Therme Forum: Theatre and Architecture is a structure associated with FITS and dedicated to the way architectural design, programming, technology and the evolution of our communities will shape theatres and the participatory experience of the future.
The event is a series of conversations with world class architects, designers, artists and arts leaders, on theatre and the value of wider, more visionary investments in culture. Therme Forum inspires and challenges participants through an examination of historic examples, perspectives, best practices and trends from around the world. Through the multi-faceted dialogues, participants will examine the link between performing arts and their venues, and how this relation shapes and impacts the community, its financial and social sustainability, as well as the evolution of the art form.
2023 Edition
The Therme Forum for Theatre and Architecture is an ongoing dialogue between arts and design professionals from around the world, exploring the symbiotic relationship between the Performing Arts and architecture. Started five years ago, this project is a three-way collaboration between the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and Therme Group and Arup. So far, the Forum has brought over 70 speakers from 21 countries together. Participants have discussed a wide range of topics including the impact of sustainability, digital technologies, architectural design and funding approaches to designing and planning new cultural infrastructure.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Therme Group has commissioned a one-of-a-kind pavilion to host the Therme Forum activities at the 2023 edition of the Festival. Designed by Mamou Mani Architects and Arup, the temporary structure, located in Piaţa Albert Huet, will be 3D-printed from biodegradable sugar-based PLA by FabPub, a joint venture between Mamou-Mani and Therme Group. The pavilion celebrates international, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and the pursuit of sophisticated, sustainable urban design. It will host panel discussions and an exhibition featuring the work of the three organizations in relation to the city of Sibiu.
The sixth edition will bring together participants from the international arts community to continue this creative dialogue through the following sessions:
There is a symbiotic relationship between arts & culture and the built environment. Building on the immensely successful Forums from 2018 to 2021, we engage in discussions with world class arts leaders, designers and artists to look ahead at the ways our world is changing – how the trends and pressure that shape our planet, societies, built environment and our interaction relate to the impact the role arts and culture plays in our lives and the evolution of art itself.
Through this multi‐faceted dialogue, we seek to inspire and challenge participants to consider alternative perspectives, taking advantage of new trends and opportunities from around the world in the field of art, performance, and wellness.
Public Private Partnerships are a financing/development/delivery model that can bring the benefit of private sector expertise together with the longer term community development objectives entrusted to the public sector. Can this work well for the arts & culture sector? What risks and opportunities does this create?
Speakers: Dr Robert Hanea (Therme Group), Constantin Chiriac (Sibiu International Theatre Festival), Mah Bow Tan (Therme Singapore), Tateo Nakajima (Arup)
Moderator: John Alschuler (Therme North America)
June 26, 5pm
Filarmonica de stat Sibiu
What is the Role of Culture Within a City? (speaker: Rafał Dutkiewicz)
Rafał Dutkiewicz: What is the role of culture within a city? The former Mayor of Wroclaw (EU Capital of Culture 2016) will share his experiences of community, identity and the built environment as the city of Sibiu celebrates and explores the arts in 2022.
Speaker: Rafał Dutkiewicz (Former Mayor of Wroclaw), Constantin Chiriac (Sibiu International Theatre Festival)
We live in a time of an acute global climate crisis. What role does the arts sector play? What impact can we make? What does this mean for the way that we organize ourselves and the built environment we work in? With new research highlighting climate change as one of the biggest drivers of change in the arts and culture sector, how will it impact the way we work and engage?
Speakers: Antonia Seymour (Arts On Tour), Becky Hazlewood (Julie’s Bicycle), Arthur Mamou-Mani (Manou-Mani Ltd)
The past years have increased social awareness of tensions and inequities related to disenfranchised communities. How do we raise voices that have been silenced and embrace hidden identities in the arts? How do we design our environments, and our relationships to them, to support diverse communities? How can the arts and culture sector support equitable access and social justice, while contributing to more resilient and sustainable communities?
Speakers: Grace Okereke (Uprise Rebel), Jasmin Sheppard (Choreographer), Anthony Hoete (Ngārchitecture), Elena Dubinets (London Philharmonic Orchestra)
Moderators: Tateo Nakajima (Arup), Chris Mercer (Arup)
Many thanks to the British Council in New Zealand for facilitating part of this discussion.
Marina Gorbis is a futurist who will reflect on how creative institutions and artists can contribute to developing new models for the future of humanity following recent events in the world. Marina is the Executive Director of the Institute for the Future (IFTF), a 50-year-old non-profit research and consulting organization based in Silicon Valley, USA. She has brought a futures perspective to hundreds of organizations in business, education, government, philanthropy, and civic society. Marina’s current research focuses on transformations in the world of work and new forms of value creation.
Speaker: Marina Gorbis (Executive Director Of The Institute For The Future)
Moderator: Yaroslava Babenchuk (Sibiu International Theatre Festival)
2021 Edition
Therme Forum: Theatre and Architecture
There is a symbiotic relationship between arts & culture and the built environment. Building on the immensely successful Forums from 2018, 2019 and 2020, we engage in discussions with world class arts leaders, designers, artists, and architects to look ahead at the ways our world is changing – how the trends and pressure that shape our built environment and our interaction relate to the impact the role arts and culture plays in our lives and the evolution of art itself. Through this multi‐faceted dialogue, we seek to inspire and challenge participants to consider alternative perspectives, taking advantage of new trends and opportunities from around the world in the field of art, performance, and wellness.
Resilience Speakers: Tisa Ho Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Hong Kong Moderator - Tateo Nakajima Arup Fellow UK
Festival Cities Speakers: Smriti Rajgarhia Director of Serendipity Arts Foundation & Festival India Christopher Dupe Associate Director, Cultural Assets at Diriyah Gate Development Authority Saudi Arabia Cecilia Alemani Director & Chief Curator of High Line Art and the Artistic Director of the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 Italy/USA Moderator - Bree Trevena
Exploring the Future – Part A: The Expression Speakers: Dan Potra Th eatre Designer Australia Simon Reveley CEO Figment Productions UK Sarah Ellis Director Of Digital Development at Royal Shakespeare Company UK Paola Prestini Composer, Co-Founder, & Artistic Director of National Sawdust USA Moderator - Ed Elbourne Senior Consultant at Arup UK
Environmental impact and sustainable development Speakers: Charlotte Nors Managing Director of Singapore Repertory Theatre Singapore Robert Read CEO of National Concert Hall, Dublin UK/Ireland Moderator - Chris Mercer Senior Consultant at Arup Australia
Exploring the Future – Part B: The Building Speakers: Joshua Ramus Founder and principal of REX USA Kai-Uwe Bergmann Partner of BIG USA Amanda Levete Director of AL_A UK Moderator - Tateo Nakajima Arup Fellow UK-
Governance Speakers - Svanhildur Konráðsdóttir Director at Harpa Concert Hall & Conference Centre Iceland Yvonne Th am CEO, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay Singapore John Alschuler Chair of the Board for HR&A USA Moderator - Tateo Nakajima Arup Fellow UK
Constantin Chiriac, President FITS & General Director of „Radu Stanca” National Theater Robert Hanea, President and CEO, Therme Group Tateo Nakajima, Arup Fellow Yaroslava Babenchuk, Senior Innovation Lead, FITS Elena Morariu, Strategic Cultural Advisor, Therme Group Ioana Nistorescu, coordinator, ioana.nistorescu@sibfest.ro
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