Back to NewsSupport sustainable innovation in opera and dance
Outdated browser
Season Recap © FEDORA Award Ceremony - 26.04.2025 - ©Katharina Schiffl i
Season Recap 2024-2025
Details
15 July 2025
FEDORA's Activities
A Milestone Season for Innovation and Impact
Dear FEDORA Members and Friends,
As we bring the 2024-2025 season to a close, I am delighted to reflect on what has truly been a milestone year for FEDORA and everyone who shares in our vision. This season has been transformative - marked by innovation, collaboration, and a renewed sense of purpose across our network.
Thanks to the steadfast support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, whose renewed funding represents a significant endorsement of our mission, we have been able to further our commitment to sustainable innovation in opera and dance throughout Europe.
A particular highlight was the 2025 FEDORA Prizes Biennale, which culminated in a vibrant celebration of creativity at the Wiener Staatsoper. Through this inspiring competition, we championed groundbreaking new works in opera, dance, digital innovation, and education, while also empowering audiences to participate directly through the Audience Award. These achievements are a testament to the talent and vision within our community.
This season has also seen the success of numerous capacity-building initiatives and cross-border collaborations, all of which have strengthened the bonds within the FEDORA network and reaffirmed our collective ambition. In the wake of the passing of our former President, Jérôme-François Zieseniss, I was humbled to assume the role of President last year. It is an honor to serve this remarkable community, and I am deeply inspired by the creative energy and unity that drive us forward.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our supportive members, donors and partners, as well as to our committed Board and dedicated management team led by Edilia Gänz. It is your collective effort that makes FEDORA a beacon of innovation and excellence in the performing arts.
As we look ahead, I am confident that together we will continue to build on this season's successes, explore new horizons, and encourage the next generation of artists and audiences.
With gratitude and best wishes for a restful summer,
Stéphane Argyropoulos
President
Supporting Artistic Innovation
September 2024
Paris Opera Gala Kicks Off Season Celebrating Dance Excellence and Inspiration
One of the first events of the season was the Grand Opening Gala at the Paris national Opera, a spectacular celebration of dance that our team members had the opportunity to attend alongside our Board and Members.
26 October 2024
FEDORA Prizes Biennale Nominees Reveal Groundbreaking Opera and Dance Projects
On 26 October 2024, we proudly announced the 12 nominees of the FEDORA Prizes Biennale 2025 during a special gathering at the Palais Garnier, presenting 77 artists from 36 organisations across 11 countries. Nominees introduced their projects to an engaged audience of jury members, donors, partners, and sponsors.
5 November 2024
EuropIA Conference Explores How AI Can Enhance Musical Creativity
On 5 November 2024, our Director Edilia Gänz joined a panel at the EuropIA Institute’s AI Music Conference in Nice, exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance creativity while preserving the human spirit in music, presenting past FEDORA award-winning digital projects Laila, Out of the Ordinary, and The Sound Voice Project.
14 November 2024
The Sound Voice Project Premieres, Redefining Opera with Immersive Technology
On 14 November 2024, The Sound Voice Project, winner of the FEDORA Digital Prize 2023, premiered at the Royal Opera House in London, exploring identity and voice through immersive technology. The project has earned major awards and international recognition, redefining opera for new audiences.
4–6 December 2024
Immersive Tech Week Highlights XR and Digital Innovation in Performing Arts
From 4 to 6 December 2024, Diandra de Lima, our Funding Programmes Manager, spoke at the 10th Immersive Tech Week in Rotterdam, presenting recent Digital Prize winners and highlighting how programs like IMPULSE support XR creators with funding and coaching.
6–9 February 2025
Ministry of Culture Hosts Dialogue on AI’s Transformative Role in Culture and Arts
From 6 to 9 February 2025, the Ministry of Culture hosted a series of events in Paris exploring the impact of AI on science, culture, and the arts. Former FEDORA Digital Prize winners were featured as pioneering examples of how AI is reshaping the performing arts through interactivity, personalisation, and voice recreation.
