Vi mindes Jacques Matthiessen

En af de største og mest dedikerede skabere af teater for børn har forladt os. Jacques Matthiessen var en legende i dansk børneteater allerede inden sin død.

Han begyndte sit virke i teatret da han var 17 år. Som skuespiller, mimer, danser, dramatiker, dukkemager og siden 1986 som instruktør til et væld af forestillinger på Det lille Teater, på Marionetteatret, på Teatret, i Passepartout Theatre Production og et hav af andre steder. Han arbejdede for at skabe den bedst tænkelige scenekunst for børn med udgangspunkt i en dyb respekt for de mindste.

Hans internationale samarbejder var forbilledlige. Han samlede med stor grundighed og kærlighed kunstnere fra alle dele af verden, og skabte kvalitetsfyldte og dybdegående samarbejder, der fik relationerne og de kunstneriske processer til at blomstre.

Jacques har på en særdeles stærk måde bidraget til globalt udsyn i dansk teater for børn og unge. Både gennem sine samarbejdsprojekter – senest med sine Prospero Workshops – og gennem de mange internationale gæster han har inviteret til Danmark bl.a. i forbindelse med de årlige Aprilfestivaler.

Jacques var med imponerende styrke og ro aktiv i Passepartout Theatre Production og ASSITEJ Danmarks bestyrelse frem til det allersidste.

Hans død er et stort tab for teater for børn og unge i Danmark og mange andre steder i verden.

Ære være hans minde

Udvid din horisont på ASSITEJ’s verdenskongres!

Fra d. 22. marts til 1. april 2021 finder ASSITEJ’s verdenkongres sted “online” og “On Ground” i Japan. Da ingen danske kunstnere er i stand til at rejse til Japan, fokuserer ASSITEJ Danmark på den virtuelle verdenskongres.

Det virtuelle program indeholder:

• Et fagprogram med godt 80 debatter, seminarer og workshops
• 30+ forrestillinger “on demand” fra alle dele af verden.
• Netværksbegivenheder
• ASSITEJ’s generalforsamling og ASSITEJ Awards ceremonier

Se mere på www.assitejonline.org

Medlemmer af ASSITEJ Danmark deltager gratis

ASSITEJ Danmark køber adgang til sine medlemmer. Du kan registrere dig selv og dine kolleger til gratis deltagelse.

Bliv medlem

ASSITEJ Danmark inviterer alle teatre, institutioner og personer med interesse i scenekunst for børn og unge til at blive medlemmer. Det første år er gratis.

Læs mere her

CALL FOR PRODUCTIONS – FESTIVAL VISIONI DI FUTURO, VISIONI DI TEATRO…

Visionifestivalen i Bologna søger forestillinger. Festivalen er et af de vigtigste global samlingspunkter for teater for de yngste (1-6 år).
Send jeres forestillinger ind!

For International companies (all countries except Italy)

La Baracca-Testoni Ragazzi (Bologna, Italy) is happy to announce a call for productions to be presented during next edition of the International Festival of Theatre and Culture for early years “Visioni di futuro, visioni di teatro…”.

Next edition will take place in Bologna, exceptionally in two parts, considering the limitations of the current pandemic situation. The first part will be, unless further modifications due to force majeure, from May 7^th to 12^th 2021.

The second part, in any case, will be from October 23^rd to 28^th 2021.

Therefore, we kindly ask you to send valid proposals for the two periods indicated above (May or October or both), specifying your availability in the specific space of the form attached to this call.

“Visioni” is an occasion of meeting and discussion among the companies, visited every year by many Italian and International theatrical operators, dedicated to the performing arts for early years (0-6 years old). This year we imagine our festival taking place in a very particular situation, with of course a lower number of people attending in presence, but we like to think that Visioni has to start again.

We think this considering, in particular, the Digital Platform that we are preparing in occasion of the festival, that in 2021 will take place both in presence and online. The Platform is a new resource that we hope will become a precious tool, even in the future, by allowing us to keep constant and, why not, to increase the number of potential users of the Festival Programme.

Produced in co-design with Segni d’infanzia artistic and cultural association, this project arises from the desire to give continuity to festivals with national and international vocation, by trying to overcome the limitations due to the distance and the current pandemic situation.

The two parts of Visioni will take place in proximity or in continuity with two other relevant Italian festivals, Segnali and Segni d’Infanzia: not by coincidence, but as a choice to pursue the idea of a mutual collaboration that we hope will become a good practice.

Planning a festival in this moment is very complex, but it is a risk that we want to take, sharing it with all those who want to accompany us, by hoping that this exceptionality will not become a rule and that Visioni will return to take place regularly.

Conditions for submission

Productions submitted for Visioni should be addressed to children 1-4, 2-5 or 3-6 years old.

