Today (May 7^th) is the start of the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival, which takes place every year in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.  An international programme will show to schools and family audiences as well as industry professionals from across the globe and includes some of the 'best theatre the world has to offer'.

Indeed, some fantastic shows are on offer every year at Imaginate, diverse work, work which has strong artistic merit.

However, when attempting to define 'best work' especially in the context of a global association with over 80 member countries, an emphasis on 'exchange'…'dialogue' and 'sharing' can perhaps help to provide a framework in which a variety of 'best' work can be seen and appreciated.

Here in the UK, partly due to economic factors in this time of 'austerity', an emphasis on partnership working and sharing is very much being adopted and promoted. Mostly this is to do with making resources go further and it is frustrating when used as an argument to cut funding to the arts. Nevertheless sharing, in particular, of ideas, can potentially lead to 'best practice'.  Across the UK companies and artists are sharing with each other and also with their audiences in processes which 'open up the art'. As communities are constantly evolving (and multi faceted) discussion around the making of art from different perspectives can help to create the languages we need to speak to new audiences of children and their adults.

Over 200 organisations across the UK make work for, (and many also by and with) children and young people, some companies and theatres are funded by the Arts Council and are part of a National Portfolio, some companies pursue project to project funding from a variety of sources. Most small-scale organisations rely to some extent on selling their work to schools and venues. What is apparent is the range of work on offer within the UK and the reflection of artistic principles and impulses which have been drawn from many places and influences.

Other UK festivals include Agor Drysau - Opening Doors in Wales, Belfast Children's Festival in Northern Ireland, and Takeoff festival in England which will take place across County Durham in November.

Nina Hajiyianni - member of the Executive Committe of ASSITEJ

TYA, Culture, Society - Manon van de Water (ed.)

This unique edition is the result of the second International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network (ITYARN) conference that was held in Malmoe, Sweden, in May 2011 as part of the XVIIth ASSITEJ World Congress and Festival. In fifteen essays that are illustrative of the wide variety as well as of the many opportunities for research in TYA, this book covers six continents, includes quantitative, qualitative, ethnographic/ action, and historiographical methods, and highlights critical theory, philosophical discourse, play analysis, and other approaches. The essays deal with a broad range of issues, including representation, cultural contexts, questions of identity, race-, class-, and gender theory, notions of child and childhood, aesthetics, and the influence of media and dominant ideologies. ITYARN aims to further research in the field of theatre for young audiences to contextualize and theorize the lively artistic products for children and youth globally. It is the research network of ASSITEJ, the International Association of Theatre for Children and Youth, which co-produced this publication.

Content: van de Water: Foreword · Juncker: The Relations between Professional Theatre Performances and Children's Cultural Life · Saglam: TYA as Ideological Production in Turkey · Bedard: Cultural Hegemony and Theatre for Young Audiences · Arnold Udoka: Conceptualization of Child and Childhood in Nigerian Theatre · Jacobs: The Virtual Puppet in the Machinima Movement: Discovering Virtual Puppetry in the 3D Performance Space of Video Games · Solberg: Quiet Dissent: Citizen Activism and the Kodomo Gekijō Movement in 1960 -70s Japan · Hughes: Taboos of Fear and Age Appropriateness in Youth Holocaust Drama · Kruckemeyer: Why Are We Scared To Let Children Be Scared? · Wiginton: Príncipe y Príncipe: Made in México · Giannone: Searching for America in Laurie Brooks's Triangle and Cynthia Mercati's Faces of Freedom · Schroeder-Arce/ McCoy: Latino/as in Theatre for Young Audiences, Cyclical Challenge in Higher Education in the United States · Broster: TYA-UK Developments: Reflections through a Looking Glass · Gruić: Educational Value in the Theatre for Young Audiences and Its Relation to the Attitudes of the Educational Community · Tsai: A Reflection of the Child and Childhood in Taiwanese TYA through the Winning Plays of The Taipei Children's Arts Festival · Elnan: How Can the Idea of Childhood, of Children as Spectators, and of Understanding Influence Theatre for Young Audiences? · Guss: Modeling TYA on the Dramaturgy of Children's Imaginative Play-drama

Order your copy of TYA, Culture, Society-International Essays on Theatre for Young Audiences for € 29,80 by filling up the form and sending it to: zentrale.frankfurt@peterlang.com

Azerbaijan State Young Spectators Theatre on April 20, 2012, the Azerbaijan National Center Of International ASSITEJ  held  the next event within "We love theater". Director of the theater, the honored actor, President of Azerbaijan National Center International ASSITEJ Mubariz Hamidov opened  the event by a opening speech and shared his thoughts about the main objectives of this project. The performances play an important role in improving of young people and he also add that this project was created completely for this purpose.

General Manager of Azerbaijan State Theatre For Young Spectators M.Hemidov has presented honorary diplomas of theatre to the director of the Children's Library (named F.Kocarli) Fizura Guliyeva and director of school № 53 Firangiz Hasanova for active participation increasing children's interest about theater.

