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By Paulo Merisio, Member of the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International |
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60 Years Old - A Bright (and Brilliant) Celebration of ASSITEJThis text is a record of some significant memories of the ‘Bright Generations’ Artistic Gathering, organised by Théâtre Massalia and ASSITEJ France, in March 2025. I'll use a method which will allow myself, at times, to refer to some personal experiences - both from my connection with ASSITEJ and with milestones within the AAG; after all, it was also my 60th birthday. As there were 819 delegates from different countries, I'll mention some people by their first names, so that they symbolise all of us who together made this gathering remarkable, strengthening the importance of the different threads that make up the ASSITEJ fabric (at the end of the text, you can read their names and which part of the Association they represent in this text). I will also do this to symbolise a phrase that was present in Émilie (Théâtre Massalia), Fanny, Anabelle, Christophe (Scènes d'enfance - ASSITEJ France), and Sue's (ASSITEJ International) speeches at the opening of the event: we are one big family. It was within this feeling of welcome that I first approached ASSITEJ, taking part in the ‘Taboo Workshops’ - a project devised by Maria Inés and Katariina in 2008 in Caracas, Venezuela - which yielded remarkable lessons for those who took part, generating friendships that remain and that make us feel like the ‘taboo family’. In 2014, I represented Brazil at the 18th ASSITEJ World Congress in Warsaw, Poland. This was my first experience as a delegate at a congress. I was simultaneously enchanted by the power of the representativeness of that meeting and frightened by the entire organisational structure involving so many countries. From this event onwards, I got closer to the Ibero-American Network and was able to be part of strengthening this collective over the years. So I got involved, both nationally, by joining the ASSITEJ Brazil Executive Committee, and internationally, by taking part in meetings, congresses and the various networks. Our intense week in Marseille brought us many moments of family celebration. Birthdays are also times to celebrate achievements. We were able to follow the legacy and impact of the Congress in Cuba on the country and the region. Dayana, Irene, Kenia and Rachel - with the special participation of Bebê, who stressed the importance of the Professional Exchange Programme in the programme - revealed the great impact of the 21st World Congress. In addition to the AAG's excellent programme of shows and professional exchanges, the artistic meeting gave us an insight into ourselves. In the three sessions of the Artistic Encounter, Jon, Julia and Theis reminded us of the importance of always being open to all forms of communication, and trying to break down the barriers of different languages. This simple message, which came as part of the French translation exercise, symbolises an important axis that will guide the association's discussions and activities: the search for equity. The National Centres were able to meet and establish important exchanges reinforcing our concern with strengthening the participation of current members and the accession of new members. At the meeting we had with ASSITEJ's International Professional Networks, Vigdís coordinated an activity in which the networks had to choose an object that represented their work; Claire and I chose thread and needle to represent ITYARN, symbolising the idea of weaving, the articulation of ideas and thoughts. But Diana contributed an even more powerful image: that of a patchwork: we are plural, made up of different prints, but which together form a beautiful and powerful whole. All these activities within the programme remind us both of the breadth of our association and of the potential for expansion and the search for even more equal participation by the various members that make up this patchwork. I was also able to attend the exhibition of a simple and extremely powerful idea proposed by the network Write Local. Play Global. Cleiton, Ginni and Karin presented the result of their call for proposals for a poetic experiment, combining image and text. I conclude this brief and free ranging account of our 60th birthday party, inspired by this proposal. |
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I was born on 1 April 1965 in Porto Alegre, in the south of Brazil. I had no idea what ASSITEJ would become. But today, at the age of 60, it gives me a kind of comfort and cosiness for this baby in the photo (myself) to think that a group of people, a few months later, would create such a strong collective, dedicated to children’s rights of access to art and culture. Since I'm also a birthday boy, as I blow out the candles on the cake, I'm entitled to one request: may our association reach more and more babies, children and young people from all over the world. Happy birthday!!! Ler em português> |
