Boosting opera Theaters to Environmental Renaissance Fostering creative writing Learning with Young students (towards sustainability)

ongoing

Opera is one of the most ancient & conservative performance arts. It was born in the EU in the 17th century and its main features, magnificence and lust, have been kept during its evolution. Nevertheless, in a world growing more and more affected by climate change at an alarming rate, waste is no more a synonym of lust, and even opera has the moral duty to contribute to the general efforts towards a greener way of life. Butterfly aims to make opera production and theatres sustainable and environment-friendly, by filling in the green practices’ void related to opera production and circulation. At the same time, it will increase the competitiveness and the economic potential of the cultural and creative sector. Butterfly will be run for 36 months by 6 organizations from 5 different EU countries: 3 Opera theatres from IT, FI and PL; 1 DE digital agency specialized in video & virtual reality productions & interactive media; 1 BE leading creative industry agency experienced in communication, dissemination and audience development in an EU context, 1 Italian sustainable development agency with international experience. This special working team will build an innovative and sustainable business model based on transnational mobility, technological innovation and the social inclusion of different target groups. The main activities will be the co- creation & co-production of a sustainable opera from the opera commission to the public attendance and the sharing of the sustainable practices experimented. The creative process will start by involving youngsters from local high schools in webinars on sustainability and creative writing. Each national group of students will produce a story, and a creative panel will choose the best one. 3 composers (lyricists and musicians) will be selected to work on the libretto of the sustainable opera, which will be staged by the partner theatres. Finally, wide dissemination & networking will allow to share the project’s results at Eu level.