TYA Ireland (the Irish centre for ASSITEJ International) is the national association representing and promoting professional organisations and individual artists whose work primarily focuses on engaging children and young people in Ireland through theatre.
Mission Statement
To support members to provide access to high quality professional performing arts experiences to all children and young people in Ireland.
Aims
To develop a long-term future for TYA through artists’ supports, practice sharing, skills/knowledge exchanges etc.
To enable communication within the sector around issues affecting it
To support those working in the TYA sector while nourishing and encouraging emerging talent.
To facilitate engagement with international colleagues
To harness member networks, national and international relationships, to develop TYA in Ireland.
To work with members, venues and agencies to promote TYA and develop audiences.
To advocate for and promote TYA and TYAI members to government and all other relevant stakeholders.
To support the development of the infrastructure to reach audiences
To promote the work of members and the value of theatre arts and engagement to a national audience
To work towards improving working conditions.
To help create optimum conditions for the best possible theatre experiences for TYA audiences.
The TYA Ireland Committee
Chair - Aislinn O'hEocha (www.baboro.ie/) Secretary - Ursula Mc Ginn (Bombinate Theatre) Treasurer - Phil Kingston (Abbey Theatre Outreach) Membership - Niall Cleary (Graffiti Theatre) Other Committee Members Maria Fleming (First Fortnight) Jennifer Ahern (Baboró Festival) Al Russell (The Ark) Sadhbh Barrett Coakley (ALSA Productions) Mary-Lou Mc Carthy Mona Considine (Backstage Theatre) Phillida Eves (IIAN champion for Ireland)
TYAI & Assitej International
TYAI is the Irish National Centre for Assitej International - a global organisation that represents the sector worldwide. Every three years there is an Assitej world congress and TYAI has three seats at the congress with voting rights. The next world congress will be held in Tokyo in March 2021. Following that 2022 Assitej International Gathering will be held in Sweden, and the 2023 Assitej International Gathering will be held in Belgrade, Serbia. It is envisaged that the 2024 World Congress will take place in Cuba. To find out more: www.assitej-international.org/en