The Symposium Bread and Circus: Prepare to be engaged and inspired!

The theme is culture and poverty- and you kan become engaged! The subtitle ”Personal engagement in a global perspective” refers to the symposium’s use of the concept ”World café” – a method which allows large groups to discuss big questions in a personal and engaging space.

The day’s goal is for participants to clarify their own personal engagement. Individual participants will receive concrete help in deciding how this engagement can be realised on return to their respective home countries.

The symposium has two facilitators, who will go through all the points of the World Café concept. Jan-Erik Kristoffersen is the general manager of Idésmia in Harstad, and Bjørg Arntzen is the general manager of the communications company “Fritt fram” in Lofoten. For the main inroduction, we have been fortunate to secure the outgoing chairman of AITA/IATA for one day away from his work at the festival. Paddy O’Dwyer is an psychologist by trade, and the founder of Dublin Youth Theatre, a theatre providing opportunities to youth in Dublin. O’Dwyer has been the leader of the international amateur theatre organisation AITA/IATA for the last four years.

O’Dwyer will also provide a summary at the end of the day. The general sectretary of the Norwegian Theatre council Christin Sund and Chairman Svein Svensson will begin with an introduction focusing on just why the Norwegian Theatre Council is so interested in poverty and in the role of amateur theatre in the debate on poverty.

We look forward to a fantastic and inspiring day on the 19th July in Rica Hall at Rica Ishavs Hotel in Tromsø. The Symposium will take place in English.

Welcome!