It took several years to set up this new type of meetings. They are organised on the initiative of a local structure, under the teaching responsibility of the Association, and are constituted around a particular geographical border of Europe.

Otherwise, their principle and their operating mode are about the same as those governing the Meetings in Bussang, with fewer participants. The first two were organised in 2001 in Véria (Greece) and in 2002 in Manchester (the United Kingdom).

meeting in véria

Started during the session in Bussang 2000, constituted during the meeting of the orientation group in Porto (December 2000) and organised during a working session in Véria in February 2001, these Meetings were held between August 17-21, 2001. The supporting structure were the cultural centre of the town of Véria (province of Macedonia), the reception establishment of Séli, winter sports resort in the mountains, twenty kilometres from Véria. Financing was ensured by the town of Véria, with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture.

The " border " around which they took form was that of the Balkans. Five groups took part in it: a group of young people of school age from the town of Véria (Greece); a group of amateurs from the town of Ohrid (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia); a group of young professionals from Izmit (Turkey); a group of amateurs from the Russian community of Bucharest (Romania); a group of amateurs from Lefkosie (Cyprus). Forty young people on the whole, plus twenty adults: group organisers, organisers from Véria, 7 permanent members of the Association, and the participation, on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Culture, Mrs Zoe Kazazaki.

These meetings proceeded in a completely satisfactory way. For the young people, the exchanges were intense, both in theatre practice, which enabled them to work together and to discover a sensitivity and a common language, and in the discovery of the socio-political reality of each country. For the association, they were the occasion to meet Goran Stojanovski, organiser of the group of Ohrid, and to start collaboration with him, continued in Bussang.

"In art, there is no border" Victor Hugo. Photo MTP

meeting in manchester

Started during the Bussang's session 2000, constituted during the meeting of the orientation group in Split (October 2001), they took place between April 2-8, 2002 in Alsager (University of Manchester), organised by the department of Theatrical Studies of the University, under the responsibility of its director, professor Robin Nelson, founding member of the Association.

Their geographical surface was the north of Europe. Five groups took part in it: a group from the University of Dublin (Ireland), a group from the cultural centre in Bergen (Norway), a group from Tallin (Estonia), a French group from the Paris area, and a mixed English group (students from Alsager and amateurs from Sheffield, having already worked together in Bussang 2001).

This meeting, which lasted longer thanks to financing from the British Council, proceeded in a very satisfactory way. The lengthening of time allowed a deepening of joint work and exchanges; it seems that the objectives of the Association are thus carried out better than in the compressed time in Bussang.

It appears that partnership with the Irish and Estonians deserves to be developed. The two leaders of these groups seem to be interesting resource people for the development of the action of the Association in these two countries. Voyages are designed to look further into possible exchanges with them.

Finally, the previously mentioned project to install, starting from the University of Manchester, under the direction of Robin Nelson, an academic pole of reflection for the Meetings, was confirmed very judiciously. For that, it is necessary to reinforce the participation of observers and speakers from the European academic world.