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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 Yannick Boudeau, Member of the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International Dear ASSITEJ Members and community, I am very happy to write the opener for the first newsletter of the year. I wish you a Happy New Year. May 2026 bring joy, emotions, resilience, debate, resistance, and more cooperation. Regarding ASSITEJ activities, 2025 was quite dense: the launch of a new project co-funded by the European Union called 'Creating Cultural Equity: Removing Barriers to Equitable Participation for Artists & Audiences in Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People'; the amazing and fantastic Bright Generations-Générations lumineuses Artistic Gathering in Marseille with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of ASSITEJ International, and the end of the Babel project or 'the Art of Listening in Theater for Young Audiences'. The Babel project started nearly 4 years ago. Activities within the project have been implemented in 11 EU countries and 6 countries on all continents (Indonesia, Jordan, South Africa, Brazil, Cuba and Pakistan). Artists all around the world have met and worked together to perform, to discuss and to reflect on how linguistic and cultural differences are an asset not only in and for our community, but also for children and young people by listening and opening ourselves to them. The final conference, held in Theatre la Montagne Magique during the Export/Import festival in Brussels, gathered more than 100 professionals in a 5-hour session, and it could have lasted much longer. For us, it showed how people working in Performing Arts for Young Audiences are profoundly engaged in what they are doing. The conference served also as an advocacy moment uniting researchers, managers of the project, artists, curators, and people from the EU, who have been impressed by the quality of the interventions. Although I am sad the project has ended, we are very proud of what has been achieved, especially the release of the Catalogue of Inspirations, translated into 10 different languages and open to anyone who would like to translate it into their own language. This will, I hope, inspire many of us in the future, by opening new artistic perspectives, to better listen and therefore understand children and young people. You can download the Catalogue here. The endline report of the Babel project made by Chris Blois-Brooke is very valuable, and brings some elements of criticism from different stakeholders involved, that could serve as a potential next project; a more inclusive and reciprocal project that could benefit even more people. One of the things I have learnt from Babel is that an international project should not only serve the people involved, but it should also serve everyone in the ASSITEJ community, including our audiences, thus removing barriers. Read on our website in: French, Spanish & Russian |
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| News from ASSITEJ International |
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 | | | | Arts and Democracy: What’s at Stake Today? | | | Performing Arts Coalition The PAC is a coalition of five international peak organisations: ASSITEJ, Circostrada, European Dance Network, European Festival Association, and IETM. We invite you to an online event hosted by the Performing Arts Coalition Europe’s democracy and shared values are under mounting pressure — from erosion within and disruptive forces from abroad. EU leaders increasingly acknowledge these risks, and culture is being positioned with new urgency as a key pillar of democratic resilience. The EU’s latest cultural strategy, Compass for Culture, places artistic freedom, cultural rights, and cultural participation at the core of safeguarding democracy. Urgent questions remain. What threats do artists and cultural organisations actually face today? Which cultural rights are being overlooked? How can policymakers translate ambitious declarations into concrete measures for a sector already strained by both long-standing and emerging pressures? Five networks have joined forces in the Performing Arts Coalition (PAC), and they invite you to an online event presenting the findings of our new study, Between Rhetoric and Reality: Cultural Rights, Artistic Freedom, and Democratic Resilience. Based on survey answers from our joint membership, this research examines the current landscape of freedoms, pressures, and aspirations in the performing arts. The event will feature insights from sector representatives, reactions from EU policymakers, and space for open exchange. ASSITEJ International members have contributed a global perspective to this important topic through the surveys that are the basis of the study and the important lens of artists working for and with children and young people. ASSITEJ is co-organiser of this event. Join us to explore what it will take for culture not only to reflect Europe’s democratic values — but to actively defend and revitalise them. 🌎🌍🌏 ZOOM 🗓 28 January 2026, 14:00 - 15:30 CET Read more & register |
