International Theatre Institute ITI

Latest News



New Publication – UNESCO & the International Theatre Institute ITI
The General Secretariat is proud to announce a new publication about the relationship of UNESCO & ITI. The 40-page publication illustrates the history of how UNESCO laid the first bricks which became the foundation of “The International Theatre Institute”. It sheds light on how ITI and UNESCO collaborate with each other: the UNESCO National Commissions and the Centres of a country, the country´s delegation to UNESCO in Paris with ITI worldwide. The publication is an invitation for the National Commission of UNESCO and the Centres to mutually assist each other and collaborate. It is a kind request to the National Delegations and National Commissions of UNESCO to help ITI to create Centres in countries where there are no Centres of ITI.
Furthermore, it might be interesting for anyone to find out what the relationship of UNESCO looks like.
The brochure is available in English and French. Spanish is in preparation. You may download the brochure here:
UNESCO & ITI – English version
UNESCO & ITI – version française
The General Secretariat of ITI may send you a copy or copies of the printed version. Please write to info(at)iti-worldwide.org to obtain yours.
The 36th ITI World Congress
As ITI members are asking “Where and when is the next ITI World Congress?”, the General Secretariat would like to inform you that two options have been considered and explored. One location is not yet ready to hold the Congress. For the second option the General Secretariat is in discussion with the concerned Centre and the Ministry of Culture of the country and hopes to give you more information as soon as possible.
Meeting of the Partner Organization of ITI in Shanghai
From 18 to 20 November, ITI and its Partner Organizations met in Shanghai. These meetings were once regular – starting in Sibiu more than 20 years ago and running until 2011 in Paris. Shanghai’s meeting was an attempt to re-establish the tradition, not just for the sake of another meeting, but for finding common strategies and actions to make each organization stronger, to assist each other, to share best practice and, if possible, to collaborate.
The results of the meeting were: 1) To promote one another’s “days” (such as World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People (20 March), World Puppetry Day (21 March), World Mime Day (22 March), World Theatre Day (27 March), International Dance Day (29 April), World Music Day (1 October), World Opera Day (25 October);
2) To create a conference about ITI and all the Partner Organizations at the Avignon and Edinburgh Festivals; 3) To publish important events of one organization also on the website and newsletters of the other partner organizations; 4) to invite representatives of the other organizations to one´s own congress, conference or important event.
Future meetings may happen at UNESCO in Paris, at an event of one of the organizations, or at the headquarters of ITI in Shanghai. Such meetings should happen yearly.
Here you find the list all the Partner Organizations of ITI
New Publication “CULTURE 2030 - Indicators”
This 112-page publication, with a foreword by Ernesto OTTONE, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, has just been released. It focusses on Culture’s role in sustainable development, the key concepts and approaches; on UNESCO Culture Conventions and Programmes towards the agenda 2030; on the overall purpose and guiding principles; it illustrates how Culture fits in the Sustainable Development Goals and informs about the methodological approach and describes the indicators.
The publication is available in English, French and Spanish (online). You may download the Anglophone and francophone versions here:
CULTURE / 2030 – Indicators English version CULTURE / 2030 - Indicateurs – version française
Blue Theatre Festival 2020, Siligudi, Prayagraj, Bikaner, Tonk- India
The Ex-tra An Organisation and Community Theatre Tonk are pleased to present the Blue Theatre Festival 2020 with the theme: SCAFFOLD, The Cultivating Journey towards untold expressions of Coexistence. The festival will focus on expression as the creative language of the human being.
The festival will take place from 15 March – 6 April 2020 in different villages in India:
Siligudi of West Bengale: 15 March-18 March 2020
Prayagraj (Allahabad) of Uttar Pradesh: 22 March-25 March 2020
Bikaner of Rajasthan: 28 March- 31 March 2020
Tonk of Rajasthan: 3 April- 6 April 2020
The deadline for submissions is 5 December 2019, the announcement of short-listed plays 22 December 2019.
