Name of the organization/initiative and year of foundation

NGO Inclusive Theatre Association “Art-Playback” was established in June 2018.

Mission

Working with various social groups, communities, individuals to overcome stereotypes, prejudices, oppression of people and systems, and to form a peaceful, healthy, diverse society where citizens with different opportunities and abilities, social, psychological, and economic capitals can build a dialogue with each other and become active participants in their own lives, the life of their region and the country.

Actions and projects in the context of armed conflict

NGO “Art-Playback” explores and deals with social patterns of behavior and communication in Ukrainian society through Participatory Theatre and Art for Change methodologies (PTAC). It implements projects at the intersection of civic activism, art, and popularization of PTAC as civic activism tools.

The following projects have been implemented recently by the “Art-Playback” organization:

2014 – 2019, International Inclusive Theatre Festival “Together” for theatre practitioners from different countries, focusing on inclusivity and dealing with important social topics through participatory theatre methods.

2019 – 2020, Project “Art-Workspace «Pulse of the City» promotes respect for diverse identities and inclusive narratives in Odesa through modern art” in partnership with forumZFD Ukraine. A group of activists from Odesa was trained to use theatre and other artistic techniques to evoke social dialogue. Through the workshops, they formed a group and created public performances in both offline and online formats. In the performances, the actors and their audience explore their connection to the city of Odesa and socially important topics and learn how to be more proactive in public life, how to take responsibility, and act.

2020, Online Laboratory “Theatre on Borders” in partnership with forumZFD Ukraine, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and KURVE Wustrov. The laboratory hosted participants from 7 post-Soviet countries and aimed at creating a space for dialogue, networking, and expanding the application of participatory theatre methods during the COVID-19 crisis. This is a long-term project with further plans to develop as an international community and a platform, conducting online events with regular bigger events (festivals, laboratories), where the international community of theatre practitioners is continually growing and interacting with the civil societies of their countries.