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Vietnam

Every Body in Motion – Theater and Performing Arts Festival
 Open call

HAN Every Body in Motion 1500 © Goethe-Institut Hanoi

Every Body in Motion is a festival of theatre and performing arts organised by the European Union National Institutes for Culture in Vietnam (EUNIC Vietnam), under the artistic direction of Ơ Kìa Hà Nội and coordinated by Goethe-Institut Hanoi and Britsh Council Vietnam together with EUNIC member organisations.

The festival seeks, supports, and creates performance opportunities for individuals and groups practising theatre and performing arts in Vietnam - those who place diversity and inclusion at the centre of their practice.
 

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Every Body in Motion is a festival of theatre and performing arts organised by the European Union National Institutes for Culture in Vietnam (EUNIC Vietnam), under the artistic direction of Ơ Kìa Hà Nội and coordinated by Goethe-Institut Hanoi and Britsh Council Vietnam together with EUNIC member organisations.
The festival seeks, supports, and creates performance opportunities for individuals and groups practising theatre and performing arts in Vietnam — those who place diversity and inclusion at the centre of their practice. By inclusive theatre and performing arts, we mean works in which people with disabilities participate on equal terms — as performers, creators, or co-creators — or works developed with genuine awareness of how audiences with different physical conditions, sensory experiences, and access needs can engage with the work. Inclusion here is not a label or a category: it is an artistic choice, a methodology, and a fundamental question about who theatre and the performing arts are for.

Alongside the main festival performances — scheduled for 22–25 October 2026 in Hanoi — “Every Body in Motion” Festival lorganises a year-round programme of discussions, networking events, workshops, and film screenings, with the aim of collectively building an inclusive arts ecosystem in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES

  • ADVANCE theatre and performing arts practices that centre the spirit of diversity — specifically works in which people with disabilities participate as performers, creators, or co-creators, or works that incorporate deliberate accessible aesthetic choices for audiences with disabilities (e.g. relaxed performance, audio description, sign language interpretation...). This open call is directed at artists and groups with a genuine commitment to inclusive arts and people with disabilities — not diversity in a general sense, but inclusive arts and access as a concrete creative practice.
  • BUILD A COMMUNITY of arts practitioners — with and without disabilities — and a diverse audience network for theatre and performing arts in Hanoi
  • STRENGTHEN the presence of inclusive theatre and performing arts in contemporary cultural life in Hanoi
  • PROVIDE a comprehensive support network: artistic expertise, methodologies for working in inclusive environments, and financial resources for the development and presentation of work
  • CREATE spaces for exchange on diversity and inclusion in the arts through workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, and performances

THE OPPORTUNITY

Individuals and groups who apply through this open call will have the opportunity to be supported, develop their work, and perform within the framework of “Every Body in Motion” Festival in October 2026.

Note: proposals that demonstrate a clear collaborative relationship between artists and disability organisations, or between multiple different practice groups, will be viewed favourably during the selection process.

SUPPORT FROM THE FESTIVAL

  • Artistic accompaniment
Throughout the development process, selected groups will receive direct artistic consultation and support from the festival's artistic panel — comprising specialists in theatre, inclusive performing arts, stage design, and methods of working with people with disabilities.
  • Production support
The festival provides the logistical, technical, and networking resources needed during the production and performance process, coordinated by Ơ Kìa Hà Nội in its role as the festival's lead production partner.
  • Financial support
Each idea that passes the selection process will receive a direct production grant of between 20,000,000 and 60,000,000 VND. The specific level of support depends on the nature and scale of each work, as well as the total number of works selected in the final round. The support level will be discussed and confirmed with each group after the pitching session.
  • Performance space
Selected works will be performed as part of “Every Body in Motion” Festival in October 2026. The primary performance venue will be a standard indoor theatre space in Hanoi, equipped with a stage, basic lighting, and sound system — provided by the festival. Depending on the nature of the work and upon agreement with the festival's artistic advisory team, performances may also take place in flexible multifunctional spaces or outdoor public spaces.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be reviewed in two rounds by the festival's selection panel, comprising artists, specialists, and organisational representatives from Vietnam and Europe - including people with and without disabilities. Results will be announced in July 2026.

TIMELINE

  • 17/07/2026 — Application deadline (Round 1)
  • 25/07/2026 — Results announced
  • July–September 2026 — Work development period and artistic accompaniment
  • 22–25/10/2026 — “Every Body in Motion” Festival, Hanoi

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

  • Open to individuals and groups practising in the field of theatre and performing arts in Vietnam — including drama, dance, music, choir, performance arts, puppetry, and interdisciplinary forms. No specific formal qualifications are required, but proposals must be grounded in the context of live performance presented before an audience.
  • Performance works must be a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 90 minutes in length. The programme accepts only works that are structurally complete.
  • Applicants must be able to collaborate and work as part of a team
  • Ideas must be original; if developed or adapted from an existing work, applicants must confirm that no intellectual property rights are infringed
  • Proposals that can be performed and applied across different spaces and contexts, beyond traditional theatre venues, are encouraged

ACCESSIBILITY AND SPECIAL SUPPORT

Đồng Cam Cộng Hưởng is committed to ensuring that all individuals and groups have equal opportunity to participate in this open call. We understand that the written format may not be appropriate for everyone — and so we accept applications in a variety of formats, including video, audio recording, drawings, or any form that most clearly conveys the idea.

