Theatre for Young Audiences
TYA UK 2008 AGM
Held at Darlington Arts Centre on 11th November, 2008
Apologies
Steve Davies, Brian Bishop, Philip Sherman, Charles Bishop, Janet Huxable, Jeremy Turner, Marigold Hughes, Kitty Parker
Present
Steve Ball Birmingham Rep (Chairman)
Kevin Lewis Theatr Iolo (Company Secretary)
Guy Holland Quicksilver (Treasurer)
Jude Merrill Travelling Light
Paul Harman Individual (International Rep)
Benedict Eccles Sixth Sense
Akua Obeng-Frimpong Kazzum
Tony Graham Unicorn
Steve Aal Theatr Blah Blah Blah
Ann Plenderleith Theatr Clwyd Cymru YPT
Nina Hajiyianni Action Transport
Tina Williams Pied Piper
Miranda Thain CTC
Tim Webb Oily Cart
Dot Wood M6 Theatre
Wendy Harris Tutti Frutti
Sarah Richards Individual
Chris Elwell Half Moon
Sarah Argent Individual
Dave Johnston Tangere Arts
Ellen Bianchini Spark Children’s Arts Festival
Alison Povey Tutti Frutti
Julie Ward Jack Drum Arts
Jo Bellolli Individual
Carey English Quicksilver
Daryl Beeton Kazzum
In Attendance
Laura Cooney
Finegan Kruchemeyer
Tony Reekie Imaginate
Rachel Kurtz Bare Toed Dance Company
Lynn Campbell Bare Toed Dance Company
Helen Ferguson NTC
Maddy Pike DARTS
Theresa Threadsall Theatre Royal Newcastle
Chair’s Report:
During the last year, there have been a number of significant developments within TYA UK: UK Centre of ASSITEJ
London Bridges
In May 2005, delegates from TYA UK: UK Centre of ASSITEJ travelled to Adelaide to present a bid to host the 2011 ASSITEJ World Congress in London - funded by Arts Council England.
Over 900 people from 80 ASSITEJ member countries attend each Congress, and it is the world’s largest representative gathering of international arts organisations creating theatre for young people. In the 42-year history of ASSITEJ, the Congress had never been held in the UK. Securing the 2011 World Congress in London presented a once in a generation opportunity to raise the status, profile and quality of theatre for children and young people in the UK.
Although, on face value our bid to host the ASSITEJ World Congress in London in 2011 failed and was beaten into third place by the winning joint bid from Malmo and Copenhagen and the runner up, Lindst in Austria and there was genuine disappointment in the result - a number of positive benefits were realised.
1) The 22 strong UK delegation made a very positive impression amongst the international community. With the bid as a vehicle for networking and forging connections, the profile and status of TYA UK was significantly raised and its international reputation strengthened.
2) There was genuine recognition that the UK presented the most professional and enthusiastic bid. The way in which the UK is perceived internationally, block voting patterns and their track record in producing festivals meant that we did not win.
The process provided a real focus and identity for the UK delegation and strengthened the bond between individuals and companies. Through the lobbying that the bid necessitated, the UK delegation initiated connections and relationships with ASSITEJ delegates from a vast number of member countries. It was clear that our status within ASSITEJ international had been significantly raised, in part evidenced by the enthusiasm for the three bidding countries to work together towards the 2011 festival in Malmo/Copenhagen.
The impact of the bid upon TYA UK has been huge. Having the bid as a focal point for the energies and passions of the UK delegation has consolidated the drive of the organisation and underlined the necessity of TYA UK within the cultural sector. Since returning, TYA UK has channelled the energy generated by the bid into an urgent consideration of its goals and priorities - many of which lie in the field of regional/national meetings, a possible international festival in 2012 and supporting the next generation of practitioners making work for young audiences. The network is being forced to look at its central purpose: improving the quality and provision of theatre for children and young people in the UK.
ASSITEJ Congress 2008
Although the London 2011 provided a major focus of the Adelaide Congress it was not the sole reason for attending.
Forums, productions and playwrighting "slams" all afforded opportunities for creative participation/ exchange between countries and cultures. There were a number of UK delegates that were represented in these events which served to strengthen our bid and the work of TYA in the UK: Vicky Ireland was a participant in the playwrighting slams, Sarah Jones (Artistic Director, Mess up the Mess Theatre, Wales) presented at a forum focussed on new processes of making work, Nina Hagiyanni (Associate Director - Action Transport Theatre Company, Cheshire) was a participant on the Next Generation programme and Peter Wynne Wilson (Hayong Theatre Company) directed The Bridge, a collaboration between Korea and the UK and a featured production in the festival programme . The congress itself was an opportunity for the official delegates of the UK to partake in discussions relevant to the running of ASSITEJ international and its executive committee.
Development Worker
The GFA grant for the 2011 ASSITEJ World Congress bid, also included funds for the recruitment of a development worker for a twelve month period. In February 2008, Marigold Hughes was employed to work on a part-time basis for the organisation.
