About us


Sibiu Performing Arts Market is an associated structure of Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS) , aimed at granting opportunities for all artists, cultural managers, performing arts institutions or cultural networks to meet important producers from around the world.  Through our events, we provide the context for the promotion of artistic projects and establishing collaborations, as well as for sharing and learning the most recent information in the performing arts field.

Since its first edition in 1997, Sibiu Performing Arts Market has developed into an important cultural network, facilitating connections between festivals and artists, performing arts, independent companies or public institutions. Every year, participants from all over the world, representing various cultural organizations (artistic management agencies, NGOs, public institutions, independent companies, etc.), meet in Sibiu and build connections as well as potential partnerships. In 2022, The Market took place between the 27th and the 30th of June and enabled participants in Sibiu to connect with those who could not travel, and build cultural conversations through digital solutions. In this way, we built a bridge between the in-person and online dimensions, and created a global space for meetings and discussions in the performing arts.

This edition will take place between the 24th and the 27th of June 2024. 

Team


Constantin Chiriac
President
Oana Marin
Coordinator
Vicențiu Rahău
Consultant
Cosmin Chivu
Conferences Moderator
Casian Ulici
Marketplace Supervisor
Dalia Ioanaș
Logistic Supervisor
Ileana Racoviceanu
Speed Networking Event Supervisor
Adriana Bârză-Cârstea
Meetings and Classes with Great Choreographers” Event Moderator and Coordinator

Teresa Brayshaw
”Cultural Conversations” Event Moderator
Ștefan Tunsoiu
”Cultural Conversations” Event Coordinator
Roxana Vîlcu
Website & Digital
Ștefania Prodea
Website & Digital
Alex Pașca
Graphic Designer

History


2023
The Market enhanced global cooperation between enthusiastic artists, professionals and cultural operators. The hybrid format of this edition was welcomed by participants and meaningful and useful dialogues took place in a framework that focused daily on each category of participants.
2022
The Market built a bridge between the in-person and online dimensions, and created a global space for meetings and discussions in the performing arts.
2021
In 2021, The Market took place in a hybrid format, combining the physical and online dimensions, thus enabling participants in Sibiu to connect with those who could not travel, and be together through digital solutions.
2020
Even during those times, in 2020, The Market, together with FITS, managed to keep the stakes high, by continuing to create platforms of dialogue online, involving worldwide managers and theatre professionals.
2017
În 2017 a adus primul eveniment Speed ​​Networking, un nou format de întâlniri rapide și concentrate care facilitează o listă importantă de contacte și schimbul de informații într-un interval scurt de timp. Mai târziu în acel deceniu, întreaga lume a experimentat o transformare șocantă, odată cu izbucnirea pandemiei de Covid-19.
2016
In 2016, the first edition of the workshop Festivals in the 21st century: Who Are They For, How We Do Them, How Do We Finance Them? takes place
2015
In 2015, The Market hosted its first European Capitals of Culture conference (then called European Dimension and Community Involvement) and the first edition of the workshop Meetings and classes with great choreographers.
2013-2014
Got its first website and saw its first international conferences, socializing events and workshops, among which the first editions of Festival Readings and the first workshop on presenting artistic productions within The Market, The Art of Pitching (2013).
2010-2012
Between 2010 and 2020, the Sibiu Performing Arts Market entered into a partnership with Open Street, created the first edition of the section Talkback seminars, later known as Cultural Conversations (in 2011) and later printed the interviews into a first printed edition of the Cultural Conversations (in 2012), moved to a new, warmer and more appropriate venue, 
2007
2007 is remembered as an important year for the local and national environment in the European and global cultural context, the year when Sibiu held the title of European Capital of Culture and when Romania became a member of the European Union, which favored the development of The Market, translated into a higher number of participants and of international promotion opportunities.
2004-2009
Later, between 2004-2009, The Market and FITS were part of Europe Arts, an association aiming at stimulating, training and supporting classical theater, street theater or circus artists, authors and directors to establish a relationship with audiences from a different culture or not speaking the language of performing arts.
2003-2006
Between 2003-2006, FITS and The Sibiu International Performing Arts Market were part of the European network EUNETSTAR (European Street Arts Network), funded by artistic directors of nine festivals from eight countries, with the purpose to produce, develop and promote street art and outdoor theatre.
2000
At the beginning of the 2000s, The Market expands its cultural and artistic horizon, welcoming guests from all over the world, and starts creating exceptional events, such as  East/West Meeting of Festival Directors – an exchange of ideas moderated by festival directors and cultural management specialists, enabling participants to see performances from the FITS programme and meet other participants of The Market, while developing  a special section of gipsy music, contemporary dance and rock performances.
1997
In 1997, the Sibiu International Theater Festival (FITS) sets up the Sibiu Performing Arts Market, an annual project taking place during the Festival, with the purpose to create a cultural alternative in Central and Eastern Europe, the possibility to establish a network of festivals, a database of creators and managers and a coherent dialogue platform to serve this part of the continent. Later that year, The Market became part of EurAAm Bourse – a project initiated by nine arts markets in Europe and Quebec, which decided to create a space for cooperation and artistic exchange, aiming to develop, promote and show performances internationally, in order to facilitate access to new cultural markets.

Partner Structures


Busan Performing Arts Market (BPAM) is a festival-type performing arts market opening in October of this year in Busan, Republic of Korea. Busan is not only a candidate city for the 2020 World Expo but also a leading port city in Korea. With the slogan "A New Wave of Performing Arts," the festival will showcase around 100 domestic and international performing arts productions encompassing all genres of theatre, dance, music, and street arts.
Adelaide Fringe was born in 1960 and has grown year on year. We are the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere! For 31 magical summer days and nights, Fringe transforms Adelaide and greater South Australia. Our festival stretches from Whyalla all the way across the state to Naracoorte, with eclectic and vibrant events that include cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus, music, visual arts, workshops and so much more.