Call for Proposals of Participants for 17th Theater Art Research Forum for Children and Youth

Dear theatre experts!

It is our pleasure to inform you that International Festival of Children's Theatres Subotica (Serbia), in co-operation with the Theatre Museum of Vojvodina from Novi Sad (Serbia), is organizing an INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLEGE OF THEATRE ARTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH conference for the seventeenth time.

Topic: The Phenomenon of Space and Environment in Theatre for Children and Youth

Theatre for children and youth, as an artistic phenomenon, encompasses a wide range of artistic and social activities. Each of these aspects is rooted in space and time - in other words, in an environment defined by choice or necessity. The space in which a theatrical event unfolds, or an artistic idea takes shape, serves as a cultural framework that gains new meanings and perspectives through theatrical expression. The environment, as a determining or sociological factor, in interaction with the theatre, opens up possibilities for new choices that can themselves become artistic content.

Theatre for children and youth creates opportunities for exploring diverse artistic perspectives within various settings – from the stage and classroom to site-specific performances and other spaces where actors, puppeteers, and performers engage young audiences through artistic expression. The role of the environment in the artistic process, whether as a stimulating or limiting factor, reinforces awareness of the importance of adult responsibility in creating theatre for children and youth. Methodologies of drama pedagogy, applied theatre, and practical work with children and young people in the community offer possibilities to enhance the creative environment across different theatrical contexts.

Potential subtopics:
- The phenomenon of space within the theatrical environment
- Space: the relationship between content and form in theatre for children and youth
- Space as a catalyst for creativity in the youngest audiences
- Space as an essential element in the theatre for children and youth
- The relationship between space and speech in theatre for children and youth
- Space, sound, and environment
- The development of language and speech within the stage space
- Literature and audience in theatre for children and youth
- The environment as a factor of social conditioning and responsibility
- New technologies and the environment in theatre for children and youth
- The influence of the environment on theatre for children and youth
- Heritage and environment

The 17th Theatrical arts research forum in Subotica, taking place from September 21 to September 24, 2026, opens up opportunities for researchers from around the world to explore diverse approaches to aesthetics in theatre for children and youth.

Head of Forum is Marijana Prpa Fink, PhD

Further information on the following link