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ASSITEJ Members quoted: Maria Inés Falconi (ATINA – ASSITEJ Argentina) and Katariina Metsälampi (ASSITEJ Finland and Small Size) – representing all former members of ASSITEJ International Executive Committee and ASSITEJ Projects Dayana Deulofeu, Irene Borges, Kenia Rodríguez Núñez and Rachel Heredia (ASSITEJ Cuba and Iberoamerican Network) – representing all National Centers that hosted an ASSITEJ International World Congress and ASSITEJ Regional Networks Bebê de Soares (Young Dance Network, ASSITEJ Chile and ASSITEJ Germany) – representing ASSITEJ International Executive Committee and the global perspective of the Association Jon Dafydd-Kidd (ASSITEJ UK), Julia Dina Heße (ASSITEJ Germany) and Theis Irgens (ASSITEJ Norway) – representing ASSITEJ International Executive Committee, its Working Groups and Artistic Encounters Claire Mason (ITYARN) – representing researchers, professors, artists, producers,… – all the individuals/ professionals that are members of ASSITEJ Diana Kržanić Tepavac (ASSITEJ Serbia) – representing all honorary members of ASSITEJ International Cleiton Echeveste, Ginni Manning and Karin Serres (Write local. Play global) – representing all ASSITEJ International Professional Networks |
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| News from ASSITEJ International |
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 | | | | Survey On Cultural Rights | | | ASSITEJ International and four other performing arts networks have together formed a Performing Arts Coalition (PAC). The Performing Arts Coalition will address a different topic each year. In 2025, we will address cultural rights as well as the political and social trends that impact people’s ability to engage with the performing arts freely, both as artists and audiences. The topic will be addressed through a survey, a workshop, and a concluding policy event to share the results with the sector and decision-makers in Europe. PAC and the political channels we have together give a very good opportunity to share both positive and negative trends affecting our sector and the unique conditions it has to work for and with children and young people. We ask each ASSITEJ Centre and Network in Europe to make sure we have relevant responses to the survey from your country and network. Deadline: 18 April 2025 at 23:59 CEST Fill out survey> More info> |
 | | | | A Warm Welcome To Our New Members! | | | Since the ASSITEJ World Congress in Havana, Cuba, the ASSITEJ family has grown even bigger! In recent months, new ASSITEJ National Centres have been established in four countries: Senegal, Greece, Indonesia, and Ghana. Several other countries are currently working towards establishing their own National Centres. ASSITEJ International warmly welcomes these new members to our global community and wishes them every success in their work. |
 | | | | Advocating For Children’s Cultural Rights In EU Policies | | | On 20 March ASSITEJ International participated in “A new Culture Compass for Europe - Consultation of cultural stakeholders”, hosted by Glenn Micallef, EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. Louis Valente and Yannick Boudeau from the Executive Committee represented ASSITEJ and spoke about the importance of placing children and young people’s cultural rights as central elements in the Culture Compass for Europe as the future framework for EU cultural policies. Intergenerational fairness must apply to culture both on EU levels including the Creative Europe Programme and in the member states of the EU. ASSITEJ International will continue the dialogue and work to achieve an implementation of this ambition that is built into the mission of Glenn Micallef who is commissioner for both “Culture” and “Intergenerational Fairness”. |
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 | | | | Open Call: Productions for Bibu | | | ASSITEJ Sweden Do you want to be part of bibu's next program? Nominate your production! Nominated productions should be aimed at audiences between 0-19 years and need to be available to perform during the bibu festival in Helsingborg. The international productions will be selected by the International Selection Committee consisting of four persons and the directors of bibu. The brief is to find performing arts for children and young people that inspire, provoke debate and are at the forefront of high artistic quality. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the conditions of your participation on jury@bibu.se You can find the nomination form on our website. 🌎🌍🌏 Helsingborg, Sweden 🗓 27 - 30 May 2026 Deadline: 31 July 2025 More info> |
 | | | | Call for Applications: Early Childhood Theatre Festival Príncipe Enano | | | ASSITEJ Cuba The Cultural Promotion Centre Casita de la A, invites theatre groups that focus on creations for young audiences to participate in the first Festival of Theatre for Early Years PRÍNCIPE ENANO, to be held from 3 to 6 June 2025. This festival will become a significant theatrical festival that invites performing artists working for children to present their shows for the early years. Sponsored by the Plaza Cultural District and ASSITEJ Cuba, the performances will take place in the children's circles of the capital's Plaza de la Revolución municipality. If you are interested, please contact casaahabana@gmail.com or assitejcubaoficial@gmail.com 🌎🌍🌏 Havana, Cuba 🗓 3 - 6 June 2025 Deadline: 20 May 2025 |