Director of school № 53 Firangiz Hasanova expressed her gratitude for attention and care to Azerbiajan State For Young  Spectators.

In the event have participated Azerbaijan Social-Political university professors, teachers and students, Children's Library (named F.Kocarli), school № 53 employees, members of Cultural Center of the World Azerbaijanis and "Here is Motherland" assembly members, media representatives and many Azerbaijan figures.

After meeting the famous play of playwrighter A. Haqverdiyev "Fairy and magic" has been staged.

A few minutes after 7pm the entrance hall of La Comedia Theatre began to fill with people. Actors, directors, costume designers, playwrights and an endless list of theatre workers attended to the 6th ATINA Awards Ceremony, which rewards the best TYA productions of 2011. It was also the occasion to celebrate the World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People.

The winners were:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Pipo Pescador (Enrique Fischer)

Person or Media that contributes to TYA broadcasting Award: Alternativa Teatral // www.alternativateatral.com

Research Award: Susana Itzcovich

Special Mention Award: Cordoba's Theater for Children and Young People International Festival

SHOWS: Tengo un Dinosaurio en el Ropero, Marisa y Simón, El ratón del invierno

MALE PERFORMANCE: Gustavo Bohm for "Historia de un pequeño hombrecito", Claudio Martínez Bel for "Marisa y Simón", Omar Calicchio for "Robin Hood"

FEMALE PERFORMANCE: Celeste Martínez for "Tengo un dinosaurio en el ropero", Leticia Barbitta for "Playa Caracol", Violeta Naón for "Caracachumba a la carta"

DIRECTOR: Carlos de Urquiza for "Tengo un dinosaurio en el ropero", Héctor Presa for "Robin Hood", Silvina Grinberg for "Marisa y Simón"

PLAYWRIGHT: María Inés Falconi for "Tengo un dinosaurio en el ropero", Claudio Martínez Bel for "Marisa y Simón", Adela Basch for "¿Quién me quita lo talado?"

ADAPTATION: Cristian Vélez for "La sorprendente historia de Víctor Frankenstein", Hugo Álvarez for "Historia de un pequeño hombrecito"

MUSIC: Ricardo Scalise for "Tengo un dinosaurio en el ropero", Hernán Crespo for "Butohnes, de escaleras y amores", Tian Brass for "Playa Caracol"

SET DESIGN: Héctor Presa for "Robin Hood", Florencia Kohan and Maximiliano Mendez for Playa Caracol, Carla Rodríguez, Pablo Solari and Silvia Stangaferro for "Ito, teatro para bebes"

COSTUME DESIGN: Alberto Mauri for "Gotitas de primavera", Florencia Kohan for "Playa Caracol", Lali Lastra for "Robin Hood"

PUPPET AND OBJECT DESIGN: Corina Rinoldi, Ana Serralta, Omar Gaspari and Ximena Bianchi for "El ratón del invierno", Lucía de Urquiza (toys) and Yanina Foco (drawings) for "Tengo un Dinosaurio en el ropero", Alejandra Alonso for "Un ovillo con pelusa" , Laura Ro and Claudia Courtois  for "Ito, teatro para bebes", Bana Fernández and Eleonora Castel for "Príncipes… otra historia de amor"

LIGHT DESIGN: Demian Lorenzo for "Robin Hood", Leonardo Muñoz for "Playa Caracol", Miguel Ángel Solowej for "Marisa y Simón"

PRODUCTION: Teatro Nacional Cervantes for "Marisa y Simón", Teatro Real de la Provincia de Córdoba for "Derechos Torcidos", Parlanchinas for "Playa Caracol", Deby Cosovschi - Silvana Waisberg (Kocawa) for "Invasión"

FOREIGN SHOW PRESENTED IN ARGENTINA: "Esa nena ríe, esa nena llora, esa nena no hace nada"- Coproduction from ASSITEJ's proyect Next Generation. Finegan Kruckemeyer (Playwright - Australia) and Amarginados Grupo Teatral (Argentina), "Lágrimas de agua dulce" by Perla Szuchmacher  (Mexico), "Malas palabras" by Perla Szuchmacher (Mexico)

2nd INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE RESEARCHERS AND CRITICS FORUM

You can now register as a listener at the

2nd INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE RESEARCHERS AND CRITICS FORUM

 An ASSITEJ Project

 "Teatro del Mundo" Award (Buenos Aires University)

                                    that will be held in Buenos Aires City on 16-20 July 2012.

The Theatre for Children and Young People Independent Practitioners Association (ATINA- Argentina), in collaboration with the Theatre Researchers and Critics Association (AINCRIT- Argentina), and the International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network (ITYARN), organize the 2nd International Theatre for Children and Young People Researchers and Critics Forum, with the aim of encouraging the development of research in the field of theatre for children and young people in Argentina and around the world. During the meeting, different theoretical frameworks on critical approach will be proposed and the role of theory in practice and practice in theory will be discussed.

