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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT

IETM Campus in Almagro, Spain
6 12 June 2015

I. The first Campus and the participants

The Campus in Almagro is the first-ever summer school organised by IETM. This school is born to offer to young
professionals a rare educational opportunity to acquire managerial competences for international collaboration in
the performing arts field.
The expected profile of the participants are performing arts professionals with at least two years of professional
experience in the contemporary arts field, taking their first steps in the world of international exchange. They can be
freelancers, working for an organisation that is starting to work internationally or working in an organisation aiming to
enhance their practice.

Years&of&professional&experience&
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This feedback report is based on a response rate of 18%. Of these:

5!
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The Campus was attended by 23

participants from 10 different
countries: 5 from France and
Spain, 3 from Australia, 2 from the
Netherlands, Scotland and
England, 1 from Denmark, Latvia,
Italy and Belgium.

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Number of People

2!
1!
0!
2-3 yrs 4-5 yrs

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6 yrs

7-8 yrs 10 yrs

13-15
yrs

25 yrs

This feedback report is based on a

response rate of 87%.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

II. The four aims: knowledge, inspiration, support and networking

Which level of new knowledge you
gained?

appreciate
Creating new contacts in the international field
Concrete examples and informations on: cultural
diplomacy, artistic curation, where to seek
opportunities..
Opportunity to listen to the other participants and to
learn from their experiences and problems which they
had encountered
The openness of the tutors
Learning how to present/pitch a project

fair!
0%!
more!than!
satisfactory!
30%!

excellent!
20%!

very!good!
50%!

unsatisfactory!
0%!

dont appreciate
Not enough focus on the participants specific art
background
Few factual information, e.i. about taxes, visa

The tips and tricks from the tutors (how to prepare an interview, EU-funding, maintaining a network) were very useful!
I learnt about new group dynamics techniques
I think there was a clear and linear development in the difficulty of the topics.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

The four aims: knowledge, inspiration, support and networking

appreciate
The position, drive and integrity of the tutors
Practical examples about real experiences
e.g. organising a low-budget festival
The openness of the participants and tutors
in giving and receiving suggestions
Learning the importance of thinking
internationally and working locally

dont appreciate
Backgrounds of origin too different within
the group

Have!you!found!the!Campus!an!
inspiring!occasion?!!
not!at!all!

0%!

scarcely!
30%!
50%!

yes!but!only!sometimes!
yes,!most!of!the!times!

20%!

a!really!good!moment!for!
inspiration!!

The discussions and insights about mid-carreer issues for artists will probably transform the way I design some of my upcoming projects
I found the discussion on ethics very inspiring as it forced me to look at aspects of my work and of the industry as a whole which I had not
considered before
Comparing myself with other people who are trying to do the same work as mine and hearing their professional stories was what made me
inspired me the most
Not everyday you have access to so much experience!

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

The four aims: knowledge, inspiration, support and networking

Do!you!feel!you!got!support!for!the!
problems!or!issues!you!face!in!your!
work?!!
0%!

appreciate
Opening new questions for the future
Learning to be realistic
Possibility of being listened on precise
issues by the tutors and the group

not!at!all!!

dont appreciate
30%!
50%!

scarcely!
yes!but!in!few!occasions!

20%!

Too many or too vast subjects in the same

session
Being not prepared to articulate questions
on a personal case study

yes,!a!really!important!
support!
yes,!for!many!aspects!

The small work group was the most efficient moment for this. I feel that having some feedbacks on my projects helped me to define them, move forward
with them and see the next step.
It is hard in such format to really delve into an issue, one can only really touch the surface. However I felt the support that was given really valuable.
I wouldn't say that I got support for my current job but I got some keys to face constructively issues.
The way tutors gave information has been useful to me. You turned complicated issues into easy ones.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

The four aims: knowledge, inspiration, support and networking

The response about the networking aim is fully positive. It proves to be the first goal achieved by the Campus in Almagro.
The size of the town and the Campus duration and work rhythm have created according to the feedback from the participants the
right dimension to get to know easily each other and to share their past experiences and next projects .

Spending a whole week with 25 people provides you with a lot of

networking opportunities. Moreover, the small group work and
especially the panels helped also to experience a possible cooperation
based on how interesting it was to work with some participants.
I felt even though it wasnt the first reason why I came. So I see it as
an added value rather than an achieved objective.
The fact that we could work and share views about everything in a
very friendly and supportive way over a whole week gave me the
feeling that I can contact any of the tutors not necessarily on a regular
basis but when needed for advice or support.
I found Campus a very good opportunity to develop networking skills
within a safe and friendly environment. I was able to articulate opinions
that I didnt even know I had before the event.
I feel I gained some very beneficial contacts for both the works I
Thrrepresent but more importantly for me as a professional.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

III. The Formats and the Tutors

The concept of the Campus was to mix lecture/presentation with small group work and social mixing. Above all, the Campus aimed to use personal
stories to go deeper than the text book"type of learning and materials.

Which!type!of!format!did!you!feel!more!
useful!for!your!work?!

20%!

13%!
Lectures!
19%!

Presentations!

The mix of formats is perceived as well-balanced and

useful by the participants. The rhythm of the
formative occasions divided between the morning
(the lectures) and the afternoon (the practical
sessions) proves to be efficient.
Nevertheless some participants ask for more
interaction also during the lectures. They also would
prefer to have more moments during the day
dedicated to precise practical informations and to
artistic aspects.

Small!group!work!
Discussions!

20%!

Social!moments!

28%!

