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여기를 클릭 하시면 크롬 등 브라우저에서 제공하는 한국어 번역을 이용하실 수 있습니다. If you can't read the email, please click here to read it in your browser By Sue Giles, President of ASSITEJ International In July I had the honour of attending the ricca ricca festa* in Okinawa, Japan, to be one of several speakers at a Peacebuilding Meeting organised as a commemoration of 80 years since the end of World War II. Ricca ricca has always had a focus on the impact of TYA – theatre as medicine, theatre’s role in peace. It is a focus that stems from the history of Okinawa - an island that has suffered conflict and occupation over hundreds of generations - and a focus that acknowledges first and foremost, the impact of conflict on children. From the program we read: Nuchigusui is the source of energy that supports the ‘golden saying’ in Okinawa Nuchi de takara – a motto that teaches however great the hardship is, we must live. In this recent festival the motto was ricca ricca is Nuchigusui and indeed, the action of making a festival, making performance, bringing people together, is an action of optimism and trust. The meeting participants, from Singapore, Australia, Japan and Norway, spoke of works of performance that allow powerless children to identify abuse; of projects that empower and connect and give voice to marginalised people; of the need to advocate for culture and the arts to be valued for its intrinsic as well as social and economic benefit; of the need for participation and access; and of great works of theatre that were created in wartime, because of wartime. The idea of Peace was discussed in many different ways: What are the threats to peace? What do we imagine peace to be? Internal or external? How do children define peace? Can peace be negative or positive - peace for the sake of peace (peace and quiet, no disruptions)? Or peace that is inclusive of people’s rights and requires truth-telling, respect and humility? Where there is suppression and lack of free expression, can we define that as a lack of peace? Where there is inequality, we can predict conflict. Theatre cannot stop wars. But theatre can present starting points for change. In our work and in our community, curiosity and enquiry are so important – the open hand, mind and heart, being a seeker not a ‘knower’. This meeting at ricca ricca demonstrated that each starting point for change is individual and contextual. Each sense of what is vital to address and each method, different. There is no collective “right way’ of doing things – there cannot be. Our members are facing every imaginable challenge in their different contexts and when we have the chance to connect, we witness the flexibility, invention and divergent approaches that are part of each person’s method in creative process. The ASSITEJ project 'Creating Cultural Equity' is the shape of our work from 2025 – 2028. By looking at inequality in our community, and taking the steps to create equity, we can continue to build our association in ways that respect and learn from the vast diversity of the global experience. Only by sharing our approaches, practice, ways and means, can we learn and be supported by our association with others. And only by recognition of children and young people as cultural citizens can we authentically include them in the discussion of what concerns them so nearly. Through specific projects such as World Day Of Theatre campaign –creating access to theatre and performance for all children and young people; Impact of crisis and the role of culture – responding to global need by creating a data base of trauma-informed practice, resources and training and; Inclusive pathways to participation – embedding children and young people in the understanding and practical action of ASSITEJ aims and mission – we are taking active steps. ASSITEJ International's purpose is unity through our cultural practice in a troubled world. Even though we are all vitally, extraordinarily different in our approaches, beliefs and convictions, we all work for the same goal - that children and young people everywhere can participate in the most inspiring, resonant and relevant art made for and with them. |
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| News from ASSITEJ International |
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| Welcome ASSITEJ Burundi! | | | We are pleased to welcome ASSITEJ Burundi as the newest ASSITEJ National Centre. Their membership is a positive step in the continued growth of our network in Africa. We look forward to working with them and wish them every success in the work ahead. |
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| | | | Call for Productions for the 3rd Abuja International Theatre Festival | | | ASSITEJ Nigeria The 3rd Abuja International Theatre Festival and Awards (ABITFA 2025) will be held from November 4–9 in Abuja with performances, workshops, and awards. Featuring the theme INOVIDCLUSION—Innovation, Identity, Inclusion—the festival showcases global and Nigerian theatre, celebrating diversity and creativity. 🌎🌍🌏 Abuja, Nigeria 🗓 4 - 9 November 2025 Read more Application form |
| | | | Call for Applications: Abidjan Market for Performing Arts | | | MASA The 14th edition of the Abidjan Market for Performing Arts (MASA) will take place from April 11 to 18, 2026, in Abidjan. Shows must be performable indoors or in public spaces. Eligible performance categories: Circus, Puppetry, Storytelling, Dance (urban, contemporary, traditional), Comedy, Music, Slam poetry, Theatre, Young audience (all disciplines), Street arts. 🌎🌍🌏 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire 🗓 11 - 18 April 2026 Deadline: 15 August 2025 Read call in English Lire l'appel en français Ler convocatória em português |
