We are happy to announce that our project, 'Past Present', was awarded on Monday evening at the AFCN Gala, for *Promoting Romanian culture in the world*, based on the partnership network between PETEC, the Beaconsfield artistic space (London), the National Dance Center Bucharest (CNDB) and the Triade Foundation (Timișoara).

Past Present is a project dedicated to memory and different ways of inhabiting — in our own bodies, in the spaces around us and in our imagination. By mirroring two destructions of cities almost 2000 years apart, Pompeii and Bucharest in the 1980s, we give voice to almost forgotten histories through performance, film and installations, developing close relationships based on empathy with both the community we collaborated with and the audience.

Based on a long-term research by Ioana Marinescu (architect, visual artist), supported by the Cartierul Uranus team, the project took its current form through the collaboration with Smaranda Găbudeanu (choreographer, founder of PETEC) and Iulia Mărăcine (performer, co-founder of Ludic Collective). The core team was joined by director Laurențiu Calciu, performers Andreea David, Hennie Lee, Eliza Trefaș, actress Katia Pascariu, choreographer Hanna Gillgren, playwright Phoebe von Held, architect Thomas Goodey, musician Doru Apreotesei and sound designer David Crawforth.

'Past Present', in its multiple iterations, is a project into which we have poured so much energy, passion and life force that we are deeply moved by the recognition of its value in the Romanian and European cultural landscape. And we are even more excited as we just found out that the next stage – 'Uranus – work in progress' – has been selected for funding by AFCN! Past Present… and future!

Partners: Beaconsfield, Triade Foundation, Uranus Neighborhood, CNDB (National Dance Center), H2DANCE, CESI (Center of Excellence in Image Studies), /SAC @Malmaison, The Paul Neagu Estate (UK).

Thanks: Aurelia Anton, Sorina Jecza, Laura Mesina, Ileana Pintilie, Naomi Siderfin, Vava Ștefănescu, Ana Turos, Carmen Zmaranda, Doina Apreotesei, Laura Bivolaru, Raymond Bobar, Costin Gheorghe, Cristian Lipară-Văraru, Alex Radu; the community of the former Izvor and Uranus neighborhoods; Pompeii Archaeological Park

'Past Present' is a project of PETEC – Association for Theatre and Books, commissioned by Beaconsfield, co-financed by ICR through the CANTEMIR program.