News Release

ISPA MEETS IN ITALY SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2007

Milano, July 30, 2007, hosted by Piccolo Teatro di Milano in the antique theatre “Paolo Grassi”, members of the International Society for Performing Artists, ISPA, for the first time will meet in Italy September 27-29, 2007.

The Piccolo Teatro of Milan this year celebrates its 60th anniversary – it was founded in 1947 by Giorgio Strehler and Paolo Grassi.  After Strehler's death in 1997, two leading figures from the world of italian culture took over management and stage direction at the Piccolo Teatro: Sergio Escobar, general manger, and Luca Ronconi, stage director. Since its foundation the mission of the theater has been the development of the theater culture, throughout Italy and worldwide. (More info at www.piccoloteatro.org.)

Sergio Escobar, current General Manager, will host the Regional Meeting for delegates from more than 30 countries with a focus on the “Arts of the Mediterranean”, whose speakers include Abdel Moneim Khamel, (Cairo Opera House General Manager),  Mona Issa El Khoury, (International Baalbeck Festival CEO), Dikmen Gurun (Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts General Manager), etc…

Topics to be explored include the Arts in Society, in Government, in Economic Development, in Politics, exchange of ideas and provocative solutions, the creative and producing process in diverse societies, educational systems, as well as government policies, funding, changes in funding and the search for sustainable solutions.

Meetings will begin in the afternoon of Thursday September 27, with the Keynote Speech.  Friday September 28 will have morning and afternoon sessions and Saturday September 29 will feature showcases of performances live and by video.  The afternoon Round-Up session (which will be open to students of arts administration)  and include a joint session with members of management groups from the United Kingdom, IAMA, ARIACS from Italy and members of NAPAMA from North America.  This will continue the first joint meeting of these managerial organizations.

Performances, to be announced, will be available each of the three nights.  Following the Meeting, delegates are also able to attend the September 30th performance at 4:00pm of Zeffirelli’s “Aida” in Teatro Verdi in Bolzano, suggested by ISPA member Manfredo Schweigkofler, Artistic Director.
For Regional Meetings, there is no registration fee for the delegates.  Registration can be done by contacting the ISPA office,  phone 914 921 1550 Ext 203, or lcaruso@ispa.org  or on the website: www.ispa.org.

Please register no later than Monday, September 10, 2007.

For further information, please contact:

Ann Summers-Dossena                                   
sumintl@sympatico.ca
Telephone # +416 362 1422
Toronto, Canada

in Italy:   Lanfranco LiCauli
Piccolo Teatro di Milano
licauli@piccoloteatromilano.it
Telephone # +3902 72 333 334