PRINCIPLES

Theatre Embassy operates on the basis of six fundamental principles:

Equity Cultural cooperation is based on equality. All forms of expressions in our theatrical discipline are of equal value and, consequently, need to be deployed to an equal extent. Cooperation explicitly based on equality from the very beginning is essential to the achievement of healthy synergy and a result that is based on the total of the sum of the participating parts, a result that is not determined by the - frequently European - dominant culture or theatre form.

Exchange This is the first and most important fundamental principle of Theatre Embassy's method. We are convinced that the need for exchanges that result in mutual inspiration is the most appealing motivation for cooperation. Mutual exchanges result in a mirroring process that accentuates similarities and differences, in turn offering an opportunity to view professional knowledge from a new perspective and master hitherto unknown professional knowledge.

Partner Theatre Embassy welcomes the development of commitment that results in cooperation extending beyond a one-off project. This enables us to formulate learning goals and to provide incremental input to the satisfaction of the need for creativity and development felt by the theatre group and its members. We achieve this commitment by reaching agreement on a 3 to 5-year cooperation partnership.

Capacity Our deployment of professional theatre makers and external cultural managers, in combination with our process-based approach, promotes the enhancement of the artists in the local theatre group and the theatre group's organisational structure. Cooperation in a project is mutually beneficial, since the foreign experts develop their professional skills and can make use of their new insights after their return to their country of origin.

Development Our intensive cooperation enables us to make a contribution to the global cultural sector and to the partner organisation's specific region. ‘Develop' actually originates from the word for ‘unfold' or ‘unfurl': opening something and reducing it to the essence. We are of the opinion that our input for culture makes a contribution to human development of man and to unfurling the essence of humans.

Network The partners who cooperate in the group of theatre organisations linked to Theatre Embassy's programme form a network. Theatre Embassy simultaneously brings these partners into contact with a broader network of festivals, funds, congresses, enthusiasts and other activities.

The above cannot be achieved without the:

Theatre Ambassador

The Theatre Ambassador is a theatre maker or manager who has the professional skills required to place him self or her self in another cultural context. This specialist is able to act as a multi tasker and, at the same time, play the roles of maker, director, manager, friend, linker and translator and, on occasion, even an actor. The Theatre Ambassador has a highly developed ability to assimilate in his or her new surroundings without the loss of personal identity. At the same time, the Theatre Ambassador is able to work in arduous conditions and get the best out of people. The Theatre Ambassador is at his or her best when he or she succeeds in using the theatre cooperation process to transform deprivation and the lack of resources - and the large cultural wealth - into a top product.

The Theatre Ambassador is a true ambassador since he or she serves as a mouthpiece for the communication of information and, at the same time, acts as an excellent representative for our discipline! Moreover, diplomacy in intercultural cooperation is absolutely essential.