Day Five of FITS 2025 Marks The Kickoff Of The Sibiu Performing Arts Market, the Festiva’s Dedicated Industry Platform, Welcoming A Prominent Norwegian Delegation This Year
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The fifth day of FITS heralded the debut of the Sibiu Performing Arts Market.
The 29th edition of the Sibiu International Performing Arts Market (SIPAM) —an indispensable part of FITS— opened with a series of powerful addresses, transforming this year’s festival theme, “Thank You,” into a profound reflection on connection, creativity, and cultural diplomacy.
The following voices were heard on the opening podium: Constantin Chiriac, President of both FITS and SIPAM; Octavian Saiu, President of the International Association of Theatre Leaders (IATL), cultural consultant, and FITS conference curator; Harold David, Co–President of Avignon Off Festival (France); Liviu Jicman, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) and of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture); Hege Knarvik Sande, Director of Performing Arts Hub Norway.
The event was moderated by Cosmin Chivu, Associate Professor at Sands College of Performing Arts, New York, and Oana Marin, Lecturer at “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu and SIPAM Coordinator.
Reflecting on SIPAM’s 29‑year journey, Constantin Chiriac, FITS and SIPAM Director, observed: “Drawing 100,000 spectators each day—both in person and online—in a relatively small city is a truly extraordinary achievement.”
He further emphasized the role of competition and real professional opportunities—through both the Festival of Universities and dedicated research platforms—in ensuring the vitality and continuity of our field: “Everything is built on competition. That’s how we secure our future”.
He also highlighted that the Market is devoted not to transactions, but to discovery, partnership, and community.
This year’s Performing Arts Market features a major Norwegian delegation, offering participants fresh avenues for collaboration and exchange in the performing arts.