In the next edition, we would like to give more space to:

• Shows suitable both for the theater space and for a school garden, in order to guarantee the presence of at least one class of children, outdoor and in safety.
• Performances that, also in video, can offer a quality experience that will enrich the program of the platform (the video of the show, if not available yet, can be made also after the deadline of the call, but obviously within the week before the start of the festival).
• If the show uses words, it should be presented at least partly in Italian
• We would like also to give the chance to shows, with a maximum get-in time of 1h 30 minutes and limited stage space (not exceeding 4mx4m), to bring a further performance of their show within the educational services spaces (nurseries or kindergartens), probably open-air.
• Shows originally planned for Visioni2020 can apply to this call.

Visioni offers:

• a fee of 2.500 € for 3 performances, one of which fully dedicated to operators
• a basic technical equipment and (if needed) transportation to schools
• technical support for get-in and get-out

Visioni will not cover for travel and freight, board and lodging.

In order to submit a production please send to festival@testoniragazzi.it:

• application form, as attachment
• link to a video of the production
• three pictures of the show (HD, horizontal) for promotional booklets.
• technical rider

The submission deadline, for both editions of Visioni, is February 15^th 2021.

You will get an answer regarding your participation to the first part of the Festival (May 7^th-12^th 2021) by the first half of March 2021. At the end of the first part of the festival, the choices for the second part of Visioni 2021 (from October 23^rd-28^th 2021) will also be communicated.

For further information: festival@testoniragazzi.it

Bruno Frabetti

Nordic-Baltic Coffee Session

Interested in international opportunities in the Norwegian Cultural Schoolbag? Want to learn more about different practices of TYA touring in schools in the Nordic-Baltic region? Want to meet colleagues for an informal conversation about TYA?

Welcome to our first coffee session in 2021. The topic will be on how the different Nordic and Baltic countries are organizing touring of Theater for Young Audiences in schools.

From Norway Ragnhild Tronstad from Kulturtanken will talk about how this is organized in Norway through the Cultural Schoolbag. Tronstad will also talk about international opportunities in the Norwegian Cultural Schoolbag.

Kaido Rannik from Estonia will talk about practices in the Baltic region and Michael Cocke will be representing Sweden. We will also hear from some of the performers from these countries.

Feel free to join us in this conversation about TYA in schools. Both programmers and performers/performing arts companies are very welcome to join. We hope that you will contribute to this forum with your opinions and experiences. These coffee sessions are also a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues from the whole Nordic-Baltic region.

Join us on Facebook on the 27th January at 13.00 – 15.00!

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85217985494

🌏 Online + Tokyo, JPN
🗓 23 -31 March 2021

20th ASSITEJ CONGRESS to be a blended event

The 20th ASSITEJ World Congress & International Performing Arts Festival for Children and Young People / MIRAI 2020 will take place from 23-31 March 2021 as a blended physical (‘On Ground’) and virtual (‘Online’) event. This will mean that we will be able to provide our members with maximum accessibility to the event, whether they are able to travel in person to be with us in Japan, or whether they need to stay home and connect with us virtually.

Festival

At least 13 international productions have committed to attending the ‘On Ground’ festival and, along with a strong programme of 45 Japanese productions, this will form the heart of the local offering. In addition, workshops, symposia and other events will take place physically in Japan for those who are able to join us, as well as for the Japanese delegates and local audiences.

All productions will also be shared virtually through the ‘Online’ festival, which will feature the main programme, a fringe programme and an innovation programme, which will be available online from 23 March through to 11 April 2021.

Congress and Professional Exchange

The Congress will be shared through video and written reportage ahead of a series of scheduled discussion meetings which will occur live on ZOOM. Each day will see three to four sessions in different time zones, which will include workshops, symposia, discussions and social events, allowing for all to participate in elements of interest to them.

Partnerships

We are delighted to announce that we are working with two partners on the ‘Online’ Festival, Congress and Professional exchange programme; National Arts Festival in South Africa will be providing the technical and web platforms for the programme, while Performing Dialogue will be providing all contributor and attendee resources and support, including liaison, communication, and bridging the gap between the ‘On Ground’ and ‘Online’ events.

We believe that with this approach we will see an unprecedented participation in an ASSITEJ World Congress, since many people will be able to be part of the global virtual engagement, who did not previously have the opportunity, while simultaneously ensuring that for those who can, the magic of the live experience is protected and celebrated.

We look forward to meeting you in Japan in March 2021, whether in person or online.

LET’S TALK ABOUT EARLY YEARS THEATRE! Online Panel conversations 11 – 13 Dec.

