PAYPA supports and advocates for performing arts organisations and individuals making work for/by/with tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa.

What is PAYPA?

PAYPA - Performing Arts & Young People Aotearoa - is the national support entity for artists and organisations engaged in performing arts for, by and with children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are a not-for-profit organisation, and operate as a leadership organisation and network, for practitioners working for and with tamariki and rangatahi, aged 0-25. PAYPA is New Zealand’s National Centre for ASSITEJ - the International Association of Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People.

  • To promote, champion, advocate for and advance the enrichment of tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa through the performing arts.

  • High-quality and accessible performing arts experiences for, by and with children and young people are created by engaged and valued practitioners.

  • PAYPA will Champion, Connect and Cultivate Aotearoa’s Performing Arts & Young People (PA&YP) sector.

    Champion the value, visibility and accessibility of high-quality performing arts for all children and young people in Aotearoa.

    Connect. Support the conditions and connections for the PA&YP sector to thrive through strong relationships, networks and shared knowledge.

    Cultivate a rich, sustainable ecosystem that enables and inspires practitioners to raise the bar in performing arts for young audiences.

    • Hauora

      We support the physical, mental, spiritual and community wellbeing of our sector, audiences and participants. 

    • Manaakitanga

      We foster environments grounded in care, respect, generosity, creativity and joy. 

    • Ōritetanga

      We champion equitable access for all young people, regardless of identity, ability or circumstance. 

    • Whakahōnore

      We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and commit to deepening our understanding of te ao Māori in all that we do. 

    • Whakawhanaungatanga

      We build and nurture meaningful relationships that strengthen and unite our sector locally and globally. 

 

ABOUT ASSITEJ

The term theatre is used in its broadest sense to mean the performing arts for young audiences, encompassing dance, puppetry, live art as well as text-based theatre

ASSITEJ is the International Association of Theatre & Performing Arts for Children & Young People. ASSITEJ unites theatres, organisations and individuals throughout the world who make theatre for children and young people.

ASSITEJ promotes international exchange of knowledge and practice in theatre in order to increase creative co-operation and to deepen mutual understanding between all persons involved in the performing arts for young audiences.

The Eel and Sina. (Mythmakers Theatre Company) Photo Kerryn Palmer

The aims of ASSITEJ are as follows:

Recognizing that children and young people make up a large part of the world’s population and that they represent the future, the aims of the Association are:

  • To work for the rights of children and young people to access artistic experiences especially designed and created for them.

  • To work for the recognition and acknowledgement of theatre for children and young people.

  • To work for improvement of the conditions of theatre for children and young people all over the world.

  • To improve the common knowledge of theatre for children and young people worldwide, thus drawing the attention of international and national authorities to the importance of taking children and young people and the artistic work created for them seriously.

  • To give people working with theatre for children and young people the opportunity to learn about the work of colleagues from other countries and cultures, thus enabling them to enrich theatre for children and young people in their own country.

  • To help to form in all countries, ASSITEJ centres and networks which function in accordance with the mission, constitution and policies of the Association. These centres and networks shall unite all theatres, organizations, and persons interested in theatre for children and young people.

  • To help to establish international artistic networks to explore different aspects of artistic work for children and young people, to increase the artistic competence of artists and to benefit them.

 

For more information about ASSITEJ and international ASSITEJ news and events, check out the website: www.assitej-international.org/