EDN members may be any legal entity devoted to the renewal and development of contemporary dance, willing to make active contributions to the network’s activities. EDN members are based in geographical Europe.

Benefits for member organisations

Networking, learning and building international capacities

• Be part of a forward-looking network advocating for the dance field at European level and supporting dance stakeholders in their sustainable development.
• Connect to potential partners for your European and international projects and networks, benefiting from the expertise and guidance of the membership and the Secretariat in relation to funding programmes.
• Access member-led thematic or macro-regional working groups to design future formal and informal artistic collaborations.

Promotion and visibility

• Internationally promote your organisation, initiatives and projects, including through circulating your news, open calls, opportunities, etc.
• Access the latest available professional information related to the dance field.
• Represent EDN in public online or physical events to valorise your organisation’s expertise and initiatives.

EDN activities

• Access to all EDN activities whether online, hybrid or physical in Europe and beyond, as well as unique networking opportunities.
• Access to travel support when the budget allows.
• Reduced or waived participation fees for EDN activities.
• Input into EDN’s yearly work programme, including research projects and publications.
• Co-hosting of EDN gatherings, from Ateliers to General Assembly Meetings, and use of these opportunities to engage with stakeholders at local, regional, national, European and international levels.
   

Operational capacity

• Full voting rights during the General Assembly Meetings, including the possibility to take part in the governing body, and access all discussions and planning processes that help shape the network and its future activities.
• Access to the members’ support documents and contact lists.
• Access to member organisations’ artistic teams and staff members for exchange programmes.

Who can join the network?

Don’t hesitate to contact members, Board members and the Secretariat to know more about the network, get a sense of orientations and activities, and ask all the questions you have in mind!

Interested dance organisations will be asked to send an application to the Secretariat.

Profile

EDN members are value-driven organisations that aim at developing a sustainable dance field and building a more diverse, accessible, fair and inclusive dance ecosystem. To be able to join the network, dance organisations should have the following profile:

• Be a legal entity, established in geographical Europe, with the professional development of contemporary dance in its own context and beyond as a core mission.
• Be a home for dance stakeholders – an artist-centred organisation promoting and supporting the independent dance field including European and international dancers, choreographers, curators, producers and other dance professionals.
• Lead a recurring audience engagement programme as well as an artistic development programme (for example through residencies, lectures, workshops, training, etc.).
• Facilitate access to a diversity of dance aesthetics and practices both by professionals and the general public.

 
Motivations

In the application process, dance organisations will be invited to demonstrate the following points:

• Agree with and contribute to the mission of EDN.
• Demonstrate their interest in collaborating with international organisations as well as in participating in EDN activities.
• Demonstrate their motivation to work collectively towards more access, diversity, equity and inclusion in the dance field.
• Promote more sustainable practices in the dance field and advocate for human, social, environmental, artistic and non-profit-seeking values.

Members’ commitments

All members understand that the more they use the network, the more benefits they get! They of course commit to the functioning of the association and its development:

• Agree to appoint at least one representative who will be the contact person(s) within the organisation to ease the communication process with other members and the Secretariat.
• Actively take part in EDN’s activities and propose new ones.
• Attend the General Assembly Meetings, either in person or via a proxy given to another EDN member organisation.
• Attend at least one General Assembly Meeting in person each year.
• Actively promote the EDN network, its actions and funders (internally, within their organisation, and externally, towards dance stakeholders).
• Respond as best they can to the requests from EDN’s Board and Secretariat to implement the yearly programme of activities.
• Pay an annual membership fee.

EDN has two types of members, but only one is open for application.

• Full members: Legal entities devoted to the art of dance that comply the 5 essential characteristics.
• Honorary members: Individuals who have been particularly committed to EDN in the past and are not working with and/or for an EDN member anymore.

Honorary members are invited to join the network based on suggestions of EDN members and/or from the board.

How to join (application process) 

Be in touch! Board members, members and the Secretariat are here to accompany you in the process.

Steps

• Interested organisations may send an application to the Secretariat anytime during the year. This application must include an explanation of main activities related to membership guidelines as well as three recommendation letters of three EDN members from three different countries, other than applicant's.
• The Board shall propose an online meeting to get to know the applicant, collect extra information, and check the eligibility of the applying organisation.
• All material collected, including videos, shall be circulated to all members so they are able to make an informed decision when voting upon the approval of new members.
• The admission of new members is subject to the approval of the General Assembly which meets twice a year (spring and autumn).
• The Secretariat shall inform the applicant of the final decision within a week.
• If the General Assembly approves the admission, the dance organisation becomes a member upon the payment of the annual membership fee.

Membership fee

• The membership fee is fixed by the General Assembly upon the proposal of the Board.
• EDN members pay an annual fee, valid from January to December.
• Fee depends on the annual turnover of the organisation and three categories are in place:
  • 200 EUR if turnover is below 200,000 EUR.
  • 600 EUR when turnover is below 700,000 EUR.
  • 1,000 EUR when turnover is over 700,000 EUR.
• EDN membership is only valid when the membership fee is paid.
• Invoices are sent at the beginning of the calendar year with a payment delay of 30 days.
• Members facing difficulties are encouraged to contact the Secretariat before the deadline to make alternative arrangements.

Members’ rights and responsibilities

General Meetings take place twice a year before the end of the first semester. All members are encouraged to participate and express their views, make decisions, and contribute to all discussions related to the management and the future of the network:

• Each EDN member has one vote. Each member can be represented by another member, holder of a written proxy. Each member shall have no more than two proxies.
• Votes include the approval of previous General Assembly Meeting minutes, the annual activity and financial reports, provisional action plans and budgets, and the election of members of the Board, among other key issues.
• Any proposal to modify the statutes of the network or bring about its dissolution must come from the Board or at least two-thirds of the members. The General Assembly shall determine the method of dissolution and liquidation of the association. Assets originating from the association shall be allocated to a non-profit organisation.

Ending membership

• Membership is automatically lost for non-payment of annual fees before the annual General Assembly Meeting. Members facing difficulties are invited to contact the Secretariat in order to find a concrete solution.
• Members can resign from the network by notifying the Board of their decision in writing.
• The exclusion of a member may be proposed by the Board, after the organisation has been heard in its arguments, and can be voted by the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority of members present or represented.