International Performance Festival

The International Performance Festival

…takes place every year (since 2009), usually from the last weekend of April until the first weekend in May. Funded by the Kultursommer Rhineland-Palatinate, the festival has become an valued part of the cultural landscape of Mainz. Seven to eight international performance groups, mainly from neighbouring countries, are chosen from hundreds of applicants to perform their individual acts at our festival. In addition to publishing an official open call for artists, we research new groups on the internet, attend other festivals and re-invite artists, who already performed at our festival in previous years with their new pieces. This way we can offer a diverse programme each year, presenting new discoveries, re-comers and performers who have become part of the pad family, as we continuously invite and support them.

In addition to the performances, the programme includes meet and greets combined with open discussions with the artists after each show, workshops and sometimes even installations or film screenings. Homemade meals provided for all artists are a special bonus. What makes this festival so special is its focus on intercultural communication and exchange. That, and its cosy atmosphere and personal flair make the festival popular among audience and artists (which manifests itself in constantly growing numbers of applications as well as artists and audience keen to come back).

The organisation of the festival starts as early as June with the launching of the call for artists and other preparations. Each year a group of 5 to 7 interns (usually students of the University of Mainz) then helps out in the last months leading up to the festival. We promote the festival via large posters in the inner city and thousands of programme flyers that are handed out and placed on campus, in the inner city, in bars, pubs, restaurants and public institutions like cinemas and libraries.