‘Fast Forward: talent in an international context’ was established by the Performing Arts Fund NL on January 1st, 2014. The programme offers talented mid-career makers an opportunity to further their artistic development in collaboration with an international partner, strengthening their international position and expanding their network in the process. Fast Forward has a duration of two years.
The first phase is devoted to scouting potential artists and partners, in line with the maker’s wishes and ideas.
During the second phase, the maker conducts research into a suitable partner abroad and prepares a project and/or development programme alongside their host. A modest grant is available to help finance travel- and accommodation expenses, following the intendant’s approval. By the end of the second phase, a plan and accompanying budget will have been drawn up.
The plan is executed in a potential third phase of the programme.
Since the end of 2019, the following makers have participated in the Fast Forward programme: Sevdaliza, Klang Ensemble, Stephen Shropshire, Het Geluid, Lisa Verbelen, Jorinde Keesmaat, Panama Pictures, Jörgen Tjon A Fong, Aart Strootman, Gery Mendes, Alexandra Broeder, Dunja Jocic, Naomi Velissariou, Club Gewalt, Thomas Azier, Nana Adjoa, TENT, Astrid Boons, Nicole Beutler, Meral Polat, Andrea Voets, Boogaerdt/VanderSchoot, Zeno van den Broek and Floor van Leeuwen.
Fast Forward has a budget of 1.7 million euros. A further twelve to fifteen makers are expected to undertake a multi-year development programme abroad throughout 2023 and 2024.
Guy Coolen is the intendant of Fast Forward. Together with a group of scouts active in the Dutch performing arts, he connects talented performing artists with foreign producers, companies, venues and festivals. The scouts are Jolanda Spoel, Judith Blankenberg, Martijn Buser, Piet Menu, Samuel Wuersten, Wendy Moonen and Frank Kimenai. Project manager Vevi van der Vliet provides organisational support.
The Fast Forward programme isn’t open to applications. Instead, makers are nominated by the committee of scouts.