13 February 2025
Chaillot Augmenté Conference Examines Emerging Digital Tools Shaping Performance
On 13 February 2025, members of our team attended the “Chaillot Augmenté” conference, where artists and experts explored how technologies like XR and AI are reshaping the performing arts.
February 2025
Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer Reflects on FEDORA’s Role in Dance Innovation
In February 2025, we hosted a conversation with Benoit Swan Pouffer, Artistic Director of Rambert, about Invisible Cities, winner of the 2019 FEDORA - Van Cleef & Arpels Dance Prize. He reflected on the project's innovative blending of dance, theatre, and digital media, and highlighted FEDORA’s essential support in bringing the ambitious production to life.
14–31 March 2025
Opera Forward Festival Features Bold New Creations Shaping Opera’s Future
The Opera Forward Festival (from 14 to 31 March 2025), a hub for innovative, experimental opera, showcasing bold new works and programs, featured three FEDORA Prize winners, including Bushra El-Turk, Venables & Huffman, and Hannah Conway. They presented bold new productions that inspire the next generation and reimagine opera for modern audiences.
20 March 2025
Spotlight on The Sound Voice Project: Digital Opera Inspiring Art and Health Awareness
We had the opportunity to interview the creators of The Sound Voice Project, winner of the FEDORA Digital Prize 2023, supported by Kearney and in collaboration with the IMZ - Internal Music + Media Centre. Premiered in November 2024, this innovative digital opera explores voice loss, blending art, health, and technology to inspire change.
March 2025
Showcasing FEDORA Prize Winners Driving Innovation in Opera, Ballet, and Digital Performance
We were proud to highlight three FEDORA winners: Sharon Eyal’s OCD Love premiered in Paris, Rambert’s Invisible Cities showcased ongoing innovation, and The Sound Voice Project began its international tour after its London debut.
26 April 2025
FEDORA Prizes Biennale Award Ceremony 2025
On 26 April 2025, the FEDORA Prizes Biennale winners were awarded at the prestigious Wiener Staatsoper in Vienna, honoring outstanding innovation in opera, dance, education, and digital performing arts.
The awarded projects included The Curing Line by Straymaker, winner of the FEDORA Opera Prize 2025, Gentleman Jack by Northern Ballet, winner of the FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize 2025, Yallah Danse! by ECO Company, winner of the FEDORA Education Prize 2025, and Yum! by Studio M.A.R.S., winner of the FEDORA Digital Prize 2025.
20 May 2025
Explore the interviews with the winners of the FEDORA Prizes Biennale
The 2025 FEDORA Biennale Prizes were announced on April 26th at the Wiener Staatsoper, celebrating innovative projects in Opera, Dance, Education, and Digital that are redefining the performing arts. The artists shared with us how this recognition will shape their creative journeys and offered a glimpse into the bold, boundary-pushing projects driving the future of the art form.
25 June 2025
FEDORA Artists Series - Here And There - Untold
We had the opportunity to speak with the creators of Here And There – Untold, winners of the FEDORA Opera Prize 2023, about their bold reimagining of opera as a space for cultural reclamation and inclusivity and a new creation inspired by Chinese folklore. Their new work, Ye Xian: A Story Untold, will premiere on 17 July 2025 at the Southbank Centre in London.
30 June 2025
Paris Opera’s Alexander Neef Shares Vision on Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Arts
In a recent exchange, Alexander Neef, General Director of the Paris National Opera, reflected on how institutions can balance tradition with innovation to remain relevant in today’s evolving cultural and economic landscape, highlighting the importance of inclusion, cross-border collaboration, and digital transformation for a sustainable future for opera and dance.
July 2025
Hofesh Shechter’s ‘Red Carpet’ Pushes Contemporary Dance Boundaries with Paris Opera Ballet
Hofesh Shechter created his first full-length work for the Paris Opera Ballet, Red Carpet, blending powerful movement with live music in a glamorous cabaret setting. His company won the 2020 FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize, highlighting his impact on contemporary dance worldwide.
Developing New Funding Models
16 October 2024
Dr Hans Peter Leube on how Morgan Lewis’s pro-bono partnership supports artists through legal expertise
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP joined FEDORA as its global legal pro-bono partner, strengthening support for emerging artists through legal expertise. In an interview, Dr Hans Peter Leube emphasized the shared values of impact, excellence, and cultural support that unite the law firm with FEDORA’s mission.
