2019 Publication and Communication Commission Meeting Minutes

2019 Publication and Communication Commission Meeting Minutes
June 18, 2019 Berlin, Germany
  
The DTHG had invited two commissions to Berlin, the Education Commission and the Publication and Communication Commission.

William Kenyon and his representative, Anders Larssen, chaired the Education Commission meeting. One topic was the organisation of the meeting of the Education Commission in Helsinki, which will be held jointly with the Lighting Commission for January 2020 on the occasion of the Lux Helsinki. Maria Kross, DTHG delegate representative to the Education Commission, writes: "There were several proposals to organise the meeting: Beginning in Finland, continued in Sweden. The Swedish colleagues reported on a project in which they could experiment with light in a baroque theatre. It's about combining historical ambience, which actually includes candlelight, for example, but which will never be used there again. What is the alternative to a simple LED? Modern light needs to be used in baroque rooms. The idea has generally convinced us that we are working on its implementation."

The possibilities of exchange programmes were also discussed. There were obviously some misunderstandings here. The American colleagues, including the chairman, stressed the need to create more exchange opportunities for students. The European colleagues reacted by referring to ERASMUS plus: Everything already exists, but within Europe. However, it was agreed that mutual international recognition of degrees, programmes, etc. is necessary.

The joint meeting of the "Edu Comm" with the Technology Commission in Manila planned for 2021 is currently questionable. The colleague from Manila reported that the new theatre, whose visit would have provided the framework, will probably not be finished. The idea of combining the work of the commissions had met with great approval. The cooperation of commissions has been propagated time and again, and so one can hope for an alternative way of meeting.

The Publication and Communication Commission
Hubert Eckart, the chairman of the "PCC" elected last year, had prepared a number of topics for discussion at the PCC. He first invited Maximilian Röger from the Martin Roth Initiative to present the project. The initiative is supported by the Goethe-Institut and the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen and was launched two years ago. Its goal is to provide persecuted artists with a temporary shelter, either by awarding scholarships in Germany or by taking care of creating a safe living situation for persecuted people in their home country or third countries. Hubert Eckart discussed the possibility of supporting the initiative with the delegates of the Publication Commission. The participants suggested that the PCC could refer to the initiative on the website, but also that members who learn of persecutees could refer them to the initiative and arrange contacts. An important project in view of the increasing violence against artists worldwide.

The future in publication and communication is increasingly digital. Eckart referred to this with further projects, which he put up for discussion. For example, a blog would be a good place for the commission members to "feed" it and exchange ideas. In addition, he presented new programs with which the digital encyclopaedia "Theatre Words" could be given significantly improved and expanded functions. A lot is also happening in the area of "translations". At the moment a cooperation between OISTAT and a large translation service is apparently in the offing, which could create a win-win situation for both: OISTAT "feeds" the software with technical terms, but OISTAT receives discounts on use_. In addition, the exchange of information among OISTAT members is to be improved by a blog (blog.dthg.de). All members of the Commission and the national centres are invited to share important news. A digital publication, the OISTAT Bulletin, will also be published twice a year.

 

Attendees