Committees, Forums, Groups

In order to deal with certain specialized areas of the performing arts in depth, the ITI can set up Committees (or Forums and Groups) – each with their own organizational structure, funding and programme of activities.
The members of a Committee are delegates of the Centres and Cooperating Members. The board is elected during the congress. If necessary for its work, the Committee may co-opt persons who do not represent a Centre or Cooperating Member. Committees and their boards are composed of those who are willing to give time and energy to carrying out their mission. They are run on democratic principles, and elect their leaders from amongst their members. The programme of each Committee is in line with the goals of the ITI and is formulated and executed by its board and members. Each Committee is responsible to the General Assembly.

Committees are an important pillar of the ITI and are mainly active in international collaboration – dealing with the performing arts issues that are inherent in their specialist areas, professions and themes.

When a special topic makes it necessary to create a new committee, the interested ITI members should get in touch with the Executive Council for approval of their status within the ITI.

The Action Committee for Artists Rights (ACAR) was established during the 33rd ITI World Congress in Xiamen, China, in September 2011. The group will watch and make the international theatre community react to treats and violence against theatre people and severe restrictions to work with theatre activities, wherever it occurs in the world. If you have to report about such cases, please, refer to the contact menu of this site.

The Communication Committee (ComCom) studies the role of media communication in promoting theatre, and also edits publications such as ITI‘s biennial volume of «The World of Theatre» in English, French and Arabic, and World Theatre Directory that is available online.

The Committee for Cultural Identity and Development (CIDC) focuses on promoting dramatic forms and expressions which are essential components of cultural identity. Current projects deal with such wide-ranging themes as peacemaking and conflict resolution through artistic collaboration (My Unknown Enemy / Centre for Theatre in Conflict Zones), and contribute to the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The Dramatic Theatre Committee (DTC) aims at promoting the scholarly and professional dimensions of dramatic theatre today. It is active organizing seminars, festivals and workshops, and has developed a project on «The Fool on the World‘s Stages».

The International Dance Committee (IDC) seeks to develop the study and practice of Dance, through activities such as the patronage of international festivals, the organization of workshops for young professionals and events in connection with International Dance Day – in particular the diffusion of the International Message.

At the moment an International Festival Forum (IFF) is in development. It will concentrate on festival activities all around the world.

The International Monodrama Forum (IMF) is a network of theatre festivals around the world which promote the art and artists involved in productions with a single performer.

The International Playwrights’ Forum (IPF) is involved in projects and networking for and with playwrights. Since 2000 it organises a biennial «International Playwriting Competition» for playwrights all over the world.

The Music Theatre Committee (MTC) seeks to initiate or coordinate activities in the world of musical theatre and is conducting a worldwide competition called «Music Theatre Now» for creators of new opera and music theatre – in collaboration with the German Centre of the ITI. The prize winners are invited to present their work at the international meeting of Music Theatre Now in Berlin.

The New Project Group (NPG) seeks to stimulate the development of new alternative theatres through the development of collective productions by artistic teams from different countries.

The Theatre Education and Training Committee (TECOM) is concerned with the teaching of theatre (especially at tertiary level) and with teacher training. It accomplishes its task through themed meetings and workshops aimed especially at young professionals. It works in partnership with the ITI /UNESCO Chair of Theatre and is represented on the Chair´s Board.

The Young Practitioners’ Committee (YPC) has two main axes of work: 1) to encourage and facilitate the presence of a new generation of theatre artists, to develop new forms of artistic participation and to contribute to the transmission of the ITI legacy during the World Congresses. 2) to build up an international network of young performing arts practitioners in order to facilitate international mobility, exchange ideas and maintain the contacts made at a World Congress.