IDEA 2001 Bergen

Project summary

IDEA 2001 Bergen is the 4th world congress for the International Drama/theatre and Education Association. IDEA has been formed to promote and advocate drama/theatre as an important part of a holistic human education, to provide an international forum and network for those working as educators, artists and researchers within the field of drama/theatre throughout the world. IDEA 2001 Bergen has the title “Playing Betwixt and Between” - a metaphor for the working area of drama/theatre and education. Our working area can be described as being “betwixt and between” art and pedagogy. Playing and fiction gives us an opportunity to review our cultural and mental foundations through new perspectives. Drama/theatre as cultural and pedagogical practise uses dramatic playing and changing perspectives as central means for change and development. With the motif “Playing Betwixt and Between” the congress illuminates essential cultural activities that are changing our accustomed conceptions of art and education. Playing Betwixt and Between indicates ”playing in a space of possibilities” – where processes of growth, creation, transference and breaking of boundaries may take place. In addition to applied theatre research as a baseline, the project will include pedagogical and artistic development work, and artistic creative work. The project has been realised with 1000 participants during the congress week. Four publications have been produced: Nordic Voices in Drama, Theatre and Education (printed 2001). Playing Betwixt and Between. The IDEA Dialogues 2001 (printed 2002). Special Interest Fields of Drama, Theatre and Education (print. 2003). Playing Betwixt and Between - the Congress Video (produced 2003). An extensive documentation of the project is available on CDROM (2002) and on the Internet: www.idea2001.no The project has been realised by Bergen University College (Drama Department) and The Norwegian Association for Drama Teachers (LDS), in cooperation with IDEA internationally. Next IDEA World Congress will take place in Ottawa, Canada, July 2004: www.idea2004.no