Lina Al Tal elected member of executive council of International Theatre Institution - UNESCO

AMMAN — As the national representative of the International Theatre Institution (ITI) - UNESCO in Jordan, the National Centre for Culture and Arts (NCCA) participated in the 36th World Congress of ITI which was held in Fujairah, UAE, from February 20 to 25, 2023 under the theme “Reunite, for the Performing Arts and Humanism”, with the participation of 67 countries represented by 300 participants. 

Lina Al Tal, NCCA director general, presented an overview of the achievements of ITI Jordan in theatre practices, performing arts, festivals and dance, according to a statement made available to The Jordan Times. 

The NCCA presented within the event of Best Practices Exhibition around the world, which included seven other international troupes, a description on the methodology of interactive theatre with audience participation and a performance titled “The Cycle of Life” performed by Doaa Al Adwan and Musa Al Baoul from NCCA National Interactive Theatre Troupe.

During the general assembly which was held on the February 23, the elections of ITI Executive Council took place. Jordan was elected as executive council member represented by Tal, along with 11 members from Belgium, Croatia, Ghana, India, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Germany, Italy, Sudan, the UAE and the US. 

Tal would be the first Arab woman elected as an executive council member of ITI since its establishment.

UNESCO created the ITI in 1948 in alignment with UNESCO’s goals on culture, education and the arts. The organisation strives to create platforms for international exchange and engage in performing arts education. 

The purpose of the ITI is to promote the international exchange of knowledge and practice in the performing arts in order to consolidate peace and friendship between peoples, to deepen mutual understanding and increase creative cooperation between all people in the performing arts. 

Together with 80 national centres, the ITI fulfils its role as the platform for exchange, diversity, and peace by advancing international cooperation and supporting its members to implement policy action in their fields. 

In 2009, the NCCA became the representative of the ITI in Jordan, with a board of directors, including Sawsan Darwazeh, president, Tal, Secretary General and Rania Kamhawi, dance specialist.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, inaugurated the launch of the congress events, which is organised by the government of Fujairah in association with the Ministry of Culture & Youth.

The 36th congress opening featured five performances from five regions: Asia-Pacific, Africa, Arab countries, the Americas, and Europe, and opening speeches by Mohamed Al Afkham, president of ITI Worldwide and president of UAE Centre of ITI, Tobias Bianconi, director general of ITI from Switzerland, Wole Soyinka from Nigeria, and Ernesto Otteno Ramirez from Chile.

In addition to workshops, round-table discussions were delivered by world renowned figures on, “Performing Arts, Acting Peace” “Performing Arts, Education Today”, and “Performing Arts and Social Change”.