The International Performance Association (IPA)

The International Performance Association (IPA) is an expanding network of process oriented artists, devoted to cultural awareness through the professional practice of performance art. IPA strives to provide a platform for such artists from all over the globe to exchange ideas and initiate progress in the world of performance art. Founded as IPAH e.V. in 2006, we have formed a series of workshops, performance festivals and meetings that encourage the development of participants‘ artistic endeavors.
In 2012 the original organization was split. IPAH e.V. still remains in Hildesheim/Germany. The original IPAH Summercamp and the Platform For Young Performance Artists is from now on organized by IPA, seated in Hanau/Germany, under the new title IPA Summer. In 2012, IPA Istanbul was established as partner organizations, followed by IPA Bucharest in 20014, IPA Bristol in 2015 and IPA The Hague in 2017.

Since 2023, IPA is a non-profit association based in Hanau. The purpose of the association was extended to socio-cultural projects.

Heike Pfingsten; Performance Art Meeting 2006, Hildesheim; Photographer: Jürgen Fritz
Heike Pfingsten; Performance Art Meeting 2006, Hildesheim; Photographer: Jürgen Fritz

I PA arose from a seminar, which Jürgen Fritz had held in winter 2005 at the University Hildesheim. In spring 2006 he founded together with students the International Performance Association Hildesheim (IPAH e.V.). In summer 2006, the first summercamp with students from the University took place. The first teachers had been Boris Nieslony and Jürgen Fritz. In autumn 2006, the first meeting for Performance Art was organized, already with the partizipation of international artists: Marylin Arsem USA), Clemente Padin (Uruguay), Gusztav Üto (Romania), Boris Nieslony and Christopher Hewitt from Germany.
A special thanks for the development and commitment to the IPAH e.V. shall include: Adina Bier, Malte Beisenherz, Markus Gustav Brinkmann, Lisa Bauer, Tesi Gburek, Nadine Grobeis, Sascha A. Hermeth, Mayte Kappel Rovira, Isa Lange, Malte Pfeiffer, Heike Pfingsten, Kathrin Weber – Krüger and Sina Wachenfeld.

Jürgen Fritz, Germany
Black Market International, Festival Kulstoff 15, Aalborg, Denmark, 2015, Photographer Peter Lind.jpg

J ürgen Fritz is the artistic director of the IPA Summer. Since the founding of IPAH e.V. he is instrumental in the design and implementation of all events.1982 – 1990 he worked as a theater director, curator and actor, since 1984 as performance artist. He is co-founder of Black Market International, since the beginning of this international Cooperation of Performance Artists with whom he works since 1985. He showed his performances in all countries of Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico Asia and Australia. Since 2012 he lives as free lance artist in Hanau, Germany. He is co- founder of the International Performance Association (IPAH, registered association) and artistic director of the festival of performance art ZOOM!, co-founder and co-organizer of the Platform for Young Performance Artists and the IPA Summer. Since 1995 he is a lecturer in performance art at different Universities in Germany.

IPA History

IPA Summer 2011, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Dominik Lipp, IPA Summer 2011, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2007, RAW Tempel, Berlin, Fotograf Jürgen Fritz

Richard Spartos, Tina Kramer, IPA Summer 2007, RAW Tempel, Berlin, Fotograf Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2008, Schloss Bröllin, Fotograf Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2008, Schloss Bröllin, Fotograf Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2009, Schloss Bröllin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2009, Schloss Bröllin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer, Schloss Bröllin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Marita Bullmann, IPA Summer, Schloss Bröllin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer, Schloss Bröllin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer, Schloss Bröllin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer, Schloss Bröllin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer, Schloss Bröllin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2011, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Burçak Konukman, IPA Summer 2011, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2011, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Nora Jacobs, IPA Summer 2011, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer Istanbul 2012

IPA Summer Istanbul 2012, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Rocio Boliver, IPA Summer Bucharest 2014, Photo by Jürgen Fritz

