The Norteas Intensive Course (IC) is a key biennial event organised by the Norteas network, designed to foster collaboration and innovation among students and educators from Nordic-Baltic performing arts institutions. This year's course will be hosted by the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy in the charming town of Viljandi, Estonia, from 25 to 29 August 2025. The IC will focus on Artistic Research (AR) as a valuable teaching and learning tool within BA-level education.
CONTENT
Participants are encouraged to arrive before 18:00 on Monday, 25 August, with Saturday, 30 August, designated for departure. The IC features two main programmes: the Student Course and the Teachers’ Symposium. For a glimpse of the preliminary schedule, please refer to the provided link: https://tinyurl.com/norteas-IC-symposium.
The Student Course invites students to engage with AR through collaborative group work, culminating in presentations that showcase their creative journeys. Participants are expected to document their individual and group experiences to enhance reflection. Every morning, all participants will gather for sessions featuring keynote speakers. Outi Condit (FIN) will present her performance, The Actress, on 26 August, addressing themes related to The Body. Urmas Lüüs (EST) will follow on 27 August with his presentation, The Room, and Jānis Balodis (LAT) will conclude the series on 28 August with The Word. In the afternoons and evenings, students will work in mixed groups formed during the first day, guided by the keynote speakers to stimulate ideas and push creative boundaries. Completion of the course will award students 3 ECTS credits, which can be integrated into their institutional curricula and will prepare them for future professional endeavours.
The three-day Teachers’ Symposium provides educators with an opportunity to delve into AR as a transformative tool for lifelong education. Davide Giovanzana (FIN) will kick off the first day with an introduction to AR, while Liina Unt (EST) will lead the following sessions, focusing on sharing best practices and exploring innovative applications of AR in teaching. Morning sessions will involve joint participation with students, while the afternoons and evenings will be dedicated to workshops aimed at educators’ discussions and idea development. Results from the symposium will later be compiled into a journal available on the Norteas website.
PLANNING GROUP
Lennart Peep (University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy (UT VCA)), Stacey Sacks (Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH)), Davide Giovanzana (Tampere University (TAU)), Kārlis Krūmiņš (Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC)), Ele Viskus (UT VCA), Krista Tamm (UT VCA), Evelin Lagle-Nõmm (UT VCA)
EXPENSES
The Intensive Course and Symposium are funded by Nordplus through the Norteas network. Food and accommodation during the event will be provided by the hosts. Each participating institution is responsible for arranging travel. For travel costs reimbursement, the institutions must send a Payment Request along with invoices and travel receipts to the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy.
REGISTRATION
Each institution is welcome to send three students and two teachers, with a waiting list available for additional participants considered after the registration deadline. Registration was closed on 20 May 2025, and everyone’s participation from the waiting list was approved. In June, a second round of communication is taking place to gather further details from each institution’s contact person, including participant information, travel logistics, and any special requirements.
For any enquiries, feel free to reach out to:
Lennart Peep at lennart.peep@ut.ee (content-related questions)
Krista Tamm at krista.tamm@ut.ee (practical details)
We are excited to welcome you to Viljandi!
