The Children’s Art Centre in Poznan (Poland)
The Children’s Art Centre has been operating since 1984 when the Minister of Art and Culture established in Poznan the National Centre of Art for Children and Young People as a cultural institution of a nationwide character. Its raison d’etre is to inspire the creation of professional art for children and young people, to promote new valuable artistic performances, to popularize and aid in the development of new methods of cultural awareness education. In 1999 the Centre changed its Statute and its name to the Children's Art Centre in Poznan.
At present the programme of the Centre consists of the following tasks:
promoting worthy and innovative art for children and young people and modern cultural education methods by, among others, the organization of two international artistic events: The Biennial of Art for Children and The International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino!;
inspiring artistic creation by organizing various competitions, seminars and workshops for professional artists;
artistic output of the Centre in various areas of art including plays, concerts, musicals, multi-media events and television programmes for children;
supporting all forms of artistic activities of children and young people, in particular of children with special needs by organizing a number of innovative special projects (workshops and creative events) run by professional artists;
promoting Polish art for children and young people abroad, mainly through the participation in the activities of such international organizations as International Centre of Films for Children and Young People (CIFEJ), International Association of Theatres for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ), European Network of Art Organizations for Children and Young People (EU NET ART), International Society for Education through Art (InSEA) and via bilateral contacts with foreign institutions;
editorial activities including, first of all, publishing of New Plays for Children and Young People – the only Polish regular publication presenting drama and screenplays, as well as volumes of children's poetry and publications concerned with the current work of the Centre.
The drama-related activities of the Children’s Art Centre in Poznan include:
Annual theatre play competition since 1986
Annual workshop for playwrights since 1994
New Plays for Children and Young People since 1992
Internet catalogue of scripts www.nowesztuki.pl since 2005
The Author’s Stage since 1993
Promotional meetings, reading of plays during theatre festivals