Inaugural Meeting of the
Association of Atlantic Theatre Educators (AATE)
9:30am-12pm, Sunday October 26 2003

The first General Meeting of the Association of Atlantic Theatre Educators (AATE) is sponsored by the Raddall Symposium, Department of English, Acadia University, and chaired by Dr. Anna Migliarisi of the Acadia Theatre Studies Programme. The meeting, with Brunch provided, is scheduled immediately following the International Directing and Authorship Conference at 9:30am Sunday October 26, 2003 in the meeting room of the Blomidon Inn on Main Street.

The establishment of an association devoted to post-secondary theatre education would allow teachers and scholars working throughout Atlantic Canada the opportunity to learn about one another's work; provide and encourage professional support; and foster the development of productive linkages between institutions offering theatre as a course of study. Such linkages might include the following: the establishment of an Atlantic Repertory Company (ART) that would provide teachers, directors and graduates from the various theatre study programs in the Atlantic region an opportunity to extend their skills in a professional context; the formation of a joint MA and PhD program in Drama; and the establishment of an Atlantic Theatre Speaker Series.

The principal goal of the meeting is to be as open as possible to a range of views and ideas, with the aim of collectively developing an inclusive vision of what constitutes Theatre Education in Atlantic Canada. At the meeting we will also decide on the executive structure of the organization and elect an executive for the year ahead. A draft agenda will be circulated in advance of the meeting. All ideas and other related items of interest are encouraged; please email agenda items to theatre.conference@acadiau.ca or fax them to (902) 585-1070 by October 20, 2003.