CONNECTUP is an international cultural initiative for the target group 12 years+ to counteract increasing social and cultural division across Europe. Theatres, festivals and a university, all working in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences, plan major investment in audience development. With professional guidance, young people of all social classes, cultural backgrounds and abilities will share experiences in theatre under the theme “The Lives of the Others”. The aim is for comprehensive social inclusion by working with mediation, involvement and outreach. 29 cross-over productions will be developed, as well as the use of an app, supporting translation and evaluation, facilitating presentations at 22 festivals.

Reaching new target groups and harmonising relations with an existing audience, requires special mediation skills, therefore CONNECTUP offers a 1.5-year certified course in “Theatre Mediation”, combining e-learning with peer group learning and practical work. CONNECTUP mediators work with all participation projects and workshops and guarantee that the institutions will welcome young people of all social and cultural backgrounds. All activities are intended to support the partners to pro-actively implement an irreversible change in management process and a profound change in the mind-set of the organisations, audience and cultural environment.