The Forum's main theme will be "Humor in Theatre for Young Audiences". It'll be developed through paper readings, special conferences, debate tables, and a theater program specially organized for the event.

All readings and conferences will be done simultaneously in English and in Spanish.

The 2º International Theater for Children and Young People Researchers and Critics Forum will have a special theater program for all the participants. The plays that will be part of this program will be confirmed around 15^th June.

All activities will take place in the Centro Cultural de la Cooperación, Corrientes Ave. Nº1543, Buenos Aires City.

Attendance to all Forum activities is free of charge, except for the shows. The organization will be in charge of theater reservations, with special prizes for the Forum's participants. The number of available tickets depends on each theater.

Registration will be open to students, researchers, artists and teachers until 13 July 2012

For more information and registration: investigadores@iberoamericateatral.com.ar

ASSITEJ statue was unveiled at the Theater World Day. This symbol to be awarded for many occasions, to the artists, theater groups and… that are successful in the theater for children and young adults field.

The name of this statute is creation. This statute unveiled by Mr. Seyyed Sadegh Rezaei general manger of Kanoon and Ms. Sedigheh Hasanzadeh the national center of ASSITEJ Iran president.

ASSITEJ Iran collects theatrical production for children and young adults

The purpose of the national center of ASSITEJ Iran is create network communication of their members and support of theatrical production for children and young adults.

Drama project

For supporting of research projects and providing resources for those interested in the theater for children and young adults, ASSITEJ Iran decided held a project with three parts: 1- Education in drama 2- Development in drama and 3- Drama therapy. This project will be doing with cooperation with 30 persons of researchers, university students and teachers. This project will take three years.

August 29-31, 2012

The House of Literature, Oslo, Norway

The world's 1st International Teaching Artist Conference will be held in Oslo, Norway in August 29-31, 2012. Renowned contributing artists and scholars from USA, Colombia, Tanzania, Australia, United Kingdom and Norway take part.

SEANSE - a centre for art production - invites artists, arts educators, administrators and interested professionals from all over the world to join an unprecedented three days of inquiry into this worldwide phenomenon, this rich opportunity, this growing trend.

Applications are accepted until May 25, however note that the number of participants will be very limited!

For program, practical info and application form: http://www.seanse.no/default.aspx?menu=180&id=153

SEANSE's mission is to create quality productions for children and youth. It supports artistic expression regardless of genre, and it directs its attention to artists, culture workers, teachers, school officials and researchers.

Assitej Sri Lanka Centre joined hand with Inter Act Art (IAA) organization to host the first Colombo International Theatre Festival organized by IAA. IAA became the second institutional member of Assitej Sri Lanka Centre.

Assitej Sri Lanka and Lanka Children's and Youth Theatre Foundation (LCYTF) organized theatre performances in schools in various parts in the country. About thirty performances were held for school children. In April schools are on holidays. The next round of theatre performances for children will be starting from 18th May.

Assitej Sri Lanka and LCYTF commence Creative Activities for Children programme (CAC-Prog) in June 2012. The programme is offered twice a year and the first one was over in April. The prime objective of the programme is to develop child's mental and physical aspects and to enhance artistic taste, cheerfulness and playful sense of the child through aesthetic experiences. This programme provides children with extracurricular learning that supplements the formal education the child obtains in school.

Assitej Sri Lanka and LCYTF commence Let's Make a Play Programme (LMP-Prog) for children in August school vacation. This is a Drama Workshop for five days through which children create a play at the end of the programme. The programme gives the child the opportunity to learn and enjoy the basic elements in drama and theatre such as acting, script writing, directing, making music, making costumes, making stage sets and properties, etc., using available resources. The programme is offered once a year.

Bibu.se - Performing Arts Festival For Children And Youth, May 23rd - 26th in Lund. The festival has performances both from Sweden and this year a focus on Belgian and Dutch performing arts with six invited productions. There also are workshops, debates, seminars etc. More information about the festival (in Swedish and English) at www.bibu.se

Workshop for dramatists in cooperation with ASSITEJ South Africa

Inspiring to play, a workshop for dramatists in cooperation with ASSITEJ South Africa. The first part took place in Cape Town (South Africa) in March/April and now they will all meet again in Lund (Sweden) at Bibu.se in and finish their work and give a presentation. Participants are (from South Africa) Beren Belknap, Jon Keevy, Francesco Nassimbeni, Lindelwa Kisana and (from Sweden) Isa Schöler, Jonathan Lehtonen, Christoffer Bocker and Anna Nygren.

SWEDSTAGE 2012

Welcome to Stockholm and the first SWEDSTAGE 2012! SWEDSTAGE 2012 is an initiative by Teaterunionen/Swedish ITI and ASSITEJ Sweden to create an international showcase for Swedish theatre. During three days in Stockholm, we will present Swedish  performances and plays of the highest quality for children, youth and adults. All the performances are suitable for international touring and are accessible for an international audience. Registration starts July 1, 2012. More information: www.assitej.se or info@assitej.se