Welcome to the 18th OLA Conference 2025

From June 17 to 20, theatres, festivals, and companies associated with Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA), along with invited guests and organizations from the creative industries of Ibero-America, will gather at the Palau de Les Arts in Valencia, Spain, to engage in dialogue and reflect on the present and future of our institutions at the 18th Annual Ópera Latinoamérica Conference, titled Theatres: Audiences and Ideas of the Future.

The rapid pace of socio-economic, artistic, and technological changes invites us to reflect on how to address these constant advancements and reconfigurations of ideas, tools, and opportunities, so that the work in theatres, festivals, and companies remains relevant to the communities and audiences we serve.

This year, the focus will turn to the audiences, which will be the thread guiding questions such as: Who are we programming for? What are we programming? How do we ensure that these decisions are coherent, sustainable, and viable? How do we communicate with our audiences today? And, lastly, What innovative models could serve as a reference for the future of the Ibero-American creative sector?

Sustainability will continue to occupy a central space in the discussion. In this edition, we will continue to share perspectives with public-private organizations and introduce the environmental factor into the conversation through the Green Book for Theatres. This practical document will serve as the starting point for a discussion on the challenges sustainability presents for theatres and organizations at the organizational, structural, and artistic levels.

As every year, the more than 45 members of the Ópera Latinoamérica network – represented by directors, managers, artists, managers, and specialists from Ibero-American organizations – alongside experts connected to the creative industries, will meet for three days to work on various guidelines for managing theatres, festivals, and companies and, in particular, to reflect on how the arts can contribute to sustainable development.

The OLA 2025 Annual Conference program will feature a packed schedule of activities, including the annual association meeting, conferences, business meetings, visits to cultural venues, and participation in performances.

Inauguración. Foto Patricio Cortés 2 (1)

Ópera
Latinoamérica

Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA) is a non-profit organization and the largest network of theatres in Ibero-America, bringing together more than 45 theatres, festivals, opera companies, and other disciplines. It is made up of institutions from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Its purpose is to promote the activities of theatres and classical performing arts in the Ibero-American region. Its main areas of focus include creating networking opportunities, fostering innovation, digital communication, internationalization, and social impact, sharing best practices, and encouraging collaborative production.

18th OLA Conference 2025

Since 2007, Ópera Latinoamérica has held annual meetings for theatres with rotating venues. Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogotá, Quito, Montevideo, Barcelona, Manaus, and Santiago have been host cities. For 18 years, we have brought together hundreds of managers, directors, and professionals from music and the performing arts. From June 17 to 20, 2025, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia will welcome professionals from more than 12 countries.

Participants

MORE THAN 50 OPERA THEATRES

Theatres and festivals from 11 countries in Latin America, Spain, and the United States.

80% of attendees

Decision-makers at Ibero-American theatres.

General directors:

artistic directors, communications and marketing directors, among others.

Artists and managers:

from the Ibero-American music scene and representatives of local institutions.

Host 2025
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía
Valencia, Spain

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia is the theatre that hosts opera and zarzuela programming in a city that pulses with arts and culture. Located in the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències complex, the building of this theatre is a nautical-inspired sculpture designed by Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava.

Inaugurated in October 2005, the theatre staged its first opera in 2006, with Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven marking the beginning of its lyrical season. On that occasion, the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana performed the opera under the direction of Zubin Mehta, with a cast that included soprano Waltraud Meier, tenor Peter Seiffert, and bass Matti Salminen.

Let’s build together the creative and sustainable future of Ibero-America by being part of our 2025 Conference!

At the OLA Annual Conference, decision-makers from Ibero-American spaces and organizations that are part of the network gather. It is a platform designed to discuss future challenges and opportunities for the sector, and therefore, for its audiences. By participating in the OLA conference, your organization will have the opportunity to be part of these discussions, as well as establish new professional networks and gain in-depth knowledge of the cultural sector. Below, discover the possibilities of participation if you are a cultural agent, a cultural organization, a service company associated with our sector, or a company interested in sponsoring the event.

Learn about the ways to participate

Cultural Organizations and Agents

This category is aimed at all professionals, artists, and individuals who wish to expand their network, connect with peers, and gain a better understanding of sector trends.

Participation in conference activities:

1. Access to all conference activities, except for the General Assembly and private OLA meetings.

2. Coffee breaks.

3. One ticket for a performance, one per person during the conference days.

Valor: $400 USD per person
Additional participant from the same organization: $300 USD per person.

The Spanish artistic community will have free access to the activities. Limited space available due to room capacity.

Sponsoring Companies

This category is specifically aimed at companies looking to be part of an international network of cultural organizations that connect with thousands of people in their territories through music and the performing arts. Organizations whose work contributes to the integral development of individuals and the sustainable development of Latin America.

Participation in conference activities:

1. Access to all conference activities, except for the General Assembly and private OLA meetings.

2. Attendance at the welcome cocktail and coffee breaks.

3. The possibility to present at one of the talks, subject to the analysis of the curatorial committee regarding the program content.

4. Tickets for 2 company representatives to attend the conference’s opera performance.

Brand Presence:

1. Company booth in one of the conference rooms at the Palau de les Arts.

2. Inclusion of a promotional item in the welcome bag given to directors invited by OLA.

3. Company logo and mention in the conference dossier, website, newsletter, and OLA social media platforms in the months leading up to, during, and after the conference. Approximately 6 months.

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For more information, contact: Florencia Sánchez

fsanchez@operala.org