IPA Bristol 2015 - Photographer Juergen Fritz

IPA VENICE 2016 - Photographer Juergen Fritz

IPA VENICE 2016 - Photographer Juergen Fritz

Group Work

IPA The Hague 2017 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA The Hague 2017 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Aino Sirje, IPA The Hague 2017 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Aino Sirje, IPA The Hague 2017 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Graham Martin (UK)

IPA The Hague 2017 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Ximan Wang

Platform Lublin 2017, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer Istanbul 2012

IPA Summer Istanbul 2012

IPAH 2006, Performance Art Festival, Hildesheim

IPAH 2006, Performance Art Festival, Hildesheim

IPAH 2006, Performance Art Festival, Hildesheim

IPAH 2006, Performance Art Festival, Hildesheim

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2009, Photographer Arielle Bier

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2009, Photographer Arielle Bier

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben,  Berlin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2009, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2010, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2010, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2010, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Festival Emerging Artists, Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben, Berlin, 2010, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Platform Istanbul 2012

Platform Istanbul 2012

Platform Istanbul 2012

Platform Istanbul 2012

Platform Istanbul 2013, Performance in Hayderpasa, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Platform Istanbul 2013, Performance in Hayderpasa, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Platform Istanbul Istanbul 2013, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Platform Istanbul Istanbul 2013, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Daniela Takeva, Bulgaria

IPA Summer 2014, Workshop Presentation at the Pionierul Factury in Bucharest, August 31st 2014, Photo by Juergen Fritz

Imke Zeinstra, Holland

IPA Summer 2014, Workshop Presentation at the Pionierul Factury in Bucharest, August 31st 2014, Photo by Juergen Fritz

Sarah Zaltash, UK, IPA Summer Bucharest 2014, Photo by Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2014, Workshop Presentation at the Pionierul Factury in Bucharest, August 31st 2014, Photo by Juergen Fritz

Workshop Presentation Rocio Boliver, IPA Summer Bucharest 2014, Photo by Jürgen Fritz

IPA Summer 2014, Workshop Presentation at the Pionierul Factury in Bucharest, August 31st 2014, Photo by Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA Venice 2016 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

IPA VENICE 2016 - Photographer Juergen Fritz

IPA VENICE 2016 - Photographer Juergen Fritz

Petra Strahovnik, DisOrders, The Hague, 2018

Launch of DisOrders, a 2 year-trajectory with Slovenian composer Petra Strahovnik and Ensemble Modelo62, The Hague 2018 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Petra Strahovnik, DisOrders, The Hague, 2018

Jan Willem Troost, Launch of DisOrders, a 2 year-trajectory with Slovenian composer Petra Strahovnik and Ensemble Modelo62, The Hague 2018 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Petra Strahovnik, DisOrders, The Hague, 2018

Enric Sans i Morera, Launch of DisOrders, a 2 year-trajectory with Slovenian composer Petra Strahovnik and Ensemble Modelo62, The Hague 2018 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Petra Strahovnik, DisOrders, The Hague, 2018

Launch of DisOrders, a 2 year-trajectory with Slovenian composer Petra Strahovnik and Ensemble Modelo62, The Hague 2018 - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Exploring Don Quixote - Atelier Orbit 24 und Kunstverein Familie Montez

Aurelia Lohmann, Exploring Don Quixote, 9 hour performance at Kunstverein Montez and Atelier Orbit 24, Frankfurt am Main, 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Exploring Don Quixote - Atelier Orbit 24 und Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt am Main, 2019

Larysa Bauge, An Malv, Exploring Don Quixote, 9 hour performance at Kunstverein Montez and Atelier Orbit 24, Frankfurt am Main, 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Helena Tochka Kushnir, Exploring Don Quixote - Atelier Orbit 24 und Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt am Main, 2019

Helena Tochka Kushnir, Exploring Don Quixote, 9 hour performance at Kunstverein Montez and Atelier Orbit 24, Frankfurt am Main, 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Exploring Don Quixote - Atelier Orbit 24 und Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt am Main, 2019

Ira Kharlamova, Thomas Reul, Exploring Don Quixote, 9 hour performance at Kunstverein Montez and Atelier Orbit 24, Frankfurt am Main, 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Exploring Don Quixote - Atelier Orbit 24 und Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt am Main, 2019

