Minutes from June 5th PTO-Steering Committee Meeting

OISE Peace Lounge 3:30 – 5:30

Attending: Robyn (chair), Brendan, Emily (and Kai), Duncan, Simon, Hartley,
Stephen, Jenni, chris (minutes)

Regrets: Deborah, Margo, Matt, Corvin

1. Report on 2008 PTO Conference
- Stephen began reporting on conference and Simon joined in. Below are some points touched on.

• Stephen found it quite positive; highlights included meeting people, going to workshops
• Julian Boal workshop on legislative theatre at beginning and end
• Opening ceremony not unpleasant but not as big a success
• Therefore opening ceremony is very important – Shannon woman reciting letter line-by-line with translation in Spanish
• Native American woman keynote – a bit them/us, then they left; talked about 53 hangings at Fort Snelling – heavy, heavy, heavy, heaviest
• Problem: Boal’s death not acknowledged until 11:00 pm
• Spontaneous memorial Sat.
• Spanish speaking community appreciated being listened to
• Organizers were very approachable, open, nice, waned to share
• Food Not Bombs session to talk
• Workshop on Sunday morning – Gender in Science
• Workshop on last day day – kids show was highlight – about young black males and invisible father
• Simon found keynote speaking out of context → you became a spectator during the keynote presentations; felt a little monologic
• Presented legislative theatre at 10:30 – going to City Hall – only 3 people came from City
• PO/TO balance – Victor Cole workshop; Deborah Arts & Activism
• TO group divided – Weinblatt – oppression; Boal purification
• Jokers meeting in Rio in July
• PO/TO confused

2. Program

• Pre and post conference
• Mixed Company and Catalyst will do one-pagers describing pre and post conference ideas/proposals
• Pre and Post will liaise with/join program committee
• Stephen suggested thinking about themes for pre and post which would remove pressure form theme for conference

3. Outreach

• Committed to approaching community organizations soon
• Robyn will talk to 519
• Committee will prepare outreach package
• Chris will contact some TCHC folks – youth human rights course participants
• We could do an Outreach event in late August/September

4. Space

• Report in E-mail
• Look at U of T theatre space

5. Budget

• 2007 expenses were ~$120,000; revenue was ~$106,000 leaving a shortfall of ~$12,000
• see draft budget – chris spoke to this briefly pointing out the need to decide on a base registration rate – e.g. past conferences have charged ~$75/day (including early reg fees, student and unemployed rates, etc.)
• Finance committee to meet

6. Liaising with PTO Board

• There were 7 retirees from PTO Board
• Simon Malbogat joined PTO Board
• Kelly – president elect
• Brendan will continue to be liaison to Board

7. Timeline

• Brendan will send timeline for input

8. Next Meetings

• June 26
• July 24
• August 28

9. Subcomittees

• All subcommittees to meet
• Subcommittees to write descriptions of what they do

Mixed Company Theatre: Joker's Symposium Proposal to PTO 2010 Steering Ctte

Our plans for the symposium are to create a tribute to the work of Augusto Boal and Paolo Freire by inviting five world renowned Jokers to create Forum theatre with five neighbourhoods in the GTA. The presentations will be in the local communities and we plan to perform them at downtown venues hopefully using the University of Toronto contacts. These presentations will celebrate and honour the two founders’ contribution.

During the preconference there will be a continuous collection of plays, presentations and workshops available to the public and conference attendees. We will be opening these slots to interested organizations and individuals who specialize in Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed. We will promote and market the various and diverse presentations from the community groups in the GTA raising awareness of the PTO conference. These performances will continue into the weekend, offering the conference attendees entertainment at night and a chance to see the work that Toronto is doing.

Community workshops will be led by the five world renowned Jokers and they will also offer workshops focused on their Joking and creation methodologies. This will create a spectrum of choice for attendees to learn from these practitioners.

During this time there will also be discussion panels that question aspects of Theatre of the Oppressed. Topics for these panels will cover a range of themes such as aesthetics, challenges to Joking, style developments, etc.

As a way to incorporate artists from in and around the city as well as bring awareness to the opening of the conference, we plan on orchestrating a public event in Dundas Square. This event will be a mix of music, dance, puppetry, theatre, visual arts and education. The goal is to “Take back the Square” and bring attention to the work of Augusto and Paolo.

We will offer a wide range of TO performances and skill workshops for the incoming conference attendees. We will be flexible and adaptable to the ideas that will come to us in the next few months and provide a space to showcase the various works that will be created for the conference.

Over the next couple of months we will solidify our budget and come to the PTO steering committee and board for start up funds. What we ask of the board is that you help to provide us with space to use during the preconference at OISE and any U of T theatre venues, and your contacts and connections in the city.

Mixed Company Theatre

157 Carlton St, Suite 201

Toronto, ON, CAN

M5A 2K3

416 515 8080

symposium@mixedcompanytheatre.com

Outreach Prep Materials

BACKGROUND INFO ON PTO:
Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed (PTO) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is “to challenge oppressive systems by promoting critical thinking and social justice.” We organize an annual meeting that focuses on the work of liberatory educators, activists, artists and community organizers.

The PTO organization grew out of an annual conference held in Omaha. The conference has since been held in various locations throughout the U.S. (e.g. New York, Toledo, Los Angels, Minneapolis-St. Paul). The people who attend the PTO conferences are popular educators, theatre practitioners, activists, academics, teachers and artists who work with, critique, and are inspired by the ideas of Paolo Freire and Augusto Boal.

In 2010, the PTO conference will be held in Toronto, marking the first time it's ever been held outside of the USA. The conference steering committee is looking for as much input as possible from groups and organizations in Toronto, in order to base the conference on the needs, desires, concerns and interests of Toronto communities. We are also interested in connecting with organizations across Canada and internationally.

WHERE ARE WE AT NOW?
The next PTO conference is scheduled for June 2010 and will take place at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Currently, we have a steering committee who meets once a month, as well as a number of sub-committees (Outreach & Communication, Fundraising & Finance, Space, Hospitality) who meet regularly to discuss the various details of the conference. As we begin organizing more intensely next fall, we are looking for input, participation and dialogue from anyone who feels they or their organization might benefit from this conference.

OUTREACH QUESTIONS
What does your organization (or do you) do?
What community(ies) do you serve?
What are the needs of your community? Your organization?
What are some of your goals/projects/desires for the next year?

OUR CONTACT INFO
email: ptotoronto@gmail.com
blog: www.pto2010steering.blogspot.com
PTO official website: www.ptoweb.org/