanne Næss Nielsen | Margherita Petti
Website	https://www.ietm.org/

IETM, fully International network for contemporary performing arts is a cultural network for performing arts organizations and individual members working in the contemporary performing arts worldwide. Established in 1981 in Polverigi, Italy, during the Festival of Polverigi (now called Inteatro festival), the network had its first meeting on 15 October 1981, at the Théâtre Gérard Philippe, Paris.^[1][2][3]

In 2005, IETM dropped its original title Informal European Theater Meeting to become simply ‘IETM’ with the tagline ‘International network for contemporary performing arts”.^[4][5][6] IETM is one of the foremost European cultural networks, it was founded by and for professionals to create a space of exchange and strengthen international collaboration in the thriving independent performing arts sector.^[7]

The Network stands as at June 2024, with over 530 performing arts organizations and individual members working in the contemporary performing arts in more than 60 countries worldwide.^[8][9] IETM advocates for the value of the arts and culture in a changing world and empowers performing arts professionals through access to international connections, knowledge and a dynamic forum for exchange. Starting in 2003, IETM also became active as a bridge between its professional members in Europe and those in Asia (including Central Asia), Africa and the Americas, although its main membership still comes from Europe.^[10][11][12]

IETM host peer-to-peer learning, exchanges and dialogues at events, commissions publications and research, and provides network for performing arts professionals on her website.^[13] IETM hold two plenary meetings a year in different European cities and smaller meetings all over the world.^{[1][11][14][15]}