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| | | | Calls for AmEY & Valeria Frabetti Award | | | La Baracca AmEY is an under-35 project that allows international artists to pursue research within the educational services (crèches and kindergartens) of Bologna and its province, accompanied by pedagogists of Lo Sguardo Altrove. The performative or laboratorial results will be presented to the operators of the Festival. 🌎🌍🌏 Bologna, Italy 🗓 8 - 15 March 2026 Deadline: 15 August 2025 More information The Valeria Frabetti Award is an honorary award given to people and institutions that have promoted the development and dissemination of performative arts for infants and toddlers between 0-3 years old. The Award is dedicated to Valeria, who, as artistic director, decisively supported the start of the “Il Nido e il Teatro” project and then passionately accompanied it for more than 30 years. Deadline: 25 October 2025 More information |
| | | | Laçzos Artísticos International Mobility Programme 2025–2026 | | | On The Move Laçzos Artísticos is an international mobility programme for artists promoted by the Organisation of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) and the Direção-Geral das Artes de Portugal (DGARTES). As part of their work to promote culture, the OEI and DGARTES have joined forces to launch this new programme of scholarships for artistic exchange and improvement in the geographical areas of Ibero-America and the CPLP, with the aim of promoting and enhancing artistic exchange, without forgetting the importance of supporting internationalisation. Applicants must be residents or nationals of a member country of the OEI (Iberoamerican countries) and/or member of the CPLP (Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries). Applications must be from individuals, and they must not be for projects to be carried out in the applicant’s country of residence. Deadline: 31 August 2025 More information |
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| News from Around the World |
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| | | | “Chudasia” Theatre Festival in Ukraine | | | ASSITEJ Ukraine On June 27-29, 2025, the first “Chudasia” Theatre Festival took place in Lutsk, Ukraine. During three days, Volyn Puppet Theater hosted more than 30 events: performances, workshops, creative games, and meetings. Theaters from Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Volyn took part in the event. Read more |
| | | | Nurturing Youth Theatre Creation in Togo | | | ASSITEJ Senegal Mamby Mawine led a 3-hour master class, entitled “From Writing to Stage”, bringing together playwrights, directors, and actors. The program included: improvisations on a shared theme, reflection on stage writing for children, discussions on the cultural and economic challenges of the sector, and perspectives to strengthen youth theatre in Togo. Alongside, Mamby conducted a 5-day writing workshop with 15 children aged 8 to 12. On July 25th, there was a public reading of the play *Bë lugume*. The final version will be completed in September 2025. Read more |
| | | | 31st Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth | | | Sustainability Section Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Young People, which will be held from 20-24. August this year in Bačka Palanka! Under the slogan "Dear home, my freedom", FEP will host 10 shows this year from Slovenia, Italy, Poland, Czechia, Iran, France and Serbia. The Artistic Committee of the Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth (abbreviated as FEP in the following text) reviewed more than 100 applications from around the world, that is, 40 different countries, which arrived at the competition for the performances at the 31st FEP. View the programme |
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| | | | Meeting ASSITEJ & Swiss Puppet Theatre Scene Network Switzerland | | | ASSITEJ Switzerland ASSITEJ Switzerland invites its members to meetings at irregular intervals. The purpose of these meetings is to exchange views on relevant issues in everyday working life and to familiarise members with new working methods, groups and projects. For the first time, such a Meeting will take place together with the Netzwerk Figurentheaterszene Schweiz: on 30 August 2025 as part of the Zürcher Theatre Spektakel. Read more |
| | | | The Body and the Voice & SEGNI New Generations Festival | | | ASSITEJ Italy The Body and the Voice is a theatre workshop focused on two interconnected aspects: awareness and control of the body and the voice. Though seemingly different, these two elements are essential to one another in reaching an ultimate goal: being present to ourselves—that is, to our own body. More information
SEGNI New Generations Festival turns 20 and presents a rich program of events with an exciting new feature. Discounted packages available while they last! Fill in the form & email [email protected]. By selecting the Grand Tour in Italy option in the form, you will receive an email with personalised proposals and hospitality provided by hosting organisations, giving you the chance to travel and discover festivals and theatre seasons across Italy. 🌎🌍🌏 Mantua, Italy
🗓 15 October - 16 November 2025 Book by September 10 More information |
| | | | Review: Directors in TYA – An International Exchange | | | ASSITEJ Germany It was a blast! DIRECTORS IN TYA 2025 took place in June in Hamburg and welcomed 30 participants from 22 countries from five continents. Under the motto “Reassembling the World“ the participants discussed how the potential of the performing arts for a young audience can be used to create alliances between professionals, communities, children and adults around the world. Check the link to see some pictures and read more about the event. |
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| Article/Podcast Section | | | | Looking Back: AAG 2025 - Bright Generations |
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| By Emmanuelle Soler & Michael Cros | | | | Conversation With Sue Giles, President of ASSITEJ International | | | “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 meet Sue Giles (Australia), President of ASSITEJ International, along with Carole Umulinga Karemera (Rwanda), also a member of ASSITEJ International’s Executive Committee, who kindly agreed to assist with the translation. Listen to podcast |
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| | | ASSITEJ International | Nørregade 26 1st Floor, 1165 København, Denmark | | | | |
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