Reggio Parma Festival, a cultural association that promotes and coordinates artistic and theatrical activities between the cities of Parma and Reggio Emilia (Italy), launches Gradus II edition.
Following the success of its first edition, Gradus returns: it is a project conceived by the Reggio Parma Festival together with its partner theatres (Teatro Regio Parma, Fondazione Teatro Due Parma and I teatri Reggio Emilia), aimed at new generations in the performing arts. The initiative fosters dialogue between established masters and young professionals, offering a creative and training path that bridges tradition and innovation.
From April 15 to June 15, 2026, individual artists or teams of up to three members may submit original projects in the fields of playwriting, directing, set and costume design, music composition, and choreography. Up to 10 projects will be selected to take part in two residency sessions held between Parma and Reggio Emilia in autumn 2026.
Participants will also receive a €1,200 scholarship to help cover accommodation and living expenses during the residencies.
At the end of the process, three of these projects, selected after the two Gradus sessions, will be performed in the programming of Festival Aperto (Reggio Emilia), Festival Verdi and Teatro Festival (Parma) and will be produced in line with the production standards of the programs in which they will be included.
Among the mentors in the first edition were internationally renowned figures such as Gabriela Carrizo, Romeo Castellucci, Adriana Cavarero, Fabio Cherstich, Heiner Goebbels, Andrea Molino, Marcos Morau, Margherita Palli, Lucia Ronchetti, Volker Schlöndorff, Peter Stein, Ettore Tripodi.
Applications must be submitted by 12.00 noon on 15 June 2026: https://reggioparmafestival.it/gradus-2026/