Programme

 International co-productions / panel discussion
date: 12.12
time: 12:00 (UTC/GMT +1 hour) / 20:00 (UTC/GMT +9 hours)
Language: English/Japanese (with simultaneous interpretation)

As part of the discussion, we’ll look at some transcontinental co-productions for very young children. We will talk about the opportunities and obstacles faced by teams working in international groups. How sharing between cultures affects the creative process, the development of artists and – most importantly – the spectators. We will look at past productions and prospects that are built by the current global situation. Will such work still be possible? Is it worth fighting for?
Panelists: Akira Ota (Jienkyo, Japan), Maho Nakamichi (Baby Theatre Project, Japan), Alicja Morawska-Rubczak (Art Fraction Foundation, Poland), Barbara Kölling (Helios Theater, Germany), Anurupa Roy (Theatre Katkatha, India)Moderator: Cliodhna Noonan (Ireland)The panel will be accompanied by online presentations of performance:
 „KUUKI” by JIENKYO (directed by Alicja Morawska-Rubczak) – Poland/Japan
Japanese-Polish dance co-production focused on air. Dynamically, lightly, airy, elusively – Kuuki is a quest for energy. Can the wind be touched? How does the air smell? How does the breath sound? Each of us – the youngest and the older one – experiences it on a daily basis, yet the air constantly enraptures us with its elusiveness, under consciousness, enchants with the promise of going up, attracts the possibility of flight, spinning.

 Set design and object in Early Years Theatre / panel discussiondate: 13.12.
time: 12:00 (UTC/GMT +1 hour) / 20:00 (UTC/GMT +9 hours)
Language: English (with simultaneous interpretation to Japanese)During the conversation, issues related to various aspects and perspectives of creating set design in performances aimed at families with very young children will be discussed. We will talk about the specifics of this field and the ideas behind the projects of specific artists. We will also deal with harmful myths related to this area. The youngest children learn the world – including the world of art – with all their senses, which is why the issue of set design created in the context of work for very young children seems to be a particularly interesting issue.
Panelists: Karel Van Ransbeeck (Theatre De Spiegel, Belgium), Barbara Małecka (Art Fraction Foundation, Poland), Pernille Bach and Christian Schrøder (Theatre Madam Bach, Denmark)Moderator: Gina Westbrook (UK)

 The panel will be accompanied by on-line presentations of performances:
 „Blisko / Close” by Children’s Art Centre (directed by Alicja Morawska-Rubczak, set design: Barbara Małecka) / Poland
Dance performance about creating bonds. Two dancers on a round stage – a circle of life and community, and in its centre a matrioshka – a symbol of motherhood, but at the same time an object hiding a lot of surprises inside. Traditional in its form, the doll gains a contemporary touch and can be creatively processed – by both artists and audience. „Beat the drum” by Theatre De Spiegel / Belgium (directed by Karel Van Ransbeeck, set design: Wim Van De Vyver)
Music theatre production filled with catchy rhythms and amazing shadow theatre. In an original set sporting lots of drumheads, we invite young children and their parents to join a percussionist, a saxophonist and a puppeteer for a unique experience. Musical improvisation and shadow play are used to create an authentic story. „JUNGLE” by Wrocławski Teatr Lalek / (directed by Alicja Morawska-Rubczak, set design: Barbara Małecka) / Poland
Puppet theatre production that arose from the fascination with the richness of the Amazon jungle – an area most unspoiled and threatened at the same time, home to thousands of species of insects, animals and plants, where the natural, primeval bonds between man and nature have been preserved. The creators of the show want to share with the viewers reflection on this beautiful relationship; seek together the roots of interpersonal closeness, based on rhythms, rituals of everyday life and harmony with the surrounding world.

We invite professionals, researchers, teachers, parents and all adults interested in EYT.Please note
All presentations of performances are aimed at adults. We strongly believe that EYT should be presented live and that online presentations are harmful to the youngest children.The event is organized as part of the project “NAJNAJ.PL: teatr dla najmłodszych na ASSITEJ World Congress”The strategic goal of the program is to build and strengthen a positive image of Poland abroad through the presentation and promotion of Polish culture.Co-financed under the Multiannual Program NIEPODLEGŁA [INDEPENDENT] for 2017-2022, as part of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute grant program “Cultural bridges”.

Registration

↓↓REGISTER HERE↓↓
https://forms.gle/xpkanL44rhWmis3T9

Organizers

We are a Polish non-governmental organization Art Fraction Foundation, which deals with international cooperation, promotion and development of art for the youngest children. We were planning to meet you at the ASSITEJ World Congress in Tokyo, but our joint plans had to be completely changed. At the end of this strange and frightening year, however, we found a way to share our work with you! We invite you to 3 days of watching online performances together and two ZOOM panel discussions devoted to Early Years Theatre issues.
The project is implemented in cooperation with JIENKYO (Japan Union of Theatre Companies for Children and Young People), ASSITEJ International and Small Size Network.

