Plenary Session of ISPA Congress, Gateshead 2005, Hall Two, The Sage Gateshead.

Tin Whistle performance by ISPA delegates.

Following performances by delegates who had participated in the morning music and dance workshops, Anne Millman introduced five delegates, inviting them to outline their most memorable and meaningful experiences of ISPA Gateshead 2005.

Gunther Broucke (Belgium), after narrowly escaping being knocked down by a car on the first day, had been impressed by the local tradition for women to appear scantily dressed on a Saturday night on their way to the numerous bars in Newcastle. More seriously, he spoke of the miracle of a common theme coming from so many diverse groups at the Congress, contrasted with the perception by many people that diversity is a threat to peace. He felt that it was our primary responsibility to disseminate greater understanding of diverse cultures to ensure greater understanding and harmony between people.

Robert Carney  (UK) had appreciated the opportunity to see the similarities in purpose between the North East of England and the rest of the world; the Congress had ensured that the trainees had worked as a team and his great memory would be trading songs on the bus to Raby Castle with Monde from South Africa.

Monde Wani (South Africa) enjoyed the visit to Raby Castle for the awards dinner, saying it was like being in a movie! He spoke of the Academy as being an important means of understanding more about where he is coming from. He discovered the commonalities between Newcastle and South Africa and he could see that there is hope. He wants to make sure he and other artists have the arguments to take the lead in changing their country's future. He had been strengthened by the exchanging of ideas and the rich debate, especially at the Baltic, where he was able to talk about his and his colleagues' dreams.

Roza Nolceva (Macedonia) spoke of the pressing need for the building of a network for countries in transition and thanked ISPA for her scholarship membership. She had gone on the guided walk on the first day and while the tour guide had managed to find a link between Tyneside and most countries represented, she had not found one with Macedonia. This reminded Roza of the importance of building an awareness of her country.

Ruth Felt (USA) has been a member of ISPA since 1979, having attended maybe 50 Congresses over 25 years. She spoke of previous Congress as being sometimes wonderful and sometimes disappointing, of ISPA going through both difficult times and some special moments. She felt this had been one of the most successful and felt it was very much in the spirit of Patrick Hayes's original vision for the organisation and its congresses. She found the opening session very moving and stressed that the breakout groups were very important and must continue.  She will remember, more than anything the power of laughter to make people do things they didn't know they could, especially in Ivaldo Bertazzo's dance sessions.

Anthony Sargent opened up the invitation for all delegates to reflect on their experiences, requesting that they state what they might do differently once they get back to work:

Richard Talaske (USA) expressed his resolution to be a better parent recognising how easy it is to be wrapped up in careers;

Tony Field wondered if there was a need for a publication of the many tips and ideas that were available from the delegates and members;

Peggy Calata (South Africa) expressed her understanding and hope that the story of Newcastle Gateshead regeneration could bring to Port Elizabeth and the development of South Africa.

Robyn Archer (Australia) drew the delegates' attention to a draft statement that had been produced by a break -out group, explaining that the Barbican would be shaping it into something which all delegates could use in support of their advocacy roles in their own countries. She felt it was in the spirit of the mission of ISPA to increase the advocacy potential of the Association

Peter Stark (UK & SA) reflected that in his earlier career in Community Arts he and others in that movement had felt that ISPA was an irrelevant organisation from which they felt excluded.  He felt that he had not changed his values but ISPA had. He also related how Monde had commented during the Academy on the emphasis in The North East in valuing folk and community arts. He had said: ''You're trying to get back to where we are".

David Staples (UK) had found the opening session one of the most moving in 23 years of conference attendance. He was appreciative of the presence and contributions of the trainees and the opportunity to talk about the role of young people in the business. He commented he had had ''one of the best conversations with competitors in 20 years". He felt the host venue had provided a superb demonstration of those who work and run buildings and emphasised the need for the profession to realise that the 7 pm opening won't work any more if buildings are to attract young people.

Walter Gentil (Brazil) expressed his gratitude to ISPA for his scholarship and felt honoured to have participated.

Cathy Barbash (USA) resolved to keep in touch with Delphine Minoui to pursue healing between Iran and the US.

Lucy Bird (UK) felt that their ''knit your own'' session was like knitting one patch of a blanket and there was a need for the separate patches to be threaded together.

Gudrun Eichbauer (Canada) felt the Opening Session set a tone for ISPA - it was expanding and becoming more inclusive - of genders and countries.  She it was pleased that the congress was not afraid to use the intelligence of the group, to philosophise about art, and to use our strengths to make things go faster to realise our  power; in a deep well it is good to link hands to go down. She suggested that we include our business partners and to use their intelligence;

Katherine Zeserson (UK) spoke of her aims at the Sage Gateshead: to deepen and extend notions of leadership; she talked of the need to realise the potential of and need for artists to be managers and managers to be artists; contradictions need to be allowed as transformation comes through that; leadership development is about developing the whole human being; facing dissent and difficulty, providing support, exchange and a place to share mistakes and learning.

Jim Beirne (UK) appreciated the Opening Session as it gave an opportunity for philosophical debate which is very important to what we do and to enabling us to have a brand new imagination each morning to get up and do it again and again and again.

Judith Lisi (USA) has seen a change in ISPA since 1984 when she first joined. She felt this was ''epochic' in particular in the way it enabled New Members to feel included and wanted. The Sage Gateshead and its ethos had provided a strong symbol for that inclusiveness. Her recommendation to the board is that all staff and board members should be given tin whistles.

Marty Jones (USA) agreed that the organisation had become much more open and inclusive. She called for a reality check though, reminding delegates of the considerable costs in providing scholarships and simultaneous translation etc.

John Stalker (UK) reported that his Knit Your Own break-out group concluded that arts professionals are not brave enough in arguing their belief in what they can achieve and should look at the examples of such leading advocates as Bob Geldof or Jamie Oliver. He said they had better get real pretty quick.

Matts Brostrom (Sweden) felt that the Opening Session was very moving, giving him and his partner a new way of understanding their experiences in Thailand.  He called for the ISPA organisation to let trainees into the network more fully and to continue to provide the smaller break-out group format at future congresses.

Ann Summers (Canada), who had been attending ISPA since 1966, felt this "one of the best – fantastic!"