Office National de Diffusion Artistique

Office National de Diffusion Artistique
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Orientations

Onda Extranet Accueil

From the fear of losing to the desire to act / For a new impetus in a context of transitions

Since 2023, under the impetus of the new Director, Onda has begun repositioning its activities to better assist professionals in the sector in responding to social, economic, and environmental transitions. The pandemic crisis marked the end of the old 20th century, acting as a catalyst for societal issues that were already emerging before it. Recognizing that the institutional model of French public theater is becoming increasingly strained in its current operations, Onda is aiming, through its new orientations, to support operators in navigating the necessary transformations.

On the international stage, the current context is marked by both significant tensions and deep, systemic changes.

On one hand, friction arises from the post-pandemic period, entrenched wars in Europe and the Mediterranean regions, the rise of populism in many European countries, the high inflation, and the ongoing ecological catastrophe. For the performing arts, the risk is a retreat into isolation and a slowdown in mobility, which disproportionately affects the most isolated and vulnerable artists.

On the other hand, in the wake of #BlackLivesMatter and other emancipatory critical movements, new awareness and voices are emerging within artistic creation and practices in the International and French performing arts sector. The recognition of Indigenous peoples' rights and a multiplicity of cultures, the visibility of decolonial thinking, and the deconstruction of Eurocentrism are all influencing current debates and reshaping our view of the world. This shift challenges power dynamics, invites the imagining of new ecosystems, and necessitates rethinking the production and collaboration methods.

These changes in perspective inform our reflections and act as a catalyst for envisioning fairer and more balanced ways of working. "Doing things differently" is possible, and new modes of action are emerging in the field. 

This is why it is urgent for Onda to contribute to the necessary transformations in the sector, converting the "fear of losing" into a desire to build.

In service to its partners (institutions, venues, festivals, and artistic teams), Onda relied on an inclusive and participatory working methodology to define the axes of its new project. To this end, in January and February 2023, Onda organized four consultation days with its partners (directors of organizations of various sizes and scopes, artists, and members of interacting organizations in France and abroad), which led to a series of questions and recommendations. The new orientations were also informed by the reflective work carried out by other organizations such as Syndeac, Arviva, and the DGCA (Direction générale de la création artistique / French Ministry of Culture’s Directorate-General for Artistic Creation) through their "Better Production - Better Dissemination" plan.

In January 2025, Onda once again invited around fifty partners to take part in another discussion on Onda’s activities and the context in which they are carried out.
This new edition aimed to gain a better understanding of current programming practices within performing arts presenting organizations and to build on participants’ analyses in order to adjust some of the measures, activities, or support mechanisms offered by Onda—particularly financial support. It also sought to assess the relevance of ongoing experiments and to reconsider the priorities of actions to be undertaken. Click HERE to read the synthesis report of these exchanges (available only in French).

Strengthening Onda's role to "professionalize" and build common frameworks in times of societal, economic, and environmental transitions

Creating Collective Momentum

During the consultation days, partners expressed a "need for Onda" as a place to "professionalize". A space to meet peers, draw from inspiring knowledge, engage in discussions in a climate of trust, and maintain personalized dialogue with advisors about the development of artistic projects (read the synthesis, onyl available in French).

Overall, the pandemic was experienced as a moment of realization regarding the exhaustion of the current French public theater system, with a strong need for transformation. While this diagnosis is largely shared, operators feel ill-equipped with tools and strategies for this transformation, and they are looking to Onda for support. There are interesting individual initiatives, but they deserve to be analyzed and shared.
 
There was also a recurring demand to work on terminology.
 
For Onda, it is essential to ensure that representatives of all types of structures (large and small, at the core or periphery of institutions) are included in the dialogue, and to organize the sharing of experiences during its meetings.
 


Fostering dialogue around the meaning of the profession


Some evolving societal notions are challenging traditional practices in the profession:

  • New forms of democracy are questioning expertise, the legitimacy of choices, the role of audiences, and the concepts of public interest and the commons;
  • Challenges to universalism and the very notion of artworks raise questions about programming, the boundaries of art and culture, and create tensions between artistic excellence and the imperative of diversity in forms and perspectives, between creative freedom and the instrumentalization of art;
  • Awareness of the finite nature of planetary resources is imposing criteria like sustainability, which struggles to find its footing in an inherently ephemeral art form, particularly in a public system where production dictates funding, and where the mobility and transportation of works is assumed;
  • A cultural paradigm shift with generations raised in the Digital age (instant access to information, algorithms, AI) does not negate the need for in-person gatherings but raises questions about how they are conducted, and even their rituals.

For Onda, the task is to create spaces for discussion on these issues, moving from the macro (the philosophical foundations and reflections in various sociological, aesthetic, and scientific fields) to the micro (practices and works), and thus encouraging institutional transformation.
 


