A Global Network for the Next Generation – Building International Collaboration between NGOs

Oct 18, 2025 │ 3:30–5:00 PM │ Studio Theatre, SPAA

In a shifting global landscape, this session features representatives from international and Sharjah-based NGOs working in the performing arts sector. Moderated by Anna Robb (Stage Lync), it brings together Wan-Jung Wei (OISTAT), Bebê de Soares (ASSITEJ), Cláudia Belchior (European Theatre Convention), and Ghannam Ghannam (Arab Theatre Institute) to explore how NGOs navigate global complexities and foster cooperation around cultural diversity, sustainability, and nurturing the next generation.
 

▍Moderator

Anna Robb, Australia
Executive Producer, Our Legacy Creations
Chief Executive Officer, StageLync

Anna Robb is the Executive Producer for Our Legacy Creations, a Global Live Entertainment Company and the CEO of StageLync.com. Originally from Australia, Anna's 25 year career in live entertainment has taken her around the world. Anna has created shows in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and in many countries across Asia.  As Production Stage Manager and now Producer, Anna has been involved in the execution of some of the largest show creations in the world, including “The Beatles: LOVE” by Cirque du Soleil, and “The House of Dancing Water” in Macau.  Anna holds a (BA) Honours degree in Design for Theatre and Television.
 

▍Panelists

Wan-Jung Wei, Taiwan
Executive Director, OISTAT

WEI is the first executive director of OISTAT with a background in diplomatic training since its founding in 1968. She believes in the shared essence of diplomacy and performing arts—both as means of fostering dialogue in everyday life. While in her teenage years, she practiced hip-hop dance and later transitioned to contemporary dance, which deepened her understanding of movement as a form of expression. Through dance critiques, she explores the intersection of contemporary dance and society, with a particular focus on feminism and gender issues. WEI holds an MA in Arts Politics from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She loves dogs.

Bebê de Soares, Brazil
Board Member, ASSITEJ International

After a distinguished international career in dance, Bebê de Soares transitioned in the 1990s into acting, directing, and producing. She co-founded T4G – Teatro 4Garoupas with Austrian director Arno Kleinofen in Cologne, Germany, a collaboration that received critical acclaim and awards in both Brazil and Germany. In 2002, she launched the AMAZONAS NETWORK, a platform fostering international cultural exchange in theater and dance for young audiences. Since 2017, Bebê has served as a board member of ASSITEJ International. Then she has led residencies and cross-border collaborations in EU-funded projects such as SPARSE Plus and Perform Europe, promoting performing arts in rural communities across eight European countries.

Claudia Belchior, Portugal
President, European Theatre Convention (ETC)
Executive General Coordinator, the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon/Portugal

Cláudia Belchior has been President of the European Theatre Convention (ETC) since 2023. She was the President of the Executive Board of the D. Maria II National Theatre in Lisbon, Portugal, a position she held from July 2015 - June 2022. Cláudia has been involved with the performing arts for all of her career, at the foremost cultural institutions in Portugal, having served as Director, Coordinator for the Performing Arts, and Deputy Director for Planning and Budget at the Belém Cultural Centre and as Director of Production at the Gulbenkian Foundation. She is currently the Executive General Coordinator of Centro Cultural de Belém. She has taught courses in Production Management, Stage Management, and Technical Direction in several institutions.

Ghannam Ghannam, Jordan
Director of the Department of Training, Rehabilitation and School Theatre, Arab Theatre Institute

Ghannam Ghannam began his professional theatre career in 1984 and has since worked as a writer, actor, and director. He has created and contributed to numerous influential productions, including Laylak Duha, With My Own Eyes, and Fatima Al-Hawari, which are considered milestones in the career of Jordanian and Arab theatre. His works have been staged in Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, the UAE, Jordan, and Japan. Ghannam has received several major awards, including the Jordanian State Encouragement Award, the Creativity Award for Theatrical Text (Jordan), the Distinguished Arab Award (Sharjah), and the State of Palestine Award for the Arts – Theater Branch.
 

A Glimpse into PQ 2027: The Journey and Vision of Prague Quadrennial

October 22, 2025 │ 11:00 am to 12:30 pm │ Studio Theatre, SPAA

As the Prague Quadrennial (PQ) prepares for its 16th edition in 2027 - which also marks its 60th anniversary - this session will explore PQ’s transformative role as an innovative platform for international presentation, exchange, and dialogue among designers, architects, researchers, students, and theatre professionals. Attendees will receive an exclusive preview of PQ 2027 and its upcoming program, and discover the many ways individuals and institutions can get involved, expanding their professional networks and helping shape the future of performance design.
 

▍Moderator

Wan-Jung Wei, Taiwan
Executive Director, OISTAT

WEI is the first executive director of OISTAT with a background in diplomatic training since its founding in 1968. She believes in the shared essence of diplomacy and performing arts—both as means of fostering dialogue in everyday life. While in her teenage years, she practiced hip-hop dance and later transitioned to contemporary dance, which deepened her understanding of movement as a form of expression. Through dance critiques, she explores the intersection of contemporary dance and society, with a particular focus on feminism and gender issues. WEI holds an MA in Arts Politics from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She loves dogs.
 

▍Speakers

Barbora Příhodová, Czech Republic
Artistic Director, Prague Quadrennial

Barbora Příhodová, Ph.D. (she/her) is curator, researcher, editor, and educator specializing in modern and contemporary scenography. She has collaborated with the Prague Quadrennial since 2009, co-curated PQ Talks in 2019, and curated the program in 2023. Her work has been recognized by the Fulbright Research Scholarship, the Mellon Fellowship, and the New York Public Library Research Fellowship. She has lectured about scenography internationally, and prior to joining PQ taught at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Villanova University (USA).

Anna Chlíbcová, Czech Republic
Head of Production, Prague Quadrennial

Anna Chlíbcová graduated from the Department of Arts Management at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. She has over 15 years of experience in production and arts management. In the past, she was a member of the Institute of Lighting Design Prague team. For more than a decade, she has collaborated with the Forman Brothers Theatre as Head of Production for various projects (cultural scene, festival and performance). In January 2025, Anna joined the PQ team as Head of Production.