For any information please contact bluetheatrefest(at)gmail.com, >>click here to access the festival page or >>click here to access the main informations about the festival.
22nd International Adana Theatre Festival- Adana, Turkey
Turkish State Theatre are delighted to announce that applications are open for their 22nd Sabancı International Adana Theater Festival. The “22nd Adana, International Theater festival”, which will be realized between the dates of 27 March - 30 April 2020. The visiting companies will be hosted and a full artistic programme will be provided to the guests.
>>To see the announcement letter and application form of the festival please click here. The deadline for submissions is 30 January 2020. To have more information about the festival please contact adanatheatrefest(at)gmail.com
Open Call for ALthattheatre 2020- Starting world-wide online 1 March and in Montecreto, Italy, from 15 April - 27 May
The World Theatre Training Institute - ITI research centre for theatre training methods -introduces its first full version of a unique education for vocational training as well as for postgraduate studies using Quantum Pedagogy created and conducted by Jurij Alschitz and his international team of teachers.
Instead of attending a multi-year education, ALthattheatre proposes a three month training course to prepare the individual system for an artistic career. The first part is a 40 days online preparation, followed by the 40 days practical training on stage.
It is the definite aim of this training programme to create a group of utmost diversity concerning age, professional and cultural background. Registration and contracting starts now in December 2019. >>To have more information about this training programme please click here, >>to have access to the registration please click here.
Assuming the future is shaping the future: Open Call for the Experts’ Colloquium about New Dimensions for the Theatre Education, Kazan, Russia 10 June-12 June 2020
On the initiative Dr Jurij Alschitz, the ITI/UNESCO Network’s working group on Hybrid Education will meet during the VI International Theatre and Education Festival-Forum “Nauruz” of the Galiaskar Kamal Tatar Academic Theatre and invites specialists for a creative exchange of ideas. Concept and moderation: Christine Schmalor.
Digitality is not a technical question but a cultural competence. Today we are facing the need for substantial changes in education in general. New demands for innovation of content and methodology arise in the educative process. How does the digital mindset affect the process of acting, stage presence, dramaturgy, and methodological tools for artistic development? How do we imagine the future of teaching? How can online training be useful for theatre?
>>If you are interested to join as speaker or listener please click here. Contact: World Theatre Training Institute AKT-ZENT/ITI akt.zent(at)berlin.de
International Symposium 21st CENTURY ACTORS, Lodz, Poland
The Mieczysław Hertz Theater Institute and The Kazimierz Dejmek New Theatre in Łódź are preparing a project called International Symposium 21st CENTURY ACTORS Methods / Traditions / Explorations. The event will take place in Poland in Łódź from the 23 October-25 October 2020. The aim of the Symposium is to review the acting methods that underline the education and artistic practice of actors in the 21st century, and to present brand new explorations in this field.
>>For more information about the Symposium please click here. To have information’s about the MAT click here. All people interested in participation should contact: sympozjum(at)metacademy.eu and visit their website : http://matacademy.eu/en/
Invitation to launch of the book “Theatre in transformation“, Cape Town, Pretoria, South Africa
Two events will take place in South Africa to mark the occasion of the publication of “Theatre in Transformation“. AFDA: The School for the Creative Economy is pleased to invite you on Friday 6 December at 2 pm in Cape Town for a presentation of the book during the Safe Havens Conference. >>To have more information about this event please click here.
Secondly, the South African State Theatre is pleased to invite you on Tuesday 10 December 2019, 11 am to a panel discussion with experts on the occasion of the book's release at the Drama Theatre Foyer in Pretoria, South Africa. >>To have more information about this event please click here.
ITI Germany Announces the Winner of the 2020 International Theatre Institute Prize
The German ITI Centre is pleased to announce Dutch director Jetse Batelaan as the winner of their 2020 International Theatre Institute Award.
