What
ASSITEJ stands for the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People,
(French: Association Internationale du Théâtre de l’Enfance et la Jeunesse) and was established in 1965 as an international alliance of professionals involved in theatre for children and young people.
ASSITEJ unites theatres, organizations and individuals throughout the world who make art for children and young people.
Why
In the mission, ASSITEJ states its dedication to the artistic, cultural and educational rights of children and young people across the globe and advocates on behalf of all children regardless of nationality, cultural identity, ethnicity, or religion.
For more information: www.assitej-international.org/constitution
ASSITEJ aims at connecting people in the field of theatre for children and young people in order to deepen understandings, develop practice, create new opportunities and strengthen the global sector, on behalf of all children everywhere.
Members
The members of ASSITEJ are national centers, professional networks and individuals. Assitej Belgium is the official Belgian national centre, representing all three linguistic communities in Belgium. In total there are around 85 national centres.
Executive committee and president
The organization is run by the executive committee, consisting of 14 people. President is Yvette Hardie, a South African theatre producer, director, educator, and writer active in the world of theatre and performance, with a particular focus on theatre for children and young people. She is festival director of the Out The Box Festival of Visual Performance and Puppetry (2011), after having served as family festival Curator (2010), and she initiated and ran the Festival of Fame, Johannesburg, for the first three years of its existence. She has developed curricula, designed unit standards and written textbooks and educational handbooks for the Performing Arts in schools and in further education. Her work as a course leader for Creative Voices serves to empower arts and culture teachers to deliver quality education. She initiated the launch of ASSITEJ SOUTH AFRICA in 2007, bringing together theatre practitioners with a common passion for theatre for children and young people.
World congress
The general meeting of ASSITEJ international is the World Congress, held every three years in another city. The last one took place in Poland in 2014, but before congresses were held in Warsaw, Prague, Lyon, Madrid, Adelaide, Seoul, Rostov on Don, Tromsø, Albany, etc. The next world congress will take place in South Africa in 2017.
Artistic gatherings
Next to the rather massive world congress ASSITEJ, has installed annual artistic gatherings. Next appointment is Birmingham in summer 2016 for a mix of international shows, meetings and discussions.
Networks
ASSITEJ is affiliated with several practitioner networks, including the International Inclusive Arts Network (IIAN) and the International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network (ITYARN).
Professional networks bring together theatre companies, organizations or persons across cultural, linguistic, national and other divides, because of a shared interest or need related to the field of theatre for children and young people. In professional networks, membership is often specific to a particular area of specialization in the field. You can find all ASSITEJ networks here.