Entering its 4th year, SPARK is an opportunity to engage in a creative conversation and to explore professional work for young audiences within a specific geographic context. SPARK conversations have occurred in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Montreal and now Madison.
We recognize that artists and presenters are all faced with realities of our creation and programming contexts that influence our final productions and/or presentations. We stand behind the work we create, produce and present and now let's explore how we can take that further.
What are our barriers to overcome? What challenges exist that we can find solutions for? How do we turn IMPOSSIBLE into POTENTIAL?
SPARK 2017 will explore the idea of overcoming barriers and challenges in creating and presenting work intended for young audiences. Opportunities will exist for participants to share their challenges and barriers with a goal of working towards embracing potential solutions to move from impossible to potential. Invited thought leaders will share their experiences, perspectives and insights on how makers, educators and presenters can create and/or present relevant, innovative, challenging performing arts for young people.
Part presentation from artists and part community dialogue,
SPARK 2017 is the perfect platform for local area students, artists/theatre makers and choreographers, teaching artists and presenters to connect with, build and develop relationships with representatives of the international artistic landscape.
Guests include:
Brittany Parker & Andrew Simon, Co-Directors, Barn Arts Collective (USA);
Rhona Matheson, Executive Director, Star Catchers (Scotland);
Erwin Maas, Director/Curator (Nederlands/US);
Tony Reekie, International Festival Curator & Creative Consultant (Scotland);
Boomer Stacey, Executive Director, IPAY (Canada);
Ray Gargano, Director of Programming and Community Engagement, Overture Center (USA);
Erica Berman, Director of Education & Community Engagement, Children's Theater of Madison (USA);
Erica Halverson, Director/Professor in Curriculum & Instruction, UW (USA);
Jessica Lanius, Artistic Director, Theatre LILA (USA).
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small [people] who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it.
Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion.
Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare.
Impossible is potential.
Impossible is temporary.
Impossible is nothing."
