After the Cradle of Creativity in Cape Town, I came back home to the United States energized and inspired, despite the jet lag. Connecting with international artists reignited my deep passion for creating work for young audiences. Maybe it’s the performances? Or the workshops? Or the many conversations over glasses of wine? But ASSITEJ events always help me put what I do here at home into a much larger context. They make me feel like I create work for global citizens, not just children in Middle Tennessee.
But after recent events in the United States, I’m wondering what my role as a TYA practitioner is now. How does it fit into the bigger scheme of things? How do I best nurture the global citizens that sit in my audience?
Perhaps others in the ASSITEJ family have ideas as to what the best ways an artist can confront injustice and intolerance are? Is it simply showing the work we produce? Provoking conversations? Enlightening young people with information? All the above?
How do artists create work, which is most often from a place of love, in a time of hate?
Ernie Nolan, member of ASSITEJ Executive Committee.
