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Getting Together | Rhona Dunnett Guest Editor Journal
2011-02-18
Getting Together
Im back on the road tomorrow. Alan King (our Youth Theatre Officer) and I will be heading up to Dundalk for a Youth Theatre Information Day run by Louth Arts Office. The day will be a networking and information event for groups and individuals involved in youth theatre, or interested in becoming involved in youth theatre. Were running a practical workshop for leaders, a youth drama workshop for young people and a youth theatre seminar (on NAYD, welfare and child protection, youth theatre programming, networking and anything else participants want to discuss). Were expecting a good group so Im looking forward to meeting some new faces!
If youre interested, you can read more about the day on the Create Louth website:
http://www.createlouth.ie/youth-theatre-information-day
We hope the day will provide a creative and supportive environment for people to find out more about each other, make contacts, access resources and services, and get inspired!
We were recently in Cavan for a youth theatre meeting run by the Cavan Arts Office. Youth theatre leaders and drama facilitators there spoke about the importance of being together, of sharing ideas and practice, of feeling part of a network.
Networking can seem like such a business term - a foreign word in the culture of youth arts! Still, it is hugely important. We need to share practice and exchange ideas. We learn from our own practice, but we can learn so much more when we open our eyes and ears to those working around us. Being part of a network and mixing with other facilitators / practitioners can inspire you, reassure you, challenge you and support you in the work that you do. And sometimes its just good to share those success stories and horror stories with people wholl understand.
The idea of networking is probably even more important in this current climate. When our funding and resources are cut, theres an even greater need to collaborate and share resources. So a positive note on a Friday afternoon in February! Theres just no need to work in isolation!
But then I guess thats what practice.ie is all about!
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