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

On 20th March the world performing arts for children and youth community celebrates the International Day of Theater for Children and Youth. On this occasion, the International Association of Theater for Children and Youth ASSITEJ International invites us to invite children to the theater so that they can see, hear, feel, think and imagine. At the same time, the responsibility of adults for the accessibility of theater and performing arts for children and youth is reminded, especially in times of crisis, because being in the theater and participating in artistic activities brings back the connection of young viewers with a living work of art, ideas and emotions, human-to-human connection. And this means that the right of children and youth to arts, culture and freedom of expression is ensured. ASSITEJ Lithuania which is celebrating its 22nd year of activity this year, contributes to the international initiative to raise and examine topical issues of performing arts for young audiences. For that purpose, on 20th March at 15:00 ASSITEJ Lithuania is organizing the third national conference “Lithuanian performing arts for children and youth: between past and future”, which will be held online.

The conference program will present the reports of association members and guest lecturers. The conference will be opened by the president of the association, Violeta Podolskaitė, who will also raise the issues of challenges of today’s Lithuanian performign arts for children and youth. Table theater director and actress Saulė Degutyte will discuss issues of society’s attitude to children’s artistic education, and director and playwright Justas Tertelis will share his experience in connecting theater artists and educators in joint creative activities, expanding the creative possibilities of the artists themselves. Cultural projects manager of the National Kaunas Drama Theater Rūta Malaškevičienė will present the meaningful aspects of the process and results of the theater educational project “Tower of Babel” to the youth. Head of the Association of Performing Arts Critics, theater expert dr. Goda Dapšytė will analyze the problem of (non)existent theater for children critics. In the discussions, we will raise questions about the forms and genres of stage art for the young audience, we will talk about the functioning of the art community in order to achieve greater visibility and understanding of the significance of theater and performing arts for children and youth in society. The conference will be moderated by the artistic director and choreographer of the Dance Theater “Dansema”, Chairwoman of the Board Dr. Birutė Banevičiūtė.