Here & Now Concludes After Six Transformative Years
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Here & Now concludes after six years of transforming international opportunities for performance created in England
After six years of opening international doors for artists, building lasting global partnerships and reshaping how performance created in England connects with the world, the partners behind Here & Now have announced that the programme will not return in 2027 as Arts Council England moves to invest in a new model of delivery from 2027.
Across its lifetime, Here & Now—and its predecessor Horizon—became far more than an international showcase. Together, they established a distinctive model of collaboration between organisations, artists and international partners, demonstrating how shared leadership, artist care and long-term relationship building could create meaningful international opportunities for performance created in England.
Independent evaluation found that the programme successfully brokered new international relationships, expanded touring and commissioning opportunities, strengthened England’s international profile and developed a care-centred model of showcasing that has become recognised across the sector. The programme also became recognised for championing artists whose voices remain underrepresented internationally, reflecting a commitment to inclusion that was embedded throughout the programme.
Over its most recent two-year cycle alone, Here & Now showcased 11 productions across 80 performances, supported 18 lead artists and engaged 66 core international delegates from around the world, alongside bespoke international touring support, mentoring and mobility bursaries that continue to generate touring opportunities today.
Paul Russ, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Fabric, said:
“Here & Now in Edinburgh became much more than a showcase—it developed into an internationally recognised meeting place where artists, presenters and producers built relationships that led to touring, commissions and lasting collaboration.
Both Horizon and Here & Now achieved exactly what it set out to do. Its legacy isn’t measured only in the performances that took place in Edinburgh, but in the international careers it has helped build, the partnerships that continue to flourish and the confidence it has given artists to imagine their work on a global stage.”
Ziza Patrick, artist, said:
“Here & Now changed the trajectory of my career. As an independent artist from the North East, it opened international doors that simply wouldn’t otherwise have existed. The relationships it created led directly to my work touring internationally, and continue to shape my practice today. It showed me what is possible when artists are genuinely invested in over the long term.”
Gabrielle Martin, Artistic Director, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver, said:
“Over the past three years, Here & Now has been far more than a showcase. It has become an exceptional model of international exchange, built on trust, long-term relationships and sustained investment in artists’ futures. Its impact has been felt well beyond Edinburgh, strengthening how organisations like ours discover and support contemporary performance created in England.”
Liliane Rebelo, Executive Director, and Natalia Mallo, Programme Coordinator, Cultura Inglesa Festival, São Paulo, Brazil, said:
“Here & Now was never simply a showcase. It created the conditions for genuine international collaboration, bringing artists and organisations together in ways that continued long after Edinburgh. What distinguished Fabric and GIFT was their commitment to building relationships that enabled artists and partners to grow together. We very much hope this spirit of collaboration continues into whatever comes next.”
The conclusion of Here & Now marks the end of one chapter rather than the end of the relationships it has created.
The true legacy of Here & Now can be seen in the journeys its artists continue to make. Since 2024, participating artists have secured more than 50 confirmed international opportunities spanning over 20 countries and five continents, with work touring to festivals and venues across Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Beyond performances, the programme has generated international residencies, commissions, co-productions, licensing agreements, research collaborations and enduring artistic partnerships.— Here & Now not only introduced artists to the world, but also helped establish the foundations for sustainable international careers.
While Here & Now concludes, the international relationships, artistic ambition and collaborative spirit it fostered will continue to shape the next generation of artists and partnerships, ensuring its legacy extends far beyond the life of the programme.
Comments