The Freelancer Network invites you to: XTRAX Professional Programme.
XTRAX Professional's Programme is taking place at SIRF this year in partnership with OutdoorArtsUK, Without Walls and TVCA's The Engine Room which we'd love to let you know about.
Across 3 days, we're offering opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and discovering ambitious new work.
XTRAX's programme is designed for festival programmers, producers, and arts organisations looking for international touring and co-production opportunities. At present we have confirmed participation from programmers in Australia, Taiwan, France, Spain, Japan and across the UK.
Friday 31 July 2026 | 2:30 – 4:30pm: The Engine Room: Tees Valley Spotlight
Presented by Tees Valley Combined Authority’s The Engine Room, this session brings together artists, producers, and cultural leaders from across the Tees Valley to share how local talent development, festival programming, and regional investment are creating pathways to international stages.
Plus, Tees Valley artists can access exclusive events, including orientation sessions, a commissioning masterclass and dedicated reflection sessions - and showcase work to international programmers in the Tees Valley Spotlight Booklet. Submit your info for the Booklet by: 13 July, 5pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 | 10:00 – 12:00: Culture, Identity & Belonging in the Streets.
Presented in partnership with OutdoorArtsUK. International panel discussion chaired by Dr Beatriz Garcia, panellists include:
Olivier Lataste – Director of Le Cratère and Cratère Surfaces.
Sho Shibata – Director of Outdoor Arts UK
And other International panellists to be confirmed.
As public spaces become increasingly shaped by politics, identity and competing claims of belonging, this panel explores how outdoor arts can foster inclusion, empathy and shared ownership of space. Drawing on perspectives from the UK, Europe and Asia, speakers will examine the challenges facing the sector and ask what role outdoor arts can play in a world marked by deepening division.
Sunday 2 August 2026 | 10:00 – 12:00: XTRAX Shorts: Artists Pitch Sessions
Presented in partnership with Without Walls. UK and international artists will pitch new work that has been developed and is ready for touring.
XTRAX Shorts is a strand of showcasing developed by XTRAX, designed to complement our showcase programme by providing an opportunity for artists to give a presentation to an audience of promoters and street arts professionals about new or recent outdoor projects. Register as an XTRAX delegate here
We hope that being a part of this programme will help you to promote yourself and your work to potential bookers in the UK and internationally, and we warmly invite you to attend the events we are organising and to meet the delegates attending. During the weekend ARC Stockton will be the hub for all our activity, and the bar will be the designated meeting place each evening for our delegates so we hope we will have a chance to meet you there.