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| News from around the world |
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 | | | | Displaced Theatres of Ukraine are on the Professional Stage Again | | | ASSITEJ Ukraine Member of National Centre ASSITEJ Ukraine Volyn Regional Puppet Theatre (Lutsk) hosted performances of two displaced Ukrainian theatres in March 2025. Puppet Theaters from Mykolayv and Kherson, cities under Russian occupation in 2022-2023, presented four performances in Lutsk. One of them, “Tom Thumb”, was a premier. This important action provided a platform for the solidarity of Ukrainian theatre makers. |
 | | | | 8th International Theatre Festival for Children and Youth JĖGA! | | | ASSITEJ Lithuania ASSITEJ Lithuania invites the international community to the 8th International Theatre Festival for Children and Youth JĖGA! on the 13-18th May 2025 in the beautiful city of Panevėžys in North Lithuania! We have prepared for you an inspiring and diverse program of performances and workshops from Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia, Norway, Italy and Mexico. 🌎🌍🌏 Panevėžys, Lithuania 🗓 13 - 18 May 2025 Contact: fest.assitej.lt@gmail.com More info> Facebook> |
 | | | | An SDG For Ethnic-Racial Equality | | | Sustainability Section Thinking about the global dimension of ASSITEJ, it's interesting to realise that discussions about sustainability and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can present different nuances according to each context. The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’ will be held in the Brazilian Amazon in November 2025. This demonstrates an unprecedented global movement where people in different socio-economic, political and cultural realities, and from different worldviews, are using this narrative of the 2030 Agenda, translating it into their territories in the search for another future for the planet, and engaging in dialogue with local demands. Read more> |
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 | | | | Reimagining Language: A Path to Unity in African Theatre for Young Audiences | | | ACYTA The significance of language was brought into sharp focus at the recently concluded ASSITEJ International’s Bright Generations Artistic Gathering. With over 800 artists, educators and researchers working with children and young people from across the globe, this landmark event underscored language as both a creative and practical concern. One of its central pillars—historical legacies and new challenges—demanded a critical engagement with the continued dominance of colonial languages and urged us to reimagine Africa’s linguistic diversity as a unifying rather than divisive force. Throughout the event in Marseille, participants experienced moments of linguistic vulnerability: navigating performances in unfamiliar languages, relying on subtitles or sign language, and interpreting non-verbal productions. Even outside performance spaces, daily interactions—asking for directions, participating in workshops, or simply connecting over meals—were laced with linguistic negotiation. These moments served as sharp reminders of how language mediates our access, shapes our experiences, and often defines our belonging. Read more> |
 | | | | ForesTEEN Activities And Opportunities | | | ForesTEEN Online ForesTEEN Meeting on 14 April 2025 at 6pm (CET). Join the project's monthly digital meeting and talk to colleagues and teenagers from all over Europe. 🌎🌍🌏 Online 🗓 14 April 2025 Register here>
ForesTEEN project goes to AUGENBLICK MAL!, the international theatre festival for young audiences in Berlin. Write us to segreteria@segnidinfanzia.org to know more about ForesTEEN and meet ForesTEEN Teenagers in Berlin from 9 - 11 May. 🌎🌍🌏 Berlin, Germany 🗓 9 - 11 May 2025 |
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| Article/Podcast Section | | | | Looking Back: AAG 2025 - Bright Generations |
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| By Emanuelle Soler & Michaël Cros | | | | Creating For Young Audiences And Changing Our Societies Worldwide | | | “Fireflies on air” was a sound project that took place during Bright Generations – Générations Lumineuses. We invite you to meet performing arts professionals for young audiences from around the world! Today, we invite you to listen to Jerry Adesewo (Nigeria), Vivan Boateng (Ghana), Cleiton Echeveste (Brazil), and Vicky Ireland (United Kingdom), the speakers of the first professional meeting which opened “Bright Generations” week, Monday, March 24th morning, at the Théâtre Joliette in Marseille.
Listen to podcast> |
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| | | ASSITEJ International | Via Giacomo Matteotti, 16, 40129 Bologna BO, Italy | |
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