At the end of last month, I joined my fellow trustees and members of ISTA – Global Learning Through the Arts for three days of in-person strategic planning meetings in The Hague.
It was a full-circle moment I’m still so excited about – and proud of! As a student at Shanghai American School, I attended multiple ISTA theatre festivals. I remember them as joyful, creative spaces where we made theatre with peers from around the world in a relaxed, collaborative environment. In short, they were amazing experiences!!
These early experiences definitely deeply shaped me both as an individual and on a professional level. In my work, I use drama as a tool for change, and one of the core principles of my practice is creating collaborative, relaxed spaces that prioritise connection over competition, process over product, and people over perfection.
Being in the room with such passionate, experienced, and thoughtful individuals that are all deeply committed to the power of arts education was incredibly inspiring. I’m so grateful to be part of this journey and excited to watch ISTA continue to grow and positively impact young people the same way it did for me. 🌍✨
Big thanks to Michael Bindon, Ed.D and Tom Scott for hosting us and keeping us on track, and Rob Warren and Caroline Hutchison as the chair and vice chair for all of your hard work!
#ISTA #TheatreEducation #DramaInEducation #CreativeLearning #YouthTheatre #ArtsEducation #GlobalLearning #Storytelling #FullCircleMoment #ArtsEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment
Elana Shyong 