There are reasons to celebrate: ASSITEJ International is turning 60! Our global community of performing arts for, with and by children and youngsters will come together in Marseille to gather people from different generations and continents to look back to 60 years of international exchange and advocacy // and to envision our future in workshops, round tables and conferences. But that’s not all: Just before we arrive in France, we celebrate the World Day of Theatre for Young Audiences with thousands of activities around the globe focusing on children’s right to participate in arts and culture with the slogan: Take a child to the theatre today.
There are reasons to celebrate: ASSITEJ International is turning 60! Our global community of performing arts for, with and by children and youngsters will come together in Marseille to gather people from different generations and continents to look back to 60 years of international exchange and advocacy // and to envision our future in workshops, round tables and conferences. But that’s not all: Just before we arrive in France, we celebrate the World Day of Theatre for Young Audiences with thousands of activities around the globe focusing on children’s right to participate in arts and culture with the slogan: Take a child to the theatre today.
And yet…writing these lines for the opener, I can’t hide that I am not in a cheerful mood.
Politics and society everywhere are facing immense challenges: Wars, climate warming, increasing social polarization and division as well as economic problems are dominating public discourse and are causing young people to look to the future with increasing uncertainty. In light of the elections that took place in Germany three weeks ago, I ask myself almost every day in conversations with friends, colleagues and family: how can this be happening? The dominant public topics are building or closing borders, saving the economy and arming for self-defense in the event of war. Social issues, ecological issues and arts and culture are being pushed further and further into the background. And this raises the question of whether and for how long our democracy, in Germany, Europe and worldwide, can and will be able to withstand the attacks from all sides. These challenges don’t only affect us as adult artists and theatre makers. They affect children and young people in particular, as their present and future are threatened, and they have no opportunity to have a say. By bringing forward the elections in Germany by 7 months, 400,000 young people lost their vote as they were not yet eligible to vote in February. A study on the voting of under-18-year-olds in Germany has shown that young people attach great importance to democracy – and even more to social issues than older generations. But their votes are not counted.
It is therefore clear that anyone who wants to strengthen democracy must also strengthen children’s rights. The right of children and young people to access and participate in arts and culture must also include the participation of children in all matters that affect them. There needs to be broad and equitable participation of all young people, whether in the theatre on, in front of and behind the stage, in artistic projects, in aesthetic mediation practice and in children’s advisory boards. It needs institutionalized and political instruments such as a local children’s and youth parliament and the right to have a say and make decisions, e.g. in urban planning.
Democracy forms an indispensable basis for effective solutions to social challenges that are geared towards the common good. Arts and cultural education make a significant contribution to democratic education because they help young people to flourish personally, to think critically and independently and to recognize and question prejudices. In artistic programs, young people can explore themselves, form their own opinions and learn to stand up for tolerance and justice. Values such as respect, openness and the ability to accompany social change critically and actively are conveyed. ASSITEJ International and its members have stood for young people’s right to cultural participation for 60 years. As the united voice of artists and advocates for young people, ASSITEJ also stands for diversity, inclusion and human rights, which absolutely include children’s rights. We aim to strengthen young people in their personal development and advocate for them to grow up in an environment that focuses on respect, peace and humanity.
When I chose to become an artist in the performing arts for young audiences it was because I believed in the power of stories. Stories which tell that other and better worlds are possible. Stories that make us feel and imagine other realities we can choose to create. When I come to Marseille this week my brightest moments will be those that allow me to share and live my beliefs with others who came for the same reason. From all generations and from all continents. For our future that hopefully will be brighter than it may seem these days.
