ATER Fondazione

ATER Fondazione is a non-profit foundation based in Modena, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. ATER was officially established as the Associazione Teatri Emilia-Romagna in 1974 (created in 1964) by the farsighted choice of several provincial capitals and other smaller municipalities, which became its Founding Members, to develop theatrical venues and cultural policies for their citizens in the fields of theater, music and dance.

It was within ATER that three ensembles destined to become national excellencies in their respective fields were born in the 1970s: a regional symphony orchestra (OSER), in 1975 and based in Parma, today the Toscanini Foundation; the Emilia-Romagna Teatro theater company, in 1977 and based in Modena, today ERT-National Theater; and finally the Aterballetto dance company, based in Reggio Emilia, today the National Dance Foundation. With the subsequent reform of the Association in 1991, the three production structures were spun off and each followed its own path of growth, becoming autonomous Foundations, with the Emilia-Romagna Region and the local authorities involved as Founding Members.

Having definitively abandoned the terrain of show production, ATER then assumed functions of coordination, promotion and service, becoming the organizational and propelling center of the events pertaining to them, adapting its tasks to the changing scenarios and needs of the regional territory, until it too became a Foundation in 2020.

In order to absolve one of its main objectives, that is allowing the regional performing arts ecosystem to thrive in the Emilia-Romagna Region, in Italy and abroad, the Foundation is composed of five main areas:
- ATER Export Area
- Regional Multisciplnary Circuit for Performing Arts
- Communication Area
- Administration and Cultural Observatory Area
- General Affairs Area

While the last three areas (Communication, Administration and General Affairs) are transversal areas which work in close contact in order to run activities in the smoother possible way, the first two areas regard the main objectives and scope of the organisation. In relation to the ATER Export area, the main scope relates to offering various kinds of services to regional artistic companies and/or artists for their regional, national and international development. Since 2021 the Export area was integrated with the Music Export Area that, in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Music Commission, aims at internationalising the regional music sector by coordinating activities such as fundings, showcasing, knowledge of international markets, with activities such as consulting and mentorship for artists and companies from all over the territory with the aim of boosting international import and export of the regional music sector.