If you have particular access needs or require additional support to participate in this open call — including materials in alternative formats or assistance completing the application — please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to find an appropriate solution.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your application via the online registration form at www.forms.cloud.microsoft/e/j9p935S8q5
For large files, please upload to One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or Wetransfer and share the link.
Language: Vietnamese or English
Application deadline: 17/07/2026

NOTES

  • Proposed ideas must be original and must not infringe copyright; any application found to contain plagiarism will be disqualified immediately
  • By submitting an application, the applicant confirms that the idea is confidential and that the applicant retains full ownership. The idea will not be shared with any third party without the applicant's prior written consent
  • Participating individuals and groups retain full ownership rights and may continue to develop their work after the festival. We ask that support from “Every Body in Motion” Festival be acknowledged in subsequent performances, including the attachment of the festival's logo in relevant communications and programme materials.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION PARTNER

Ơ Kìa Hà Nội (OKIA Hanoi film production) was founded by filmmaker and producer Nguyễn Hoàng Điệp, with a focus on independent film projects developed through international collaboration. Ơ KÌA Hà Nội also operates as an interdisciplinary creative hub, initiating and sustaining cultural and artistic work across both practice and research.

In the performing and literature sphere , Ơ KÌA Hà Nội is the organisation behind Sẽ Sẽ Chứ — an annual arts project and poetry festival launched in 2019 to preserve and spread the spirit of poets Lưu Quang Vũ and Xuân Quỳnh. Beyond poetry, Sẽ Sẽ Chứ encompasses music evenings, art exhibitions, film screenings, and artist talks, all drawing inspiration from the life and artistic legacy of the two poets.

In theatre, Ơ KÌA Hà Nội is the independent production company behind the 2024 staging of Hồn Trương Ba, da hàng thịt — a production that drew widespread attention with multiple sold-out performances.

The program is in partnership with Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2026.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I have no previous experience working with persons with disabilities. Can I still apply?

Yes. Previous experience is not required.
What the festival values most are strong ideas and genuine commitment. The application form includes a question about your level of experience, and “No prior experience, but willing to learn and receive support” is a valid option. Selected groups will receive professional guidance and support throughout the development process.
 

What does “related to persons with disabilities” mean? Do I need to include persons with disabilities in my group?

Not necessarily.
A project can be “related to persons with disabilities” in different ways. For example:
  • Persons with disabilities participate as performers or co-creators.
  • The work is designed to be accessible to audiences with disabilities (for example, as a relaxed performance).
  • Disability, limitation, or difference forms a central aesthetic element of the artistic work.
What the festival is looking for is a meaningful and intentional connection, rather than a superficial reference to the topic.
 

I would like to work with persons with disabilities, but I do not have any connections within the community. Can the organisers help?

Yes.
Where possible, the organisers are happy to facilitate connections between non-disabled artists and individuals or groups from disability communities.
If you would like support, please contact DucMinh.Pham@goethe.de
 

My project is based on an adaptation of another work. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, provided that you clearly state the source material and ensure that no copyright infringement is involved.
The application form includes a declaration regarding copyright. If you are unsure about the copyright status of the original work, please clarify this before submitting your application.
 

Can I submit more than one proposal?

The Open Call does not set a limit on the number of applications.
However, each proposal must be complete and submitted independently. If you have multiple ideas, we encourage you to focus on the one that you can articulate most clearly and commit to developing most seriously.
 

How is the support amount of 20–60 million VND determined? Who decides how much funding a project receives?

The amount of support depends on the scale and nature of the proposed work, as well as the total number of projects selected.
The final funding amount will be discussed and confirmed individually with each selected group after the pitching round. It is therefore not a fixed amount determined in advance.
This is why the budget estimate included in your application is important: it helps the selection committee understand what resources you require and why.
 

What kind of work is the festival looking for? Would a song, a standalone music performance, or an interactive sensory installation be eligible?

No.
The festival is seeking complete theatre and performance works, rather than individual acts, songs, collections of short performances, or purely sensory and interactive installations without a performance component.
In the festival's understanding, a complete work should:
  • Have a clear dramaturgical structure, including a beginning, development, and ending.
  • Present a coherent artistic language.
  • Offer a complete audience experience lasting at least 20 minutes.
Music, choir work, immersive formats, and experimental approaches are all welcome, provided that the work is conceived as a coherent whole in which performers act live before and together with an audience, rather than simply presenting an isolated act or an environment for passive experience.
 

My work carries a message about disability and inclusion. Is that enough? How do I know whether my proposal is suitable?

The organisers evaluate artistic quality and the ways in which inclusion is embodied through artistic form and working methods, rather than through a stated message alone.
Before applying, you may wish to ask yourself:
  • Is this truly a complete performance work, or only an idea, an individual act, or an experience lacking a clear dramaturgical structure?
  • Are persons with disabilities involved intentionally as performers, co-creators, or target audiences whose access has been thoughtfully considered?

Can I receive feedback on my proposal before submitting it officially?

Yes.
The organisers are happy to review and provide feedback on proposals before the application deadline. This can help you assess whether your idea aligns with the festival's criteria and, where appropriate, suggest directions for further development.
To receive feedback, please send your complete application as a single document to:
DucMinh.Pham@goethe.de at least four days before the application deadline.
We will respond as soon as possible.

Please note: this feedback is advisory in nature and intended for guidance only. It does not constitute an official evaluation and does not imply any commitment regarding the final selection outcome.
 

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With special partnership

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