ITER: DEVELOPING MORE SUSTAINABLE approaches to international touring
The International Touring & Environmental Responsibility (ITER) programme supports artists and cultural organisations in England, Scotland, Denmark and Norway to build more sustainable, inclusive models for touring.
ITER is initiated and financed by Arts Council England, Arts Council Norway, Creative Scotland and the Danish Arts Foundation, and is designed and delivered by Julie’s Bicycle and In futurum.
4
programme years delivered
83
participants to date
4
countries collaborating
Growing
network for sustainable touring
What is iter?
ITER is a programme designed for touring companies, venues and performing arts practitioners looking to explore how international touring can evolve in the face of climate, equity and access challenges.
The programme follows four stages:
- A call for applications and selection process
- A series of interactive online seminars and peer sessions
- Development and testing of new ideas for sustainable touring
- A chance to access funding or strategic support
In 2026–27, the programme offers two series of seminars depending on participants’ experience level.
- Pathfinders programme – an introduction to sustainable touring principles for beginners
- Changemakers programme – a more advanced programme for those ready to lead on new models of change
This year’s edition will be delivered by Julie’s Bicycle in collaboration with Copenhagen-based consultancy in futurum.
Our past cohorts’ impact
Since 2022, over 80 artists and organisations have taken part in ITER. Together, they are leading the shift toward more responsible touring practices.
Piloting new approaches to environmental responsibility (2022)
Discover how three UK–Denmark partnerships explored sustainable touring through workshops, research, and hybrid collaborations.
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Deep touring model for dance (2023)
What if there was an alternative to traditional fly-in, fly-out methods? Explore this collaboration into low-emission touring through local engagement and co-creation approaches.
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Creative experiments in sustainable touring (2024)
How did five projects across dance, music, design and sound art develop bold, low-impact approaches to international collaboration? Read more now.
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Regenerative approaches to international touring (2025)
Read about three innovative new projects that could transform the ways we perform, exchange art and share knowledge.
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How to apply
Applications for the 2026–27 International Touring and Environmental Responsibility (ITER) programme are now open.
To apply, please follow the links at the end of our open call page.
case studies and examples
Deep touring model for dance
Pavilion Dance South West and Aarhus Festival ask: Can we reframe environmental responsibility and justice as drivers for creative choices rather than limitations?
Exploring sustainable, collaborative creation across England and Denmark
Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) explore their their collaboration with Danish-based composer and sound artist Liv Vester Larsen from ITER 3. COALFIELD to LANDSCAPE, the next part of their project, Merging, took place in Denmark in August 2025.
What can touring learn from hunter-gatherer culture?
ITER 2025 participant Tom Bailey of Mechanimal reflects on a 1,600 km low-impact walking tour that reconnects art, ancestry, and environmental responsibility, asking what touring can learn from hunter-gatherer relationships with nature.
Video: Sustainable festival budgeting and resourcing
CPH Stage from Copenhagen and LIF from London share sustainable methods of festival budgeting and resourcing in this 1.5 hour knowledge-sharing event and panel recording at the 2025 Copenhagen knowledge-sharing event.
Shaping responsible touring with small habit changes
ITER 2025 participants Nutkhut explores how international collaboration and small habit changes can shape more sustainable and responsible touring, grounded in the British South-Asian cultural experience.
How can international touring become more sustainable?
ITER 2025 participant Gulli Sekse reflects on regenerative touring models, ecological thinking and new approaches to environmental responsibility in the performing arts.
2025 – How can we dream differently about touring in a time of climate crisis?
In 2025, JB collaborated with in futurum and arts professionals from the UK, Denmark and Norway to present a panel and workshop at the Manchester International Festival on sustainable touring, cultural exchange and mobility.