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OVERVIEW

The International Society for Performing Arts (ISPA) brings together more than 500 theatre and festival directors, performing groups and cultural institutions from more than fifty nations. Among ISPA's members are also architects and designers specializing in theatres and cultural centers, design and development companies, lighting and acoustic professionals, and stage technology and equipment firms.
Founded in 1946 with headquarters in New York, ISPA's objective is to develop and strengthen a network of international leaders and professionals interested in promoting and enhancing activities related to the performing arts worldwide.

ISPA Mexico 2004
From 3-6th June 2004, ISPA will present the XIII annual congress in Mexico City. For the first time in the history of the organization, ISPA will host a congress in a Latin American city, and it will also be the first congress hosted in a Spanish-speaking nation. The coming event will foster a closer contact between developed nations and the rich artistic world of this region, which is also one of the fastest growing markets in the performing arts.

This congress will widen the geographic influence of ISPA and will be an enriching experience within a new environment of the performing arts, bringing together the wealth of the region's artistic creativity, a great international market and a huge diversity of audiences.

ISPA Mexico City 2004 will take place at the same time as Mexico: Gateway to the Americas, and through close collaboration, both events will benefit from some shared activities. ISPA 2004 will also benefit from the participation of the National Council for Art and Culture (CONACULTA), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and the University of Texas at Austin, among other cultural and art institutions and numerous private sector participants.Congress Theme: Art, culture and identity in a time of globalization.

Throughout history, peoples have exchanged cultural experiences, ideas, values and goods through art, trade and migrations. Human history is the tale of such journeys. As we cross into the twenty-first century, we too have embarked on a journey – our destination holds out the promise of a more just, tolerant and peaceful existence for all.

The international dimensions of the Performing Arts gives it an important role for the future in terms of freedom of expression, cultural diversity and economic development. Although the globalization of exchange and new technologies opens up exciting new prospects, it also creates new challenges and inequalities.

This can only be counteracted by strengthening local capacities and facilitating access to global markets by way of new partnerships, shared knowledge, and increased international collaboration.

International context of performing arts in Mexico: present and future
The broad issue described above would from the basis of our congress debates, and these are some of the themes to be explored in the various discussion panels with the participation of well known speakers from around the world:

• The present and future of performing arts: a perspective of cultural diversity.
• Globalization: the opportunities or imposition?
• Art and culture - Art vs. Culture: local art, national art, international art, art and national identity.
• Exchange between Latin America and the rest of the world.

*Language
At all the sessions there will be simultaneous English-Spanish and Spanish-English translation.

home / who we are / what we do / how to join / contact us

International Society for the Performing Arts Foundation
305 7th Ave., 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001-6008
USA
tel 212.206.8490
fax 212.206.8603
info@ispa.org
http://www.ispa.org/