The 16th Research Forum for Children and Youth Theatre Art concluded

The 16th edition of the Research Forum for Children and Youth Theatre Arts entitled Different Approaches to Aesthetics in Theatre for Children and Youth (which was part of the 32nd International Festival of Children's Theatres – Subotica) has concluded on September 25, 2025.

At the conclusion of this year's forum, its curator professor Dr. Marijana Prpa Fink stated: "A characteristic feature of this year's forum is the openness of theatrologists and researchers of15 countries and different cultures to exchange their views on different approaches to aesthetics in theatre for children and youth - which was exactly the topic of this year's 16th forum edition. The desire for honest dialogue in the domain of theatre arts can only be felt by those researchers who approach their work with intensity and dedication. At the meeting of 28 researchers from around the world, a theatre laboratory opens in which we can discover the intensity of new findings only when everyone sends in their work - which we then publish and promote at the next festival.”

Dr. Katarzyna Chmara-Collins (an actress from the Chamber Theater in Bydgoszcz, Poland) spoke at the Forum about the dialogue between theatre, children and the youth. "This is a very interesting meeting where people from different parts of the world present their ideas and visions of theatre for the youth. It is interesting that we all have different perspectives. Theatre is always alive. You have to familiarize yourself with new technologies and skills - learn them or develop them independently in order to be a good teacher and performer."

Canadian artist Sahar Shahgaldi (originally from Iran) is attending the festival and Forum for the third time, after visiting in 2011 and 2012. She remarks that the festival has advanced in all respects since and that the quality of selected plays is very high. At this year's Forum, she presented her research on the impact of technology on children's theatre, i.e., ways in which technology can best be used in theatre to benefit the children. "I like the combination of a theatre festival and a conference for professionals. We can share our ideas and research with both professors and directors themselves. It's a great idea," Shahgaldi concludes.

Ali Pilehdarboni, also from Canada, is in Subotica for the first time and emphasizes that this is a fantastic experience for him: "We’ve met many excellent artists and people. It has been a wonderful journey."

The forum was attended by: Bartosz Kurowski (Poland), Dr. Petrus du Preez (South Africa), Dr. Katarzyna Chmara-Collins (Poland), Dr. Luka Kecman (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Republika Srpska), Dr. Katerina Atanasova Ilkova (Bulgaria), Dr. Ahmed Hany (Egypt), Dr. Michal Babiak (Slovakia/Serbia), Dr. Erika Hughes (United Kingdom), Dr. Ivan Pravdić (Serbia), Ilze Klavina (Latvia), Dr. Irene G. Herráez (Spain). Uroš Isak Mladenović (Serbia), Robert Molnar (Serbia), Dr. Jeremy Turner (Wales), Dr. Agota Vitkai Kučera (Serbia), Milica Šećerov (Serbia), Svjetlana Pravdić (Serbia), Lazaraki Vasiliki (Greece) Dr. Gill Brigg and Jeremy Harrison-White (Great Britain), Sahar Shahgaldi, Ali Pilehdarboni (Canada), Dr. Ewa Tomaszewska (Poland), Dr. Goran Gavrić (Serbia), Marijana Petrović (Serbia), Jovan Caran (Serbia), Rachael MacBean, Md. Khalid (India), Zsófia Bálint (Hungary).

The forum is organized by the Open University Subotica and the Vojvodina Theatre Museum from Novi Sad.

The 32nd edition of the International Festival of Children's Theatres - Subotica will be officially closed tonight, September 26, at 7 p.m. at the Subotica Children's Theatre with a closing ceremony. The awards will be presented for the best achievements of this year's festival. The main program featured 13 plays for children arriving to the festival from around the world, curated by the festival's selector, professor Dr. Marijana Prpa Fink.

The Little Prince Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the development of culture and performing arts for children was presented to Zdravko Mićanović (in the domestic author category) and Feng Li from China (in the foreign author category). This year's recipient of the Oton Tomanić Award – a recognition for theoretical contribution in the domain of theatre for children and youth - is Dr. Boris P. Goldovski from Russia.

Traditionally, the International Festival of Children's Theatres - Subotica is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities and the Municipality of Subotica, whereas The Vojvodina Theatre Museum is acting as a partner in the festival's production. The executive producer of the festival is the Open University Subotica.