Presentation
Ad Lib is an artist support organisation based in Brussels, whose core mission is to support the development, production, and distribution of live performances led by artists working at the intersection of disciplines and who are committed to the poeticization of reality and the exploration of new bodily, visual, or scenic languages accessible to a wide audience.
Ad Lib provides long-term support for 8 artists in the development of their projects: Caroline Cornelis, Caroline Taillet, Elsa Chêne, Éric Arnal Burtschy, Jasmina Douieb, Jérôme Michez, Othmane Moumen and Yasmine Yahiatène.
Ad Lib coordinates and organizes various residency programs: Belgium’s LIBITUM, a multidisciplinary residency program; and Ad Lib’s ATTIC, residencies for writing and research in the performing arts.
Ad Lib also co-develops and co-organizes the LookIN’OUT Professional Days in partnership with Le BAMP and Le 140.
As a founding member of the ProDiff Collective and the European network PAMPA, Ad Lib actively participates in the development of this federation and professional network and their missions.
Ad Lib also offers training and coaching. Ad Lib organizes information sessions and open permanencies for artists as well as professional exchange sessions aimed at sharing knowledge and experience and developing new professional networks.
Through these actions, Ad Lib consistently focuses on achieving the following objectives:
- Ensuring artistic freedom and quality.
- Supporting cultural diversity and the development of unique artistic proposals.
- Supporting the emergence of new projects and practices.
- Supporting artistic research processes.
- Facilitating collaboration among artists from different disciplines.
- Promoting the encounter between works of art and audiences.
Professional support
Artist Support
Ad Lib offers comprehensive and long-term support to follow artists’ journeys, to encourage dialogue between production and distribution, and to explore each project’s various possibilities. Projects can also extend beyond the stage and be built to engage audiences through other media, forms, and spaces.
Ad Lib’s work integrates the entire process of creation, production, and distribution into a global strategy that enhances the artist’s visibility, preparing and facilitating their presence on Belgian and international stages. This work is developed in close collaboration with the artists or project leaders.
Depending on the artist’s needs and the project, different types of support may be considered, including production support, distribution support, administrative support, and the development of mediation for creations.
Production Support
Ad Lib supports artists in the production and development of their projects. This support involves guiding and assisting the artist in the artistic and financial development of their project, from conceptualization to creation.
Production support includes:
- Production planning and budget creation.
- Development of strategic approaches.
- Assistance in writing and reviewing proposals.
- Preparation for distribution and network definition.
- Reflection around communication elements.
- Assistance in finding residencies.
- Assistance in seeking partnerships, co-productions, funding, and pre-purchases.
Distribution Support
Ad Lib manages the distribution and pre-distribution of live performances. Ad Lib facilitates networking for projects, conducts prospecting work, promotes performances, and organizes tours in Belgium and internationally, in collaboration with artists and programming venues.
Distribution support includes:
- Promotion of performances in Belgian and international territories.
- Strategic support for projects and prospecting work in specific networks.
- Development, consolidation, and follow-up of contacts with programmers.
- Support at festivals/showcase events and professional hosting.
- Contract drafting and negotiation with the organizers.
- Logistics for tours.
Administrative Support
Depending on the needs of the companies and artists Ad Lib collaborates with, administrative support may be offered, including tour administration, project administration during the creation period, or company administration.
This support may involve:
- Tour administration (salary management, expenses, and tour-related accounting).
- Project administration during the creation period.
- Company administration.
Mediation Support
To promote interaction with the artworks, improve access to performances, and explore the subjects further, both for young and general audiences, Ad Lib collaborates with each artist to develop possible mediation approaches for each project, as well as relevant and useful mediation forms and objects. Ad Lib then promotes and organizes these mediation actions during tours.
Training Programs
With ten years of experience, Ad Lib offers its expertise and knowledge to artists and project managers in the Wallonie-Bruxelles Federation by creating training modules in production, distribution, and the development of artistic projects. These modules contribute to various training programs and are also provided on occasion by certain professional associations in the performing arts sector for their members.
Ad Lib’s Tip Time
Ad Lib offers support to emerging artists and companies for a period of 6 to 12 months. At the start of each mission, a schedule is drawn up between the artist and Ad Lib to define the areas of work required for the project. During the period, the artist(s) or company benefits from:
- A two-hour face-to-face work session per month
- An access 1 day a week to an office at Ad Lib’s premises, every Monday or Friday during the support period
- Regular telephone advice sessions (once or twice a week).
Through these advisory missions, Ad Lib and the company/artists implement the project development strategy. The company/artists carry out the tasks and keeps Ad Lib informed. These consulting missions are aimed at artists needing a framework to help them understand how to start up and prioritise and to help them feel supported while launching their project(s).
The aim of these advisory missions is to ‘support the professionalisation of artists and companies with an objective of empowerment’, the idea being to ‘do with’ rather than ‘do for’.
☞ For further information or queries about guidance and training : contact@adlibdiffusion.be
Partners
