About
120 artists, educators, government officials, funders as well as other
supporting bodies are expected to participate in the ASSITEJ South Africa
Theatre4Youth Forum in Johannesburg on December 6, 2012.
The
Theatre4Youth National Forum aims to create an active dialogue between artists,
educators, government, funders and other supporting bodies in order to engage
in how theatre and the arts can serve and support the education system. The
event is supported by The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Goethe
Institute, The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) in association with Nedbank Arts
Affinity
The
forum is the first of its kind and intends to bring together all stakeholders
to discuss the following topics:
-
The actual and possible roles of theatre and the arts in the new national
curriculum;
-
Educational challenges, needs & possibilities for external support;
-
The role of ASSITEJ SA in bridging the gaps between theatre and education;
-
Theatre4Youth concept, outcomes and impact;
-
Resources needed to implement Theatre4Youth programmes and
-
The potential impact of this programme for the theatre industry/landscape at
large
“The
forum will pay attention to the needs of educators, learners, theatre companies
and artists, as well as to the current obstacles to this engagement”, says
Yvette Hardie, Director of ASSITEJ SA and current President of ASSITEJ
International. “This event goes to the heart of what ASSITEJ SA is all about,
working to ensure that all children have access to the arts.”
The
Theatre4Youth Forum has generated interest and excitement across many sectors.
There is clearly a need to support theatre for young audiences in South Africa
because, unless children are given the opportunity to fall in love with the
theatre experience, South Africa will have no theatre industry in the future.
“Theatre
and dramatic arts offer young people a creative, energetic and imaginative
forum for success”, says Professor Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector
for the University of the Free State. “We know from research that not all
children do well in the same subject fields. We also know that children who
experience success in fields like drama and the arts carry over the confidence
gained to other subject areas and we certainly know that children who do well
in what excites them become self-assured human beings motivated to participate
fully in the lives of communities. One of the serious mistakes we make in our
country is to narrow the achievement landscape of children and youth to
regulate school subjects like science and mathematics, not recognising that
there are many other ways in which young people can experience the joy and
satisfaction of personal and motivation. We measure test scores in traditional
subjects; this is a mistake”, believes Professor Jansen.
The
forum will be presented in five sessions: a Keynote Address; two panel
discussions; a workshop session divided into four separate topics; a report on
the Theatre4Youth programme so far, and the launch of the hardcopy catalogue.
Workshop
sessions will focus on the following questions: a) How can theatre be used as
an educational tool, both in and across the curriculum? b) How can the arts
community support early childhood development and the pre-primary sector? c)
How can we lobby and advocate better for theatre (and the arts) in schools? d)
What are the best funding models for theatre for young audiences and arts in
schools?
Presentations,
workshops and recommendations will be used for on-going research purposes and
as a tool for strengthening the concept of theatre as a vehicle of education
and training. The report emerging from the Theatre4Youth Forum will be sent to
the relevant stakeholders (those who participated, and to government and
corporates) to advocate for policy priorities and implementation strategies.
In
a partnership between ASSITEJ SA and the Market Theatre, the Market theatre
will host an evening event for teachers attending the Theatre4Youth Forum.
Dinner will be served, followed by an evening of delight with Sylvaine Strike’s
acclaimed production of The Miser.
This event will celebrate the teachers who have so loyally supported the Market
Theatre in the past, while also inviting participation from new stakeholders in
the exciting plans for 2013.
All
those interested to present at or attend the forum can express their interests
by completing the online application form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dC0xek1FX1hTQXlERldnVGV5T2xzYlE6MQ
The
deadline for proposals to present is November 15, 2012. Participation will be
confirmed by November 21, 2012.
More
information on the forum from Themba Mzondi, ASSITEJ SA Marketing and
Fundraising Manager, on 021 822 0070/1/2 or e-mail fundmarket@assitej.org.za
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