Mobility challenging profiles and roles for artists in the European Agora

Mobility is an emerging paradigm in today’s societies which contains many hopes but also resistances. Taking the circulation of contemporary performing artists within the European Union as an illustrative case, this article argues that many obstacles remain that hamper freedom of movement and consequently the development of a common cultural space for interaction and citizenship. Despite growing economic, political and professional aspirations for mobility, specific competences and resources to make effective use of this right-freedom are still lacking. Nevertheless, artists are taking this opportunity and working more and more across borders. These experiences are changing their practices, profiles and even social role, leading to the emergence of communities of interest that go beyond the national sphere and which take Europe as their stage. 

Key words: Artists, mobility, access, competences, networks, European cultural space