24 October 2024
Chateaushi Joins FEDORA to Advance Sustainable Cultural Heritage Support
We proudly welcomed Chateaushi as a Corporate Member of the FEDORA community, united by a shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage and promoting the performing arts, developing sustainable and inclusive models that make culture more accessible and relevant to new generations.
8 January 2025
Richard Forrest on how Kearney’s Partnership Fuels Digital Innovation and Audience Growth in the Arts
In an interview, Richard Forrest, Region Chair Europe at Kearney, highlighted the shared values between Kearney and FEDORA, emphasizing collaboration and bold creativity. Since 2019, their partnership has supported the FEDORA Digital Prize, which drives innovation and broadens audiences in opera and dance across Europe.
24 January 2025
Crowdfunding Campaign Raises Vital Funds, Boosting Emerging Artists’ Careers
The crowdfunding campaign for the FEDORA Prizes Biennale 2025 successfully raised €62,000 from 377 donors across 23 countries. With generous matching funds doubling donations, this effort reflects FEDORA’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging artists and fostering international philanthropy.
February 2025
FEDORA and TGE Enable Cross-Border Philanthropy
FEDORA and Transnational Giving Europe have enabled secure, tax-efficient cross-border donations since 2020, supporting global giving. Their partnership advanced seamless funding for the FEDORA Prizes Biennale 2025 and beyond.
19 March 2025
Salesforce Provides Innovative CRM Tools to Expand FEDORA’s Cultural Engagement
We were honored to interview Vincent de Sainte Maresville Account Executive at Salesforce, who shared how their pro-bono support since 2019 has helped FEDORA strengthen relationships across the cultural sector through innovative CRM tools.
23 April 2025
Yannick Willemin Discusses How the FEDORA Audience Award Cultivates Emerging Talent and Public Engagement
We had the pleasure of speaking with Yannick Willemin, co-funder of the FEDORA Audience Award. He emphasized how the award boosts emerging talent and engages audiences in shaping the arts’ future through public voting, and shared that early arts experiences inspired their commitment to supporting new creators.
19 May 2025
FEDORA President Calls for Bold, Hybrid Funding Models to Sustain Performing Arts Innovation Encouraging Audience Renewal
Our President Stéphane Argyropoulos was invited by Les Echos to offer his views on how cultural philanthropy needs to adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. He called for cultural philanthropy to embrace risk, support young talent, and adopt hybrid funding models to ensure the performing arts’ sustainability and innovation.
27 May 2025
Next Stage Capacity-Building Programme Empowering Emerging Opera and Dance Professionals
On 27 May 2025, the Next Stage 2025-26 programme, co-funded by Creative Europe, launched online. The programme focuses on sustainability, inclusion, and digital transformation, empowering emerging opera and dance professionals to lead change.
Encouraging Audience Renewal
19 November 2024
Opera Dinners in Paris Create Intimate Experiences Connecting Audiences with Emerging Talent
The acclaimed “Opera Dinners” concept by Felix Elkmann and co-hosted by our Director Edilia Gänz, made its Paris debut in collaboration with FEDORA, merging exclusive masked‑ball receptions with intimate performances by emerging opera talents in historic venues.
24 January 2025
Palais Garnier’s 150th Anniversary Gala Brings Opera and Dance to Global Audiences
On 24 January 2025, the Paris National Opera celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Palais Garnier with a breathtaking Gala streamed globally on POP and France TV, showcasing exceptional performances that honored its legacy.
6 March 2025
FEDORA X SECUTIX Webinar on Digital Ticketing and Audience Engagement Advances Sector Innovation
On 6 March 2025, FEDORA and SECUTIX hosted a webinar on digital innovation in ticketing, featuring insights from Bühnen Graz on audience engagement and data-driven strategies.