Mr Batelaan has won the award in recognition of his work which reflects a sympathetic view on human incompetence. An official award ceremony will be held on 7 February 2020. >>For the full bio of the winner, please click here – and take a look at the >>official Press Release for the announcement.
Critical Stages/Scènes Critiques: Call for Articles and Essays
The International Association of Theatre Critics IATC’s Critical Stages/Scènes Critiques, a peer reviewed journal, wish to post a call for articles and essays on the theme of the ‘theatricality of music and the musicality of theatre’. Critics, scholars and art enthusiasts are encouraged to write on the aesthetics, meanings and social implications of music in theatre and, equally, of theatre in music, for a special journal which will be published June 2020.
The maximum length of an essay is 3,500 words, in French or English, and must conform to >>the Style Guide and >>Submission Guidelines. Deadline for submissions is March 2020. For more information email octavian_saiu(at)yahoo.com
International Competition: Dramatic Adaptations of Sholem Aleichem Short Stories
2019 has been declared as “The Sholem Aleichem Year” due to it being the 160th anniversary of the birth of the great Yiddish and international humour celebrity. The writer Sholem Aleichem’s (1859-1916) writings abound with a humanistic outlook and ardent faith in the goodness of people, and as such promote tolerance, understanding, peace and belief in a better future in accordance with the Charter of ITI.
The International Playwrights Forum (IPF) of the ITI, in collaboration with the Israeli Centre of ITI and The Institute for Jewish Theatre, calls upon playwrights and writers worldwide to participate in a competition for the 3 best adaptations of Sholem Aleichem's short stories. The winning plays will be chosen by a jury whose members will be selected by the IPF.
>>Please see the Call for Submissions for further details. The deadline is 30 March 2020.
UNIMA: Call for Entries in the 2020 Arlyn Award for Outstanding Design in the Puppet Theatre
The Union Internationale de la Marionnette – UNIMA – are pleased to announce their call for entries to the prestigious Arlyn Award, named after Arlyn Coad, co-founder and artistic director of Coad Canada Puppets, and rewarding Outstanding Design in the Puppet Theatre.
The Arlyn Award is a world-wide search for outstanding design in the puppet theatre. It runs every two years, and is open to people all around the globe. First prize stands to receive $1,000,000 USD, with Certificates of Recognition being handed out to other entrants.
>>To find out more, please visit the UNIMA Website, by clicking here. Entrants must abide by the terms and conditions – deadline for applications is 15 February 2020.
The International Theatre Festival for Southern Youth – Egypt
The (Seen) Foundation for Culture and Creativity declared applications are now open for the Fifth session of The International Theatre Festival for Southern Youth, which will be held in Assiut Governorate – Egypt - from 8 to 14 April 2020.
The event revolves around two competitions (one for folklore performances, the other for street theatre), workshops, and performances. >>For more information regarding terms and conditions and how to apply, please click here or email Seen.fcc(at)gmail.com
UNIMA: Call for Entries in the 2020 Arlyn Award for Outstanding Design in the Puppet Theatre
The Union Internationale de la Maronnette – UNIMA – are pleased to announce their call for entries to the prestigious Arlyn Award, named after Arlyn Coad, co-founder and artistic director of Coad Canada Puppets, and rewarding Outstanding Design in the Puppet Theatre.
The Arlyn Award is a world-wide search for outstanding design in the puppet theatre. It runs every two years, and is open to people all around the globe. First prize stands to receive $1,000,000 USD, with Certificates of Recognition being handed out to other entrants.
>>To find out more, please visit the UNIMA Website, by clicking here. Entrants must abide by the terms and conditions – deadline for applications is 15 February 2020.
Obituary
It is with great sadness that ITI relays the news regarding the passing of Zimbabwean cultural expert, Stephen Chifunyise.
Stephen Chifunyise was critical in the establishment of ITI Centres in southern Africa. He was a board member of the Zimbabwe Centre of the International Theatre Institute, and raised awareness of the intangible cultural heritage of the region. He will be greatly missed.
