(Yvette
Hardie, Director of ASSITEJ SA)
ASSITEJ SA and the National Arts Council
announce a flagship three-year partnership towards the hosting of an ASSITEJ
World Congress in Cape Town in 2017.
The bid to host this prestigious
international event will take place at the 18th ASSITEJ World Congress and
Performing Arts Festival in Warsaw, Poland from May 23 to 31 2014. The results
of the voting will be announced shortly thereafter. If successful, it will be
the first ASSITEJ World Congress to be held in Africa since this international
organisation was launched in 1965.
Yvette Hardie, Director of ASSITEJ SA and
currently President of the international association, says: “This is about more
than just bringing an important event to our shores. This is an opportunity for
us to put in place strategic initiatives which will fundamentally shift the
landscape for theatre for young audiences and practitioners in our country, and
also on the continent. We want to ensure that the value and transformative
power of theatre in the lives and education of children and young people is
recognised, and we believe that hosting this Congress and Performing Arts
Festival can bring about increased awareness and systemic changes.
“Every aspect of the World Congress and
Performing Arts Festival is being designed with long-term sustainability in
mind, “she continues, “and with a commitment to building partnerships between
all stakeholders interested in investing in the future of children and young
people. For this reason, we are delighted by the vision and commitment of the
National Arts Council, which has recognised the important need of building the
country and the arts landscape through investment in its youngest citizens.”
ASSITEJ SA’s bid for the World Congress
will be themed Cradle of Creativity,
referring to South Africa and Africa’s position as the Cradle of Humankind,
from which all humanity and all artistic endeavour originates. Rosemary
Mangope, CEO of the National Arts Council, says: ”Investing in our youth
through stimulating innovation and creativity, is investing in our future. The
arts, more than any other form of education, have the ability to evoke forms of
thinking valuable for grappling with the ambiguities that life throws at us”.
The World Congress Bid has also been
supported by a host of other partners, including the National Arts Festival,
with Wesgro and The Conference Company both providing direct support towards
the bidding process. Theatres across the country have been approached to be
part of the initiative, which will see around 2,000 international visitors
coming to South Africa, and more than 50 professional productions for young
audiences (aged 0 to 18) from South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world
being showcased.
The bid committee which has been working
towards securing the 19th World Congress for South Africa includes Marlene le
Roux (Artscape), Lara Foot (Baxter), Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema (Joburg theaters),
Elinor Sisulu (Puku), Nobulali Dangazele (Shakexperience), Mandie van der Spuy
(former Sponsorship Manager at Standard Bank), Dorelle Sapere (Mandela Bay
Development Agency), Janet Watts (Tshikululu Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund),
Ismail Mahomed (National Arts Festival), Trish Downing (National School of the
Arts /independent), Monica Newton (DAC), Rosemary Mangope (NAC) and Yvette
Hardie (ASSITEJ SA).
The team presenting the bid in Warsaw comprises
Ismail Mahomed (National Arts Festival), Nobulali Dangazele (Shakexperience)
who will head up the bid presentation and a representative from the National
Arts Council.
For more information contact Yvette Hardie,
Director of ASSITEJ South Africa, and President of ASSITEJ, on either director@assitej.org.za or 021 822
0070/1/2.
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