Why should you work internationally?
When you think of working internationally, perhaps you think of performing or presenting work abroad. But you can also internationalise by entering into co-productions, collaborations or partnerships with foreign artists or organisations. Or how about a foreign residency? Or follow or give a workshop, master class, lecture, etc. abroad?
Why should you work internationally?
Working internationally requires an investment, not only in financial resources, but also in time and patience. Whether these investments are useful depends very much on where you’re at in your career and the sector or discipline in which you are artistically active.
An international career brings social, artistic and economic benefits. But there are also frictions and pitfalls to take into account. For example, how do you ensure a sustainable approach that does not exhaust you financially or mentally? How do you limit your ecological footprint or ensure that you don’t appropriate the inspiration you gain from other cultures?
In addition, working internationally is not self-evident for everyone. Artists with a family, people with limited financial resources or those with disabilities, for example, experience more barriers than others.
You’ll find an overview of possible pros and cons of working internationally here.
So don’t rush into internationalisation. Take the time and space to think about it carefully. We’ll give you some tips in any case!
How do you start working internationally?
Expanding an international network, a foreign career or tour takes time and requires a major investment. Don’t set expectations for yourself too high so that you don’t become disappointed or discouraged during this process. After all, it takes a bit of patience and also some luck to develop a successful international career.
It’s best to start with a focus on a specific region. The attention and resources needed for specific disciplines or niches can vary greatly between regions. So it’s important to take time to properly understand the local context, to be aware of the complexity of the place and not to take everything for granted. Once you’re established in this specific region, you can move on and further expand your international network.
Take your time to find out which regions or countries might be interesting for you. Looking for useful contacts or information? Have a look at the country datasheets that Flanders Arts Institute has put together with a lot of information about local cultural policy, subsidies, platforms and collaborations.
We also collected an overview of family-friendly residencies that you can request via advies@kunsten.be.
We’ve put together an accessibility rider for artists and art workers with disabilities that you can complete and submit to organisations, residencies or other places. An access rider is a document that describes your disability and communicates your accessibility needs, ensuring that you have the same access as someone without a disability.
How can you work internationally?
Keep an eye on open calls for (inter)national performance and exhibition opportunities, residencies or prizes:
Due to the large cultural and international presence in major Flemish cities and Brussels, it’s even possible to work internationally without having to physically travel. Contact foreign artists, makers, curators, programmers, etc. who are active in our country. There are also more and more digital opportunities to start international contacts and collaborations.
Read more about how to build an international network.