>>For a full obituary from Lloyd Nyikadzino, Coordinator of the ITI Zimbabwean Centre, click here.
Hi PerformanCZ: Prague Visitors' Program - 22-25 April, 2020: Text-Based and New Plays Theatre Performances
Experience Czech text-based and new plays theatre productions within a special programme package for international audiences. Hi PerformanCZ: Prague Visitors´ Program is organized by the Arts and Theatre Institute together with the National Theatre and Prague theatres. They offer free accommodation, tickets and networking activities for a limited number of visitors. Registration is open until 30 October 2019. >>To register, click here.
>>For more information, view the Call or email martina.peckova-cerna(at)idu.cz
International Competition: Dramatic Adaptations of Sholem Aleichem Short Stories
2019 has been declared as “The Sholem Aleichem Year” due to it being the 160th anniversary of the birth of the great Yiddish and international humour celebrity. The writer Sholem Aleichem’s (1859-1916) writings abound with a humanistic outlook and ardent faith in the goodness of people, and as such promote tolerance, understanding, peace and belief in a better future in accordance with the Charter of ITI.
The International Playwrights Forum (IPF) of the ITI, in collaboration with the Israeli Centre of ITI and The Institute for Jewish Theatre, calls upon playwrights and writers worldwide to participate in a competition for the 3 best adaptations of Sholem Aleichem's short stories. The winning plays will be chosen by a jury whose members will be selected by the IPF.
>>Please see the Call for Submissions for further details. The deadline is 30 March 2020. >>For the French version of the Call for Submissions please click here
New Centre: ITI Montenegro Centre
Thanks to the initiative of the Italian Centre of ITI, the International Theatre Institute is able to announce to you the Montenegro Centre of ITI. The Executive Council and the General Secretariat are happy to welcome the new Centre and its members.
Their official address is Baja Pivljanina no:4, 81 250 Cetnje, Montenegro and can be reached via zetskidom.us(at)gmail.com Their board is made up of Natasa Kraljevic (President), Slobodan Bozovic (Vice-President), Janko Ljumovic (Vice-President), Lidija Dedovic (General Secretary), Radmila Vojvodic, Nada Vukcevic, Jelena Markovic, Branislav Micunovic and Srdjan Grahovac.
Amendment: ITI Centre Name – North Macedonian Centre of ITI
The ITI Centre once known as Macedonia FYROM (Macédonie ARYM) is now to be called the North Macedonian Centre of ITI (Centre Macédoine du nord de l'ITI) in line with the nation’s name change to The Republic of North Macedonia. The change within ITI follows similar changes within the UN and UNESCO.
Two New Partner Organizations
ITI is pleased to be able to announce two new Partner Organizations, widening the pool of resources ever further.
INTiP - International Network of Theatre in Prison is the first. Founded in 2011 and based in Italy, INTiP already has ran initiatives alongside ITI including WTD 2019, and sees itself as a reference tool for people working in the field or seeking expertise in theatre initiatives for prisoners.
The Second new partner organization, Women Playwrights International (WPI), is a platform for female playwrights to meet and build Networks. Its essential goal is to have an impact by supporting collaborative work between people from different parts of the world. >>To learn more, please click here.
IETM/Theater der Zeit – New Publication
The most recent meeting of the IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) in Munich has spawned a new publication which they wish to share with everyone. The new book, published in association with Theater der Zeit, is available in English and German, and tackles theatres role in the world alongside issues such as post-colonialism and diversity.
>>For more information, please click here.
NEXT 2020 Dance World Championships Season
The NEXT 2020 Dance World Championship Season, consisting of the Barcelona Dance Award, from 9 - 13 April 2020 and Dance Grand Prix, in Italy, from 22 - 26 June 2020 is now open for applications.
The events are open to Dance Schools, Companies and Groups from all over the world, and every different type of dance.
