A team of artists and community members sit and stand in a circle, conversing and sharing thoughts.

Open Dialogo was commissioned by Arts Council England, the Italian Ministry of Culture (The Performing Arts department), the Italian Cultural Institute of London and the British Council, to promote a bilateral cultural exchange through sharing of knowledge and experiences between disabled and non-disabled artists and influencers working in England and Italy.

The project is managed by Stopgap Dance Company, and it began with a set of free webinar series in May. The next phase of the project is for dance organisations in England and Italy to host artist residencies for D/deaf and disabled dance artists from the opposite country

These residencies will take place in September and October this year to facilitate exchange between D/deaf and disabled artists and dance organisations in England and Italy, so as to deepen relationships and shared understanding about dance, disability and creative processes between the two countries.

From the 2-6 October, Oriente Occidente in Rovereto will host Surface Area Dance Theatre.