Since February, she has been working with EAK design to re-brand the organisation and develop its communication strategy. A website with interactive resources for members such as an online forum has been constructed, a monthly newsletter has been created and various other items of promotional print such as flyers and business cards have been produced. Administrative duties include the establishment of a comprehensive database of member contacts, a reliable subscription service and effective budgetary control. She has recorded the meetings in both Birmingham and London. At the most recent board meeting, priorities for the future were articulated and recorded and she will now work on "actioning" these priorities.
In the weeks leading up to the bid, Marigold Hughes worked with Alex McGowan (Associate Producer, Unicorn Theatre) and Steve Ball to undertake preparatory work for Adelaide, including communicating with UK delegates, soliciting information for the bid brochure, making courier arrangements and providing general support whenever necessary. Aside from the bid, she has been predominately concerned with re-connecting to the membership of TYA UK, undertaking administrative responsibility for the running of the organisation and working with board members to consolidate the focus of the network.
Whilst in Adelaide, she supported Alex McGowan in finalising the necessary arrangements for the presentation and bid reception and participated as a speaker in the reception. She undertook lobbying duties and distributed relevant promotional information to delegates. Throughout the duration of her time in Adelaide, she was afforded the opportunity to participate in the festival as a delegate - attending a number of shows, forums and events, all of which contributed to her developing knowledge of the sector and provided her with multiple occasions to network and to spread an awareness of TYA UK.
The benefits of her role to the organisation are clear. Led by a voluntary board, TYA UK does not have the time or resources to be able to commit to translating its visions and strategies into action. She is able to create resources for the network and to assist in the strategic building of the network, putting these ideas into practice and ensuring that they are sustained.
NCA Meeting
TYA initiated a meeting that was subsequently run by NCA - the National Campaign for the Arts - and which was held at The Unicorn Theatre on 9th September 2008, with the aim of establishing a Drama and Theatre Learning Forum - 9 September 2008
Chairs and directors of organisations within the sector met to examine whether there is an appetite for and ways in which we can work together to:
• Raise the status and profile of theatre and drama for and with children and young people
• Advocate for the sector and respond to government consultations and initiatives
• Identify high profile champions
• Learn from other sectors, principally the music sector, about influencing policy and practice.
Website
In response to an identifiable need to create an arena for information exchange and communication between members- a new website was created in May 2008.
This website includes interactive resources - such as an online forum - and is in line with the recent re-branding of the organisation. It was designed/constructed in partnership with EAK design and built with a content management system, which means it can be easily maintained and updated.
Currently, we are exploring ways to ensure that the site can be as useful as possible to members - for example, using the newsletter to ignite debate and then using our site as a platform to continue further discussion.
Newsletter
In July 2008, The TYA UK newsletter became a monthly publication containing festival listings, company news and advertisements, news of publications, a featured artist section and updates from the international representative - Paul Harman.
Input and contributions from membership organisations play a crucial role in compiling the newsletter and through its dissemination, we aim to give companies and individuals the chance to promote and share their work/ideas and to consolidate the role of TYA UK as the primary network for practitioners working in theatre for young audiences.
TYA UK Meeting in London
Following one of ITC "tea-parties", TYA UK held a meeting to discuss its work and its mission with interested individuals and members of ITC.. Akua Obeng-Frimpong, Tony Graham and Vicky Ireland represented TYA UK at the meeting and in addition to delivering information about the organisation, they were able to engage in informal discussion about the network.
Next Generation
Following the success of the Next Generation initiative at the 2008 ASSITEJ World Congress, TYA UK are keen to nurture a similar initiative on national ground. This initiative is currently being developed by a group of emerging practitioners in the UK and will eventually become open to a number of young directors and artists committed to making high quality theatre for young audiences.
With an ever increasing membership, the challenge for the organisation remains to work more closely with members, raise the profile of the work and provide opportunities for networking and professional development.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Ball welcomed everyone and spoke briefly to his Chair’s report which had been circulated to members. Although it was disappointing that TYA UK didn’t win enough votes in Adelaide to host the 2011 congress , the process of putting together the bid had focused the organisation. Marigold was congratulated on the various initiatives she had taken as development worker particularly the new website. Paul Harman is now Treasurer for Assitej International and is the International Rep for Assitej UK with Vicki Ireland as Deputy. Jeremy Turner was thanked for the work he had done over the last six years as Int. Dep. There was then a discussion around the resolution to reorganise TYA UK.
Resolution:
TYA UK will establish four national committees to deal with issues which pertain to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of these four countries will elect two members to the TYA UK board of trustees.
Vote:
17 in Favour and 9 postal votes in favour
1 against and 1 abstention
Resolution Carried.
Treasurer’s Report
Guy Holland presented the accounts for the year 2007/2008. Guy Holland proposed that the accounts were accepted and this was seconded by Tim Webb and carried unanimously.
Meeting closed at 7pm