Dear members and friends of IDEA, 

We are pleased to announce that we are now launching the process of organizing the SIGs (Special Interest Groups) for the 11th World Congress of IDEA, which will take place in Ankara, Turkey , between 20th -25th of July, 2027. 

The general aim of the SIGs is to provide a forum where participants can meet colleagues and discuss the theory and practical aspects of interest within drama and theatre and education. The SIGs’ spaces are also a way to structure the Congress’s Academic and Pedagogic Program and to guarantee the continuity of IDEA’s research and project development between its world congresses. 

SIG coordinators are therefore – experts in their area of specialization and motivated communicators. We would like to invite you to recommend people you have worked with who you think would be suitable for this role. 

We have added to the numbers of the SIGs from IDEA’s last congresses and included new questions related to the theme of the Congress – Humanity is Responsibility. It is of course good if you can add a new theme, that would be wonderful!

At the moment, there are eleven  SIGs focussed on Drama/Theatre/Arts Education: 

1 Drama and theatre in a multicultural world

2. Children: Drama and theatre in primary education 

3. Youth: Drama and theatre in secondary education 

4. Drama and theatre with elderly people – third age

5. Teacher Training in drama and theatre 

6. Drama and theatre -with people with special needs

7. Gender issues in drama and theatre education

8. Drama and theatre in Science, Technology and New Media

9. Humanity is responsibility – how can we help?

10. Drama for peace education 

11. Drama for sustainability 

Each one of the SIGs will have two coordinators and places for up to 25 participants, depending on how many people are attending the congress. There can also be two coordinators for each SIG.

We would like to guarantee that the coordinators are academic researchers or practitioners in drama, theatre/art education with publications and/or projects recognized by his or her community.  

Please send us your recommendations of educators in universities, schools, communities, or social movements, who could be SIG coordinators by the 23rd of October  2026 by e-mail: 

ideaworldcongress@gmail.com  and in cc ad.ideadrama@gmail.com   and asahragn@hi.is  We will need their name, email address, area of specialization. 

Thank you for your attention and we are ready to answer any questions that you may have. 

Sincerely,

Members of the IDEA 2027 Organizing Committee