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| AWC 2027: Brave Futures | | | | Open Call: Performances for ASSITEJ World Congress 2027 | | | ASSITEJ Korea and ASSITEJ International are delighted and excited to announce the Call for Performances for the ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival 2027 in Suwon & Seoul, Korea. 🌎🌍🌏 Suwon & Seoul, Korea 🗓 22 July - 1 August 2027 Deadline: 1 May 2026 View open call中文, Français, 日本語, 한국인, Español, العربية |
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| | | | ACYTA Story Train | | | ACYTA ACYTA invites storytellers across Africa & beyond to join a Virtual Storytelling Session marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. Theme: Stories That Heal: Voices Against Harmful Traditions. We’re calling for storytellers, spoken-word artists, theatre practitioners & educators with original 5–7 minute stories that challenge harmful traditions and amplify healing, dignity & hope. Let your story travel. Join the ACYTA Story Train. 🌎🌍🌏 ZOOM 🗓 26 February 2026, 13:00 WAT Submit your interest here To attend/participate, register here |
| | | | Open Call for Artists: Segni New Generations Festival | | | ASSITEJ Italy After its 20th edition, the SEGNI Festival is undergoing a renewal and inaugurating a new phase in its history. With a new call for artistic projects, the festival is introducing new selection criteria and a redesigned format focused on transformation, the specificity of the location, and intergenerational dialogue. Artists are invited to participate in the creation of the 21st edition of the Festival. 🌎🌍🌏 Mantua, Italy 🗓 12 - 22 November 2026 Deadline: 15 January 2026 Submit your project now |
| | | | ZiguZajg Festival 2026 | | | ZiguZajg Festival Calling all creatives! ZiguZajg Festival 2026 is now open for project submissions. Got an idea that’ll wow kids and young audiences? Send it in — selected works will feature in the Festival or Season. Don’t sleep on this opportunity! 🌎🌍🌏 Valleta, Malta 🗓 13 - 22 November 2026 Deadline: 18 January 2026 More information |
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| | | | International Theatre Photography Competition | | | Theatre Exposed The THEATRE EXPOSED International Theatre Photography Competition is held annually and coincides with World Photographer's Day. The competition is open to professional theatre photographers. Participation is free. Theme: Theatre as an Art. Genres: Fine Art Photography; Portrait Photography; Movement in Art; Open Category (Theatre Performances for Children and Young People). 🗓 1 January - 19 August 2026 Deadline: 1 July 2026 More information |
| | | | OPEN CALL ForesTEEN Academy | | | ForesTEEN Four days of immersion in nature, performing arts, sharing discussion between artists, professionals from the cultural sector, teachers, parents, and adolescents in the context of the ForesTEEN project. The ForesTEEN Academy is back on Giglio Island in April 2026. You can apply to take part in the adventure supported by the European contribution as a teen (young people aged 15 to 25) OR as an artist, professional from the cultural sector, teacher, or parent of teenagers. 🌎🌍🌏 Giglio Island, Italy 🗓 22 - 26 April 2026 Deadline: 20 February 2026 More information Apply here |
| | | | Bursa International Children and Youth Theatre Festival | | | ASSITEJ Türkiye The Bursa International Children and Youth Theatre Festival returns on 15–24 May 2026, bringing inspiring performances, workshops, and encounters to young audiences from around the world. We warmly invite companies to apply by 16 March 2026 and join us in celebrating creativity and dialogue in Bursa, Türkiye. 🌎🌍🌏 Bursa, Türkiye 🗓 15 - 24 May 2026 Deadline: 16 March 2026 View call for applications More information & application form |
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| News from Around the World |
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| | | | March On, Annual Festival for Young Audiences | | | ASSITEJ Singapore March On is Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay's annual festival for young audiences, a vibrant celebration of the stories and experiences that matter to them. With a sense of playfulness and wonder, the festival also supports artists in crafting meaningful and imaginative works for young audiences. 🌎🌍🌏 Esplanade, Singapore 🗓 12 - 25 March 2026 More information |
| | | | Welcome to Starke Stücke 2026! | | | ASSITEJ Germany We look forward to welcoming 23 national and international productions from 11 countries. Productions from Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, Spain, & Great Britain will visit the Rhine-Main area, offering a diverse programme ranging from puppet & object theatre, drama, dance, to an audio walk, documentary theatre, and a multi-day installation. Starke Stücke is made for young audiences and families in the region, but we are also looking forward to professional colleagues and friends joining us for a delegate programme. 🌎🌍🌏 Rhine-Main, Germany 🗓 20 February - 3 March 2026 More information |