An Malv, Florence Lam, Exploring Don Quixote, 9 hour performance at Kunstverein Montez and Atelier Orbit 24, Frankfurt am Main, 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Stefan Mießeler, PAN Hildesheim 2018, workshop with Jürgen Fritz - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Stefan Mießeler, Performance Art Netzwerk Hildesheim 2018, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Group work, PAN Hildesheim 2018, workshop with Jürgen Fritz - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Carlotta Oppermann, Performance Art Netzwerk Hildesheim 2018, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

PAN Hildsheim 2018, workshop with Jürgen Fritz - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Groupwork, Performance Art Netzwerk Hildesheim 2018, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

PAN Hildsheim 2018, workshop with Jürgen Fritz - Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Florencia Antonia Lasch Macaya, Performance Art Netzwerk Hildesheim 2018, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Zabih Festival, Lviv 2019, Workshop with Jürgen Fritz, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Carlotta Oppermann, Zabih Festival, Lviv/Ukraine 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Zabih Festival, Lviv 2019, Workshop with Jürgen Fritz, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Léann Herlihy, Zabih Festival, Lviv/Ukraine 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Zabih Festival, Lviv 2019, Workshop with Jürgen Fritz, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Marina Gaba, Zabih Festival, Lviv/Ukraine 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Zabih Festival, Lviv 2019, Workshop with Jürgen Fritz, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Carlotta Oppermann, Ira Kharlamova, Zabih Festival, Lviv/Ukraine 2019, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

2021, Alastair Maclennan, Artists: Snežana  Golubović, Boris Nieslony, Burçak  Konukman, Christine Biehler, Deutschland, Elvira Santamaria Torres, Eva Weingärtner, Finnland, Florence Lam, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Hanau, Helge Meyer, Holland, Hong Kong, Ira Kharlamova, Italien, Jacques  van Poppel, Jürgen Fritz, Mexico, Myriam Laplante, Nataša  Zupan, Niederlande, Performance Art Festival, Petra Strahovnik, Roi Vaara, Schottland, Slowenia, Solo Eva Weingärtner 24.09.2021, Stefan Mießeler, Stefanie Trojan, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

Eva Weingärtner, BLACK MARKET INTERNATIONAL - Exploring 2021, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

2021, Alastair Maclennan, Artists: Snežana  Golubović, Boris Nieslony, Burçak  Konukman, Christine Biehler, Deutschland, Elvira Santamaria Torres, Eva Weingärtner, Finnland, Florence Lam, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Gruppenperformance Gießener Studis 23.09.21, Hanau, Helge Meyer, Holland, Hong Kong, Ira Kharlamova, Italien, Jacques  van Poppel, Jürgen Fritz, Mexico, Myriam Laplante, Nataša  Zupan, Niederlande, Performance Art Festival, Petra Strahovnik, Roi Vaara, Schottland, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Stefanie Trojan, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

Warum habt ihr denn alles nassgemacht, BLACK MARKET INTERNATIONAL - Exploring 2021, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

2021, Alastair Maclennan, Artists: Snežana  Golubović, Boris Nieslony, Burçak  Konukman, Christine Biehler, Deutschland, Elvira Santamaria Torres, Eva Weingärtner, Finnland, Florence Lam, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Gruppenperformance Gießener Studis 23.09.21, Hanau, Helge Meyer, Holland, Hong Kong, Ira Kharlamova, Italien, Jacques  van Poppel, Jürgen Fritz, Mexico, Myriam Laplante, Nataša  Zupan, Niederlande, Performance Art Festival, Petra Strahovnik, Roi Vaara, Schottland, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Stefanie Trojan, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

Warum habt ihr denn alles nassgemacht, BLACK MARKET INTERNATIONAL - Exploring 2021, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

Burçak  Konukman, Nataša  Zupan, An Malv, Beyond the civilized body - 9 -hours performance, Project by Jürgen Fritz

Burçak Konukman, Nataša Zupan, An Malv, Beyond the civilized body - 9 -hours performance, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

