Conference “Lithuanian performing arts for children and youth: between past and future”

On March 20, the world community of performing arts for children and youth celebrates World Day of Theatre for Children and Youth. ASSITEJ International, congratulating creators and spectators on this occasion, invites children to the theatre so that they can see, hear, feel, think and imagine. At the same time, it reminds us of the responsibility of adults for the accessibility of performing arts for children and youth, especially in times of crisis, because participation in artistic activities restores the connection of young spectators with a living work of art, ideas and emotions, and the connection between people. This means that the right of children and youth to art, culture and freedom of expression is ensured. ASSITE Lithuania, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this year, contributes to the international initiative to raise and explore relevant issues of performing arts for young spectators. Therefore on March 20 at 3:00 PM ASSITEJ Lithuania is organizing the fifth national conference “Lithuanian Performing Arts for Children and Youth: Between Past and Future”, which will be held remotely.

The theme of this year’s conference focuses on the recently emerging issues of inclusive performing arts and the challenges of special needs audiences when attending performances. Therefore, the conference program will present the reports of ASSITEJ Lithuania members submitted during the open call, examining the aforementioned issues. The conference will be opened with a welcome speech by the association’s president, Violeta Podolskaitė, who will discuss the current issues of today’s theater for young audiences related to the accessibility of performing arts to all children and youth regardless of their abilities and needs. The chairwoman of the ASSITEJ Lithuania board, artistic director of the dance theater “Dansema”, choreographer Dr. Birutė Banevičiūtė will speak about the challenges of dramaturgy when creating performances for children with disabilities. She will be joined and the topic will be continued by actress, director, and head of the Table Theatre Saulė Degutytė, who will share her experiences of the creative process of her latest performance, intended for young audiences with autism spectrum challenges. Actress and director, head of “Teatro istorijos” Kristina Mauruševičiūtė will reveal her artistic ideas while creating the performance “Galaktikos”, which examines the theme of the survival of children with autism in a social context. Director of the Alytus City Theatre Inesa Pilvelytė will share her insights into the challenges and opportunities of forming an inclusive repertoire for theatre. In discussions with the conference participants, we will raise questions about the functioning of the art community in achieving greater inclusiveness and accessibility of performing arts for children and youth. The conference will be moderated by the Chair of ASSITEJ Lithuania Board, Dr. Birutė Banevičiūtė.

Conference program:

15.00-15.15 Conference opening, “Performances for all children and youth regardless of their abilities and needs” Violeta Podolskaitė (President of ASSITEJ Lithuania)

15.20-15.35 “Issues ofdramaturgy of inclusive performances for children with disabilities” Dr. Birutė Banevičiūtė (choreographer, artistic director of Dance Theater “Dansema”)

15.40-15.55 “Reflections on the creative process of the inclusive performance “What do you suggest?” for young audiences on the autism spectrum” Saulė Degutytė (director, actress, director of “Stalo Teatro”)

16.00-16.15 “Theatre that helps to get to know oneself and others: how do we achieve this?” Kristina Mauruševičiūtė (director, actress, head of “Teatro istorijos”)

16.20-16.35 “kitOKs” theatre repertoire. Space for diversity and dialogue” Inesa Pilvelytė (actress, director of Alytus City Theatre)

16.35-17.00 Discussions

The conference is financed by the Vilnius City Municipality