| | | | Wayang Helps Save The Reef | | | Sustainability Section Shadow puppetry is helping to save Indonesia’s coral reefs and inspire a new generation of environmental activists. For centuries, traditional shadow puppetry (wayang kulit) has been used to animate rituals in Java and Bali. Old techniques can be redeployed to address contemporary problems and the environmental threats from climate change are among Indonesia’s most pressing. A new performance project aims to support the health and recovery of the coral reefs in the islands around south east Bali through art and community education. Read more |
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| | | | ASSITEJ Cyprus Elects New Board | | | ASSITEJ Cyprus During the ASSITEJ Cyprus General Assembly on 15 December, a new Executive Committee was elected for a two-year term. The Board was constituted as follows: President: Stavros Stavrou; Vice President: Eleni Anastasiou; Secretary: Sofia Ioannou; Treasurer: Kiki Argyrou Board Members: Lena Kasiou, Vasilis Pafitis, Savvina Georgiou, Sosanna Tomazou, Zoi Giorgallis The new Board also unanimously re-elected Leda Koursoumba and Marina Maleni as Honorary Members. ASSITEJ Cyprus looks forward to continuing & strengthening its work locally & internationally, in close connection with the global ASSITEJ network. |
| | | | Kininso Koncepts in 2025: Touring, Teaching, and Building Creative Bridges Across Continents | | | ASSITEJ Nigeria We began 2025 with a strong commitment to children and young people’s theatre, launching the year with preparations for two major Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) tours: Sandscape, across the UK and France, and Waterside, in the UK. These projects shaped a vibrant first quarter defined by performance, pedagogy, and cross-cultural exchange. Alongside touring, 2025 was marked by rich academic and artistic engagements. We were hosted by King's College London, through the Global Cultures Institute, Africa Leadership Centre, and the School of Arts & Humanities, as part of Africa Week 2025. Under the banner Kininso@King's, we participated in panel discussions, workshops, and performance excerpts that foregrounded our creative methodologies and socio-ecological concerns. Read more |
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| | | | ZiguZajg Season 2025–2026 | | | ZiguZajg Festival Get ready for a science-powered kids’ season! ZiguZajg Season 2025–26 brings interactive Kids Dig Science shows exploring space, the human body, and wild science topics, plus family-friendly theatre productions like The Scarecrows’ Wedding, all designed to spark curiosity and creativity in young audiences. More information |
| | | | Intercultural Bridges Through Theatre: A Children’s Theatre Exchange Between Zimbabwe and Uganda | | | ACYTA The Intercultural Children’s Theatre Exchange Programme, recently hosted in Harare, Zimbabwe, offered a compelling example of how theatre for young audiences can serve as a living bridge between cultures. Bringing together young performers from Zimbabwe and Uganda, the programme celebrated collaboration, learning, and friendship through shared artistic expression. Read more |
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| | | | Online ForesTEEN Meeting | | | ForesTEEN Take part in the next Online ForesTEEN Meeting, led this month by the Dutch TAG – the group of teenagers actively involved in the ForesTEEN project in the Netherlands with Theater De Krakeling. A digital space for exchange with young people from across the EU to get teenagers and future generations more involved in cultural activities. Join us and get in touch with international cultural professionals and young people from all over Europe. 🌎🌍🌏 ZOOM 🗓 20 January 2026, 18:00 CET Register here |
| | | | Visioni 2026: Participate Now! | | | La Baracca Secure your spot at the 23rd edition of Visioni di futuro, visioni di teatro…, taking place at Teatro Testoni, Bologna (Italy), from March 8 to 15, 2026. Register for free to explore the full program, book activities, and access discounts and travel tips. Don’t miss: VISIONI DI RETE - From the local territory to the international stage. A key meeting presenting a new collaboration between ATER Foundation and La Baracca to bridge regional theatre and the international scene. (8 March, 3 pm) 🌎🌍🌏 Bologna, Italy 🗓 8 - 15 March 2026 |
| | | | Nominations for the PRIX ASSITEJ Switzerland 2026 | | | ASSITEJ Switzerland Every year, ASSITEJ Switzerland awards a cultural prize to a deserving individual, group, or institution in recognition of artistic or cultural achievements in the field of performing arts for young audiences. The five collectives now nominated represent the diverse performing arts scene for young audiences. The award ceremony will take place in February as part of the Jungspund Festivalin St. Gallen. More information |
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| Article/Podcast Section | | | | Looking Back: AAG 2025 - Bright Generations |
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| By Emmanuelle Soler & Michael Cros | | | | Conversation with Yvette Hardie | | | “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! Listen to the conversation with Yvette Hardie (ASSITEJ South Africa). Listen to Podcast |
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| | | ASSITEJ International | Nørregade 26 1st Floor, 1165 København, Denmark |
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