“The Curious Theatre” – an inspiring allegory by Goran Tomka

“Curious theatre is filled with talking trees,
self-doubting critics,
permeable borders,
welcoming smiles,
migrating plants,
inexplicable hopes,
never-ending deadlines (…)”

Video: Hear Goran Tomka read the full text including sign language interpretation.

European Theatre Forum

The Keynote was presented at the European Theatre Forum 2020 shaped by a consortium of performing arts networks including ASSITEJ & produced by European Theatre Convention.

About Goran Tomka

Goran Tomka is a researcher and lecturer in the field of audience studies, new media, cultural diversity and cultural policy and management. He is assistant professor at the TIMS Faculty from Novi Sad, and UNESCO Chair in cultural policy and management from Belgrade, Serbia.

He holds a doctoral degree in culture and media studies from the University of Arts in Belgrade. Outside academia he is active as consultant, trainer, critic and advocate: he was a trainer in Al Mawred Abbara programme for capacity building in the Arab region; a coordinator of long-term cultural planning of the city of the Novi Sad European capital of culture 2021 and a national author of European Council’s Compendium for cultural policies.

His latest book “Audience Explorations: Guidebook for Hopefully Seeking the Audience” was published in 2016 by international theatre network IETM, Brussels.

ASSITEJ Executive committee invites you to take part in a new coffee session : Stress Management and Empowerment

Most of us – as artists and individuals – are in a difficult situation. We have to face fear and uncertainty, stress, disappointment and anger. In this Coffee Session we talk about ourselves with focus on strategies to cope with the crisis. Feel free to join!

We invite 4 experts to give impulses:

Pamela Udoka, psychologist from Lagos / Nigeria talks about the strategies in Western Africa to manage the (permanent) crisis as individual.

Dr. Birte Werner, head of department for performing arts at Bundesakademie Wolffenbüttel / Germany. She will introduce a creative and inspiring method to experience together in the Session: the “Circle of Influence”.

Yukiko Kurokawa, Ph.D.Clinical Psychologist. Director of YUKIKO KUROKAWA Institute of Gerontology. Sophia University Professor Emeritus / Japan. Namita, Yoga expert / Japan. Asian perspectives on “dealing with a crisis”.

Wednesday Nov. 25 on Zoom. 2 sessions depending on your time zone.

Read more and register

Scenekunst for børn & unge på landkortet i EU

Scenekunstbranchen mødtes for første gang med hinanden og repræsentanter fra EU-kommissionen i sidste uge under European Theatre Forum.

ASSITEJ er en del af det konsortium, der shar skabt forummet. Konsortiet er delvist initieret af EU-kommissionen, som et blivende forum for kontinuerlig dialog internt i scenekunstbranchen og udad i relation til kommisionen og det politiske niveau i EU.

Mange teatre og kunstnere fra vores del af branchen har med success søgt midler fra Creative Europe, men Scenekunst for børn og unge har i hovedtræk været usynlig i samtalerne og politikudviklingen i EU. Herunder de særlige omstændigheder der produceres og turneres under, og det særlige kulturelle bidrag til Europas yngste borgere, som vores branche leverer. 

Det er der nu rådet bod på. Scenekunst for børn og unge var i kraft af ASSITEJ’s deltagelse meget synlig i de debatter der udspandt sig, og ASSITEJ har med sin deltagelse i konsortiet skabt blivende relationer til EU-kommisionen og de andre europæiske scenekunstnetværk.

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“Dresden Declaration” 

Et af resultarne af European Theatre Forum er the “Dresden Declaration”.
Dokumentet peger på de konkrete punkter, der kræver udvikling på EU-niveau, og udgør et første skridt i et langsigtet arbejde. Indholdet modtog betydelig bevågenhed fra EU-kommissionen og Creative Europe, der har forpligtet sig til fortsat samarbejde.

Bestyrelsen i ASSITEJ har på sit konstituerende møde valgt Marion Vick fra Teater Apropos som formand. 

“Jeg synes det er et spændende og udfordrende tidspunkt at blive formand på. Støtten fra Statens Kunstfonds Projektstøtteudvalg er frafaldet, og jeg håber, at vi i den kommende tid kan finde nye og mere stabile finansieringsmuligheder, og i den proces skabe et ASSITEJ Danmark, der bygger på den gode historik, og samtidig skaber flere muligheder for de danske børne- og ungdomsteatre med udgangspunkt i det stærke internationale netværk ASSITEJ indeholder”, siger Marion Vick.

Marion Vick er leder af Teater Apropos og uddannet dramaturg fra Aarhus Universitet.

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I samme åndedrag retter ASSITEJ en stor tak til Dirck Backer fra Teater Patrasket, der siden 2016 har varetaget formandsposten, og før det funktionen som sekretariatsleder.

Dirck bringer sin store erfaring og forståelse af ASSITEJ med sig ind i rollen som næstformand, og er dermed fortsat særdeles aktiv i ASSITEJ.