23 April 2025
FEDORA’s Campus Lectures Inspire Future Leaders to Integrate Business and Arts Innovation
Our Director, Edilia Gänz, was invited as a guest lecturer at NYU, ESCP, Bocconi, and Accademia Teatro alla Scala, sharing how FEDORA connects business and the arts. She inspired future leaders to build partnerships, foster talent, and drive innovation in culture.
19 May 2025
Welcoming New Members Expands FEDORA’s Network and Strengthens Cultural Collaboration
Over the past few months, we delightedly welcomed three new members who have joined the FEDORA network: Opéra National du Rhin, Hamburg Ballet, Flux Laboratory. Their passion for the performing arts and commitment to innovation are a valuable addition to our community.
June 2025
Theatre Green Book Webinars Share Expert Insights on Sustainable Theatre Practices
We are honored to have partnered with Theatre Green Book to offer free webinars on sustainable theatre. June sessions covered digital sustainability and suppliers, sharing expert insights and recordings for all theatre professionals.
Driving Collaborative Transformation
22 October 2024
European Commission’s €2.8M Funding Renewal Supports FEDORA’s Artistic Innovation Across Europe
The Creative Europe programme renewed its support for the FEDORA Platform with €2.8 million in funding through 2028, recognizing its role in innovating and expanding access to opera and dance. Our President, Stéphane Argyropoulos, emphasized the importance of this support in sustaining artistic transformation across Europe.
7 December 2024
Paris Event Showcases Sustainable Costume Design as a Model for Fashion’s Future
On 7 December 2024, at Maison France-Amériques in Paris, our Director Edilia Gänz spoke about sustainable and digital costume design innovations like Sustainable Costumes. The event emphasized collaboration for a more responsible fashion industry.
22–24 January 2025
“Arts and Culture for a Socially Impactful Europe” Conference Highlights How Arts Foster Social Impact and Community Empowerment
From 22 to 24 January 2025, our Director Edilia Gänz joined the “Arts and Culture for a Socially Impactful Europe” conference in Lisbon, exploring how arts empower communities. Hosted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the event aimed to inspire to advance accessible, socially engaged performing arts across Europe.
26 February 2025
FEDORA Partners with Sixième Son for a New Sonic Identity
We are proud to have partnered with Sixième Son to create a unique sonic identity that captures FEDORA’s innovative spirit and dedication to supporting artists. This new sound enriches our brand across digital platforms, social media, and events, strengthening our connection with audiences worldwide.
20 March 2025
FEDORA at the European Commission to shape a cultural strategy advancing innovation and inclusion
In Brussels, our Director, Edilia Gänz had the honor of being to represent the FEDORA Platform at the Culture Compass stakeholder consultation hosted by the European Commission, to help shape a future-focused EU cultural strategy, highlighting culture’s power to drive innovation, inclusion, and societal impact.
3 June 2025
Cross-Cultural Dialogue in Paris Strengthens Innovation and Audience Development Practices
On 3 June 2025, FEDORA welcomed representatives of Danish performing arts venues to the Palais Garnier for an exchange on audience development and innovation in the cultural sector. The event fostered cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, with insights from professionals including Eric Grebille of the Paris National Opera.
21-22 June 2025
Showcasing Our Mission and Growing Our Network in Florence
FEDORA hosted a special event in Florence in June 2025, gathering distinguished guests to showcase its mission of fostering innovation and expanding access to the performing arts. A highlight was welcoming Teatro Maggio Fiorentino as the newest member of FEDORA’s network, strengthening the commitment to supporting emerging artists across Europe.
7–9 July 2025
Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Professional Days Encourage Collaboration on Opera’s Future
From 7 to 9 July, our member Festival d’Aix-en-Provence hosted “Les Journées Professionnelles,” bringing together artists and professionals for three days of dialogue, creation, and reflection on the future of opera and live performance.
Special Tribute
7–9 July 2025
Homage to our Opera jury member Pierre Audi
During the festival, a special homage was held to celebrate the legacy of Pierre Audi, who passed away in May. As the General Director of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and a dedicated FEDORA Opera Prize jury member, Pierre was a true advocate for the arts, championing groundbreaking opera and supporting emerging artists throughout his life. His legacy of innovation and collaboration lives on, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.