: Ira Kharlamova, Beyond 2021 - Workshop, Beyond 21 - 9 Stunden Performance am 21.09.21, Beyond the civilized body, Burçak  Konukman, Florence Lam, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Jürgen Fritz, LiveArt, Nataša  Zupan, Performance Art, Petra Strahovnik, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

Petra Strahovnik, Ira Kharlamova, Beyond the civilized body - 9 -hours performance, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

: Ira Kharlamova, Beyond 2021 - Workshop, Beyond 21 - 9 Stunden Performance am 21.09.21, Beyond the civilized body, Bild, Burçak  Konukman, Florence Lam, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Jürgen Fritz, LiveArt, Nataša  Zupan, Performance Art, Petra Strahovnik, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

An Malv, Stefan Mießeler, Beyond the civilized body - 9 -hours performance, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

: Ira Kharlamova, Beyond 2021 - Workshop, Beyond the civilized body, Bild, Burçak  Konukman, Florence Lam, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Jürgen Fritz, LiveArt, Nataša  Zupan, Performance Art, Petra Strahovnik, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

Group Action, Beyond the civilized body - 9 -hours performance, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

: Ira Kharlamova, Beyond 2021 - Workshop, Bild, Burçak  Konukman, Florence Lam, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Jürgen Fritz, LiveArt, Nataša  Zupan, Performance Art, Petra Strahovnik, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

An Malv, Stefan Mießeler, Florence Lam, Beyond the civilized body - laboratory, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

: Ira Kharlamova, Beyond 2021 - Workshop, Burçak  Konukman, Florence Lam, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Jürgen Fritz, LiveArt, Nataša  Zupan, Performance Art, Petra Strahovnik, Slowenia, Stefan Mießeler, Turkey, Ukraine, Van-Lam Trinh

An Malv, Florence Lam, Beyond the civilized body - laboratory, Photographer Jürgen Fritz

I n 2006 it was the first time that the IPA Summer took place. In this time it was called IPAH Summer Camp. The idea was, to install workshop for the artists from Hildesheim, to create a situation for the exchange with experienced artists. But already in 2007 young artists from 11 different nations took part. Since 2008 IPAH cooperated with the Performer Stammtisch and the Flutgraben e.V. from Berlin. In this year, the results from the workshops were shown publicly, what was continued from 2009 on as Platform For Young Performance Artists. The Platform was mainly organized by Janine Eisenächer from the Flutgraben e.V.. In 2010 the “Conference about teaching Performance Art” was initiated by Jürgen Fritz.

Thus, the IPA Summer consists of three parts: the workshops, the Platform and the Conference. In 2012 the IPA Summer took place for the first time in Istanbul, followed by Bucharest and Bristol. Until IPA 2021 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 401 artists from 42 different nations took part in the IPA events.

Origin of the participants since 2006

Origin of the participants since 2006

A bout the IPA Workshops: Most workshop participants are young artists who are professionally engaged in the practice of performance art. The workshops are open to age, the average age is between 20 and 35 years. There are about 45 invited participants who are taught in three groups. The teachers are well-known international performance artists. When we invite teachers, it is important for us, that they have developed an own artistic position. The educational qualification is of secondary importance for us, i.e. we usually invite any professors from universities, unless they are in the sense mentioned above artistically active and well known.

The workshops have been funded solely from the registration fees of participants, we get any public subsidies. Nevertheless, we try to keep registration fees to a minimum. There is no profit motive. It is important for us to also facilitate the participation of those artists who have little financial opportunity.

IPA CHRONOLOGY 2006 - 2021

A bout the „Platform For Young Performance Artists“: The platform serves primarily for networking and the exchange between artists of the IPA summer and artists from the region. It takes place in the week following the IPA workshops. Through this link, the platform receives a sometimes chaotic and anarchic liveliness, which differs pleasantly from other festivals. On two days here can be seen about 40 performances.

T he “Conference on the Teaching of Performance Art“ serves for the exchange of views about the methodology of the workshop. The invited workshop teachers will present their approach, and guest lecturers are invited to contribute on the subject.

IPA Teacher since 2006 (in random order)

IPA Organisers

IPA 2006 – 2022
A Brief overview (PDF Download)