Sharing reflections on performing arts aesthetics


Traditionally, Onda’s meetings have primarily served to bring programmers together to discuss performances they’ve seen and facilitate tours. However, the societal transitions mentioned above also introduce new factors to consider when evaluating artistic gestures and works. Concepts such as diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability, which have been widely embraced by performing artists in recent years, raise a host of questions about how and from where we view these works. Whereas expertise was once primarily focused on the work itself, there is now a greater need to consider the entire process of creation that fosters interactions between art, contexts, and people.
 
For Onda, the goal is to create spaces that foster dialogue on aesthetics, which cannot be separated from an ethical perspective.

Three priority areas: Promoting cooperation / Encouraging innovation / Balancing visibility

Informed by the changing context and the needs of professionals, Onda focuses its actions on three priority areas, which translate into potential financial support.

 

Promoting Cooperation

  • Between Venues

Today, the concept of "rational touring" relies mainly on the coordination work of the companies. The goal is to shift this trend by encouraging venues and festivals to consider the mobility of artistic teams. The aim is to extend the lifespan of works while reducing the carbon footprint of the tour and sharing the costs. 

To this end, Onda, in partnership with operators from Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, has developed an open-source tool: "CooProg." It is a digital platform for programmers to share their plans to invite artists early on, with circulation initially considered on a European scale. Active since October 2023, the platform now has over 800 users, and improvements are currently underway.

In a context that can lead to isolation, which is detrimental to international artists, Onda will continue to support the hosting of international teams.

Onda facilitates contributions from international peers/programmers to provide additional input alongside the work of its advisors.

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  • With atypical Venues

Cooperation can also be fostered between recognized venues and atypical ones, not necessarily dedicated to live performance (Cafés, Retirement Homes, Municipal Halls, etc.).

  • Between Venues and Artistic teams

Onda encourages cooperation between artists and venues that goes beyond providing production means. This can include co-programming, co-creating projects with shared governance, and providing training for permanent staff by artists.

  • Between Onda and its Partners

Cooperation is part of Onda's working methods, relying on partner initiatives to organize its meetings and drawing on the expertise of existing networks.

Onda develops its program in France and abroad in consultation with professionals already reflecting on the topics being addressed.

It works at the European and extra-European levels, aiming to connect experiences from other countries with those of French professionals.

Encouraging innovation for works created in France or abroad

  • Digital / The continuation of “Écran vivant”

In 2021 and 2022, the experimental initiative "Écran vivant" aimed to advance the digital practices of artists and performing arts organizations. It supported experimental approaches to creating works adapted to new digital uses that complement and enrich the live performance experience. This included the production and dissemination of works such as documentary films, web series, video capsules, augmented recordings with interactive content, podcasts, platforms, apps, video games, etc.

These digital formats increase the visibility of productions (as distinct from simple recordings). Onda supports these hybrid formats, which exist between creation and dissemination, and between artwork and communication or mediation tools.

Additionally, Onda supports digital works with specific dissemination challenges (small audiences, increased number of presentations, mediation staff requirements, etc.) and those that create unique encounters with the audience (guided audio tours, performances with VR headsets, etc.).

  • This approach responds to the need for "slowing down" and "anchoring."

Onda encourages projects that offer artists long-term presence for interaction with local residents, such as artist portraits across a season or territory, revivals of repertoire, and serial performances.

  • Proposing new alliances, processes, and reception modalities with the public

Onda supports experimental projects imagined by venues and live performance artists that foster interactions with local residents and involve partnerships with non-cultural actors (sometimes referred to as participatory or territorial projects, or mediation projects).

In doing so, Onda broadens the definition of "dissemination" to include not only performance times but also all other moments that allow exchanges with the public.

 

Balancing visibility

Onda aims to promote diversity in perspectives and aesthetics. It supports certain so-called "minority" forms, those less represented on French stages, to prevent the risk of exclusion in times of budgetary tension.

  • Minority aesthetics for works created in France or abroad

This includes experimental or "creative" music, digital creations, and experimental forms, as well as works from underrepresented regions (for example, Corsican productions in the rest of France).

  • Entry into the profession for works created in France or abroad

Entering the profession remains a challenge for young companies. Onda encourages venues that support young creation by providing it with long-term visibility, either through multiple performances at the same venue or a commitment to an artistic presence over a season, or through collaboration with touring partners.

  • Artists with limited access to Resources and Networks

As a signatory of the Visibility Pact for Ultramarine Artists by the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for Overseas Territories, Onda prioritizes the circulation of works and artists from French overseas territories.

It also provides special support for displaced artists, known as "in exile," and those creating in countries experiencing political crises or economic hardship, particularly in the Global South and Eastern Europe.

  • Making live performance accessible to all

Onda supports actions that enable as many people as possible to share in audience experiences, including audio description, sign language adaptation, and tailored translations. It also supports works created by artists with disabilities.