Small groups were surely the most interactive and dynamic

sessions. Through those there was more space to articulate
and share individual questions and ideas
The balance between the lectures and small group work was
very successful in fully exploring the topics we discussed. The
lectures from the mentors in the morning gave us a great base
from which to then expand and discuss the topics in more
depth in the afternoon which also learning from the other
participants.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

The Formats and the Tutors

As I am fairly new to the industry I found the Ethics
discussion the most useful as it allowed me to
discuss the concept of internationalism and the pros
and cons which the raises in a very interesting way.

Which!were!the!most!useful!sessions!at!
the!Campus?!

I especially enjoyed the exchanges where we could

compare a situation throughout different national
contexts such as the definition of a producer.

Intro!
The!Artistic!
Write!your!own!strategy!
What!is!international!

I feel the Hard Talk was about too many or too vast
subjects in the same session and it was hard to
have a clear discussion about one topic in this time.

Hard!Talk!II!
Hard!Talk!I!
The!Bigger!Picture!
Ethics!
Social!moments!for!networking!
Making!the!case!
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2!

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The tutors are appreciated for their practical knowledge, for the
ability to communicate their past experiences and to give inputs to
think cultural jobs on a business level.

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Participants define Marie Le Sourd and Walter Heun sharp and spoton experts, really able to make their cases and handle the topics
being discussed; Nicky Childs and Nevenka Koprivseka are excellent
tutors for smaller groups and inspiring examples of commitment
from and to the field.

16!

I think the panel discussion for me was something

new, which I havent participated before. I didnt
know what should I have to talk about. I had an
idea, but it was very hard to develop it further. Its
good that you gave us the opportunity to
experienced it. In my case, now I will know how to
and what it means. Next time I would like to
participate in something similar.
The encouragements I received from the group and
in individual deep conversations are still in my mind
as a keystone to not to give up.
I think all the speakers were absolutely fantastic.
Some brought a lot of information that was very
interesting, but hard to absorb all together. I felt
some of them were also probably addressing some
issues more related to my work and for that reason I
guess I felt more engaged with their presentations.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

IV. Logistics of the course: information, food & lodging, spaces & materials
The preparatory informations are considered very clear and
useful. Some participants would prefer to receive the readings
materials list little earlier, to be properly prepared for the
Campus.
More detailed instructions are required to complete the case
study sheet in a relevant way before the Campus.
The whole group appreciate the lodging, in particular the
possibility to have a peaceful break in the night in the single
rooms. The food is really satisfactory even if not always
catered for vegetarian people.

Only thing I can think of is that you can provide a little more info about the rooms facilities and the town, e.g. possibility to do a tour in the theatre
or even attend a performance.
I felt very well informed and that there was someone looking out for me prior the start of the Campus.
It was great to have a list of the participants and tutors beforehand as I was able to do some research so that I knew each persons work slightly
before meeting them which helped to understand what they do and how.
Next time it would be nice to prepare a tool dedicated to the participants for sharing files, links, presentations, notes before the course.!!

During the campus the organisers from LaRed were completely inviting and helpful with any queries. But a coffee machine in the room where
the lectures were held would have been appreciated! .

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

Logistics of the course: information, food & lodging, spaces & materials

Overall a perfect town and building for such a campus. Lack of internet in rooms and in some common spaces may just be
the negative point.
A coffee machine and a kettle in the room where the lectures were held would have been appreciated!
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The Aula classroom was ok, but a bit dark. It would be interesting to take some of presentation outside or change classrooms
during the week, but the other class rooms where great and it worked great when we were divided into 2 groups, for some of
us its easier to speak up in front of smaller crowds.
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During the Campus we should have one principal classroom to be able to keep materials inside and have a big white board
for general informations used only by IETM.
Maybe to be even more eco-friendly, you should mention when sending the materials that hard copies will be provided during
the campus in order to avoid extra printing.
I loved the Palacio because it had so many options to either be by yourself or in little groups in a calm atmosphere. I also
enjoyed a lot the fact that we could stay outside and in the shade (the balcony was my favourite space) and not always in the
classroom.
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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

V. Everything else!
About case studies: it was really interesting to have them to go in more
practical exercise and personal training, which is really important.
However it seemed that some person (included me in a way) did not have
a current, precise and practical case study when some others had really
specific questions. Maybe there is a balance to find here, in participants
and exercices, or ask for the case studies at the really beginning before
the campus and work on them in advance.
It was a great experience that Id recommend to others. It was good to
have the pressure of the panel discussions but it did feel like putting
greater parameters on them would make it more targeted.
Would have been nice if one of the participants was from a German
institution as being one of the bigger performing arts countries in Europe.
And maybe someone from other parts of the world: Asia / Africa /
America.
It was an absolutely excellent experience. The highlight was definitely that
we were a small but very dynamic group and very diverse in terms of
nationalities and work experiences.

Bravo ! Start again ! and after 3 or 4 campus, consider the idea of

creating a Campus format over one or two days for those who
attended the previous sessions, be it in autumn or spring, during one
of the meetings or at any other moment of the year.
I really think that being in a small town such as Almagro which offers
very little distraction is great to stay focus on the course and always be
with the participants, either all together or in small groups. It really
helped me to disconnect a little from home and my work, to take the
time to step back, to think and exchange. This is so rare and I think
you found the perfect context to allow us to do so.
I had thought when applying that the majority of participants would be
at a similar stage to myself with a few years of experience but a strong
interest in moving in to the international sector. However instead, most
people on the course were much further on in their career with many
running their own companies, and therefore they had specific
questions to ask and a wealth of experience to draw on.
The IETMCampus is a brilliant scheme but perhaps the specified
length of experience in the industry should be placed slightly higher at
4/5 years, or there should be an equal number of people who are
relatively new to the industry as those who have been working in it for
a longer time so that there is a balance of both levels of experience.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro

IETM is funded with support from the European Commission.

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This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot
be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK REPORT IETM Campus Almagro