FiraTàrrega 2020 launches online marketplace for professional performers

The live element of the FiraTàrrega 2020 may have fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic, but the performing arts festival is gearing up for a busy online edition that it hopes will leave a lasting legacy for those working in the industry.

The festival, which was founded in 1981 and takes place every year in the town of Tàrrega in the west of Catalonia, has created a new digital market place for performers and professionals, which will be the focus of attention this year following their decision to cancel the customary live public performances.

The market place retains the name of one of the festival's usual venues, 'La Llotja', and will be a permanent online space that "represents a renovated meeting point for the sector," according to the organizers.

On September 9 and 10 the platform will host a series of activities, including pitching sessions, 50 organizations presenting their work and ideas, and conversations between leading figures from the outdoor arts sector.

Longer term, La Llotja Online will be a permanent home to a directory of professionals, a catalogue of projects and curated content, among other features.

It is already proving popular, with 835 professionals accredited so far, from 493 groups around the world, from countries including Germany, Belgium, Colombia, Croatia, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden and Chile.

The head of the Professionals Department at the festival, Mike Ribalta, has been delighted with the response to date. "It is much bigger than we thought it would be for a pilot project," he said.

The festival's usual format will return from September 9 to 12, 2021.