For more information and to apply, email dancegrandprix19(at)gmail.com
Obituary: Girish Karnad 1938 – 2019
It is with great sadness that the ITI GS relays to you news of the passing of Girish Karnad, one of India’s most loved actors, directors and playwrights.
We are sure you will join us in sending our condolences to those he left behind, and showing our appreciation for all his magnificent achievements.
Please click to read touching tributes from Tobias Biancone (ITI Director-General), Ramendu Majumdar (Honorary Member of ITI) & Vidyanidhee Vanarase (President ITI India, EC Member).
International Dance Day 2019
The General Secretariat prepared a report of the International Dance Day 2019 event. For those who have not yet received it, you can look into the activities that happened in Seoul in South Korea. >>Please click here to check it.
World Theatre Day 2019
The General Secretariat prepared a report of the World Theatre Day 2019 event. For those who have not yet received it, you can look into the activities that happened in Pesaro and Rome in Italy. >>Please click here to check it.
The Director General’s Congress Report
35th ITI World Congress, 14 to 22 July 2017, Segovia/Spain
The Director General’s Congress Report (35th ITI World Congress) is now available in English and French for download.
>>Please click here to download different versions.
Discover UNESCO Platform for Cultural Policies
UNESCO's Policy Monitoring Platform supports evidence-based policy making for the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in the hope of creating more informed, transparent and participatory systems of governance for culture. A new platform detailing their Innovative practices is now available for you all to look at and get involved with. >>To further explore, please click here.
Intercultural Communications Studies MA Programme / Shanghai Theatre Academy
The Shanghai Theatre Academy is creating an MA Programme in Intercultural Communication Studies. This two-year English-taught programme includes the required first year full-time residency and an optional second year residency for project-based internships. Open to international students. Contact: Shirley ZOU micgirl(at)126.com or sta_international(at)163.com. >>For full information please click here.
Open call for actors
Discover ALthattheatre, an innovative project of self-development for the artist. This is a chance to explore the most complex ideas and questions about the Theatre and your place within its sphere. The aim is not to pass on knowledge, but to engage everyone in the development of knowledge for each individual to become a master. The project consists of several weeks of self-preparation already in dialogue with a teacher followed by three work-intensive weeks in Sestola (Italy) conducted by Jurij Alschitz and his team of teachers. This methodological experiment is limited to a selected number of participants to allow for each artist’s individuality to shine through and continuously develop.
>>Please find here the words of Jurij Alschitz himself explaining his ideas in more detail, and >>here the link to apply.
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in “Performing Arts Practice in Conflict Zones” at Accademia Teatro Dimitri
We are pleased to inform you that Accademia Teatro Dimitri (Switzerland) is offering a new course of study. In a globalized world in which the consequences of violence, war, and discrimination have become an integral part of our lives, politics is created with angst, demarcation, and isolation determining everyday life. The CAS Performing Arts Practice in Conflict Zones offers an opportunity to open new spaces of reflection and action.
The CAS is developed in collaboration with the Goethe Institute North Iraq and the Swiss Center of ITI. It is aimed at professional artists from Europe as well as from the Kurdish areas in Iraq and Syria who want to bring their performing arts practice in local and international conflict and crisis zones. For further information and inscription please check: http://accademiadimitri.ch (Education/ Advanced Studies)
ITI Inter-Europe Artist Exchange Programme
The Committee for Emerging Artists (ITI NEAP) have been busy over the last few months working on projects all over the world. One of these has been the inaugural ITI Inter-Europe Artist Exchange Programme. After ITI Centres agreed to participate in the project, they were paired together in January via a draw and have since been working together to arrange to send emerging artists to their partnering countries for a short artistic residency. The aim is to give emerging artists the opportunity to create original work in a different cultural landscape from that which they're used to, and to give Centres around Europe the opportunity to strengthen ties and work together on a continent-wide project. The pairings are United Kingdom-Greece, Macedonia FYROM-Italy-Russia, and Switzerland-Slovenia. The dates of the exchanges can be found in the image below. So far, the artists selected to represent each country are as follows: United Kingdom: Adam Wheeler; Macedonia FYROM: Gorjan Milosevski; Slovenia: Dorian Silec and Switzerland: Stefanie Bölzli & Robert Diaz.
