AATE is a fabulous organization which merges and celebrates the cross pollination of Theatre and Edcucation across the country. In addition, it's annual conference brings together theatre practicioners from all over the world, so that we can assist in advancing the form and cultivating the newest generation of theatre educators.
AATE is a vital organization to the field of Theatre for Young Audiences. It serves as a network for all TYA-minded people and provides professional development opportunities for those new to the field as well as veterans. Anyone passionate about theatre, youth, and education have something to gain from interacting with this organization.
I am a college professor and aritst who believes in the power of youth. The American Alliance for Theatre and Education supports creativity, imagiantion and the framework of this artistic nation. I currently and will continue to support this organzation as we strive for increased funding and increased recognization for young artists.
Through AATE, I have met so many wonderful people and always have access to strong research and rich insight about best practices and theories. I always look forward to every issue of Youth Theatre Journal and Incite/Insight as well as celebrating Theatre in Our Schools month and attending national conferences. Over the past year, AATE has started offering online workshops that range a variety of topics and interests. I really appreciate the wide array of resources that AATE provides its members and highly recommend joining this organization.
Theatre education has always been a part of my 4 boys' lives. Throughout school they were involved in music and drama. They are all grown now and successful. I believe their exposure to drama and music made them better people, great parents and successful in their careers. Three of them have masters degrees and one is working on a degree in nursing. My husband and I are very proud of them and thier families. I have an accomplished dancer who is my grandaughter and a wonderful singer, another grandaughter. Continuing arts in education will keep more children off the streets and in the classroom.
Betsy
I've long considered AATE my organizational home and family. The publications and frequent email bulletins keep me in touch with a wide range of colleagues, ideas, events of interest, and opportunities, and the annual conference is a personal and professional homecoming each year. This is where I've met and continue to meet people in all areas of theatre and drama education, many of whom have become co-workers on the development of my plays and other projects -- and also lifelong friends. The talent, expertise, and dedication of the leadership and membership inspire, instruct, and encourage me. I owe the organization more than I can every hope to repay.
Working with the American Alliance for Theatre and Education continues to be an enjoyable and challenging experience. The teamwork of volunteers, staff, and outside consultants is rare in the nonprofit arts field. It is a great place to go to work. At the end of the day I always feel like I am making a positive impact on the youth of America.
AATE has connected me with a national network of playwrights, directors, scholars, and educators. I attend their national conference faithfully every year and that is what refreshes me and enriches me as a professional in the field. The organization makes connections between contingencies that otherwise would not connect. It is a great organization and I am proud to be a part of it.
The American Alliance for Theatre and Education supports my work as an educator, scholar, and theatre artist, and develops my leadership skills. The community of members create a network of caring, bright, and energized individuals who strive for the highest quality of work in the classroom, in workshop settings, and anywhere a performance can be presented. AATE feeds my professional soul.
AATE achieves what no other single national organization does: it brings together practitioners, scholars and artists that seek to expand their work beyond the boundaries of their traditional roles. Therefore, AATE brings together highly motivated people that are dedicated to advancing the place and practice of drama education in schools, out of schools and within local communities in order to enrich the lives of children and create a more engaged, thoughtful populace.
AATE reaches thousands of people in a variety of ways. The membership is a collection of theatre artists, educators and scholars whose influence reaches all the way from toddlers to the elderly. Peer-reviewed journals push the latest research in theatre for young audiences to practitioners all over the world. Artists are constantly challenging students with content and aesthetic. Educators deliver the highest quality teaching to our students year after year. Support for AATE is supporting these brave people and celebrating the work they do to the benefit of audiences, students and communities all over.