The Place is hosting ArtsCross – an international intercultural exchange initiative bringing outdoor performances to Euston and Bloomsbury this July

ArtsCross, an internationally recognised intercultural arts and research initiative, returns to London this summer for the first time since 2013, hosted by The Place. Bringing together choreographers, performers, scholars and producers from across the UK and Asia, ArtsCross has spent more than twenty years creating artistic exchange across cultural, national, linguistic and disciplinary borders. The 2026 London edition will culminate in Out of Place / 舞越異境 / 舞越异境, a series of outdoor performances on Friday 10 July at 12:30pm at Regent's Place, and 4pm in Russell Square.

At the heart of ArtsCross is the belief that meaningful international dialogue is built not only through presenting finished performances, but through sustained collaboration and shared creative processes. Artists work under a set of creative “constraints”, including limited rehearsal time, diverse and multilingual ensembles and thematic frameworks, inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s observation that “the more art is controlled, limited, worked over, the more it is free.” This year’s project will see eight choreographers from Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei and London working intensively over three weeks to create original performance works within the distinctive ArtsCross model: a compressed creative process that encourages experimentation, collaboration and intercultural dialogue. A group of scholars will accompany the process throughout, observing rehearsals, engaging in discussion with artists and contributing critical reflection alongside the creative development.

Founded in 2009 through an innovative collaboration between ResCen Middlesex University and Beijing Dance Academy, ArtsCross has grown into a major international platform for collaborative artistic research and performance. The project's longevity and continued expansion speak to its enduring value as a space for intercultural dialogue, creative experimentation and international partnership. Current partners include Beijing Dance Academy, Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, London Contemporary Dance School at The Place and University of Taipei. Previous ArtsCross projects have taken place in Taipei, Beijing, London and Hong Kong. Alongside performances, the initiative has generated conferences, publications, films and ongoing research exploring translation, intercultural exchange and collaborative creative practice.

In a time of rapid geopolitical and cultural change, ArtsCross continues to examine how artistic collaboration can foster understanding, challenge assumptions and create new forms of exchange across borders.

With thanks to British Land for use of Regent's Place, and Camden Council for Russell Square. 

For more information about ArtsCross, including past projects, blogs, videos and publications, and to follow the creative process please visit the ArtsCross website.