For more updates on ITI NEAP's activities and to read interviews with each of the selected artists, please like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NEAPofITI/ or for more information about the project, please email the project coordinator Fin Ross Russell at fin(at)islandlifeproductions.com
Call for Candidature for the 36th ITI World Congress in 2020
The Executive Council of ITI and the General Secretariat of ITI is launching an open call to find a host for the 36th ITI World Congress in 2020. Please click here to read the >>call in English, >>here in French, and >>here in Spanish. Please click here to download the document to fill out if you are >>interested to hold the ITI World Congress 2020 in English, >>here in French and >>here in Spanish. Those documents contain the main issues so that a Centre, a Cooperating Member, or a partner which has an interest can evaluate whether the process of applying to host the 36th ITI World Congress should be started. Please get in touch with the Director General of ITI if you think about hosting the next Congress so that your questions can be answered. The deadline to get in touch with the General Secretariat is 30 June. The deadline for the application is 10 September 2018.
World Performing Arts Festival in Vietnam
Unfortunately, the festival cannot be done as planned in 2018 due to different reasons, prime among them finances. As the festival and event calendar for the second half 2018 - The Year of ITI - 70th Anniversary of ITI is quite full, Le Quy Duong is planning to hold such a festival in 2019. As soon as there is news about when and where, there will be information in this newsletter. For further information please get in touch with Le Quy Duong directly.
ITI Panels
Panels introducing ITI to the world have been created in English and French. If you want to see them, they are available in low resolution here. If you want to print them, please send an email to info(at)iti-worldwide.org and we will send you the high-resolution version for quality print.
Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts
The ITI/UNESCO Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts is a Network that follows the rules and guidelines of UNITWIN, a programme of the Education Sector of UNESCO, intended to twin academia with UNESCO and support UNESCO to reach their goals. The ITI/UNESCO Network is dedicated to working for the education in the performing arts and intends to follow the humanistic, educational and artistic goals of ITI and UNESCO that are formulated in the Charter of the Network. These are the activities and projects that the Network is undertaking or developing: Conferences, Student Festivals, Directory/Mapping Project, Exchange of Students and Educators, Research Projects, Books, Audio & Multimedia Publications, Exhibitions, Intangible Heritage Research & Preservation, Knowledge & Knowhow Transfer, Competitions, Awards and so on. Please get in touch with the Network if your institution is interested in joining by writing to Chen Zhongwen: chen.zhongwen(at)iti-worldwide.org or if you want to subscribe to the Newsletter of the Network by writing to: Tom Johnson: tom.johnson(at)iti-worldwide.org To read the first Newsletter of the Network for Higher Education in the performing art >>in English please click here, >>in French please click here, and >>in Spanish please click here.
Open Call for Publications in ITI info
Short guidelines for Publications for ITI-info, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of ITI. The idea is to represent Arabian, African, Asian, European and American wonderful Faces of Theatre. Please, contribute your love and pride, your thoughts and knowledge to the joint non-commercial project. Here on pages of the magazine we meet each other again, but with a lot of necessary information to make new contacts and share new channels of collaboration. >>For more information please check the call here.
Toolkit for ITI Centres – Tools for Opening and Running a Centre
For quite a while the members of the General Secretariat assembled all the available information that concerns the opening and running of an ITI Centre and put it together in a publication.. It answers questions such as: Who founded ITI? What is the procedure to open a Centre? What are the ongoing artistic, educational and humanistic activities of ITI? How to go about to approach a National UNESCO Commission? What are the tools for increasing membership? Etc. The Toolkit for ITI Centres is available in English, French and Spanish. Please write to info(at)iti-worldwide.org so that we can send you a copy in the language(s) of your choice. The publication exists in PDF format.