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Draft:ISTA Global Learning Through the Arts

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ISTA Global Learning Through the Arts

ISTA (founded as the International Schools Theatre Association) is a global arts education charity that organises theatre festivals, artist-led workshops, and professional development for international school communities. Founded in 1978 and registered as a charity in the UK on 2 October 1995,[1] ISTA provides opportunities for young people and educators to engage in intercultural exchange, collaborative performance-making, and the exploration of diverse theatre traditions.

ISTA is a leading global provider of International Baccalaureate (IB) workshops for arts educators and students, particularly in Theatre and Film.[2] ISTA has also collaborated with the IB to publish multiple official student handbooks, including the IB Diploma Programme Theatre Student Handbook (2023).[3]

History

ISTA was founded to create a platform for international students to connect through theatre. Over the decades, it has evolved from a small collective into a structured, global organisation with a membership network that includes international schools, freelance artists, and arts educators.

Programmes and Activities

ISTA hosts a range of events for students and teachers, including:

  • Festivals – Multi-day, artist-led theatre intensives hosted by international schools worldwide.
  • TAPS (Theatre Arts Programme Symposium) – Immersive workshops aligned with the IB Diploma Programme Theatre curriculum, helping students deepen their understanding of world theatre practices.
  • FRAME – A newer initiative supporting students in the IB Film programme through hands-on learning and creative research.
  • Professional Development & Learning (PD&L) – Online and in-person training for educators, with a focus on applied practice, cultural exchange, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The association also publishes SCENE Magazine, a biannual publication focused on international arts pedagogy[4].

Global Reach and Impact

ISTA annual events take place across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas .[5] ISTA’s work has been discussed in academic publications,[6] doctoral research,[7] and education-focused journals and blogs.[8]

Leadership

ISTA was founded in 1978 by Patricia Zich, an American arts educator committed to fostering international understanding through theatre.[9][10] Her vision laid the foundation for ISTA’s global network and long-standing connection to intercultural learning.

Following her tenure, ISTA was led for several decades by Sally Robertson, who served as Director until 2022 and played a pivotal role in the organisation’s growth and alignment with the International Baccalaureate (IB).[11]

From 2022 until his death in 2023, ISTA was directed by **Dinos Aristidou**, a long-term artist, honorary member, and former board member whose artistic leadership and commitment to creative justice shaped a new chapter for the organisation.[12]

The current Executive Director is Dr. Mike Bindon, appointed in 2023, who oversees ISTA’s strategic direction and global operations.[13] The organisation is supported by a team of full-time staff and freelance artists based across the globe.

References

  1. ^ https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03108893
  2. ^ https://myibsource.com/products/9798986964508-international-baccalaureate-diploma-programme-theatre-student-handbook
  3. ^ https://www.ibo.org/en/event/200563?wsid=8fd20c9b-b02a-4c53-ad35-7e81ccdf1de8
  4. ^ https://jta.ista-online.org/article/view/100
  5. ^ https://www.istaglobal.org/events
  6. ^ https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780367204990-12/ista-performing-arts-academies-shanghai-hong-kong-anne-drouet-jillian-campana
  7. ^ https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/83ac3f79-5173-4e8d-b3a7-3927d3e28977
  8. ^ https://www.amalaeducation.org/news-blog/staging-our-stories-ista
  9. ^ https://ista.co.uk/chronicles/the-chronicle-of-the-ista-founder/
  10. ^ https://www.zichtrust.org/about
  11. ^ https://ista.co.uk/news-item/in-conversation-ista-directors-sally-robertson-ian-pike/
  12. ^ https://www.brb.org.uk/stories/dinos#:~:text=Dinos%20died%20in%20March%202023,after%20suffering%20irreversible%20heart%20failure.
  13. ^ https://ista.co.uk/news-item/letter-to-the-community-from-mike-bindon-istas-new-executive-director/

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