The 17th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young Audiences (ASSITEJ 2011) in Denmark and Sweden plays host to a strong, united and internationally positioned Australian youth arts sector this month (20-29 May).

Australia's national peak youth arts organisation, Young People and the Arts Australia (YPAA) will lead a contingent of over 30 Australian artists, arts practitioners, arts workers and educators that engage children and young people in the arts, who will travel as delegates to the event. The sheer number of YPAA members in attendance at this international festival highlights the importance and value of international relationships and cross-cultural learning to the sector's growth and success.

ASSITEJ 2011 is an extraordinary opportunity to network and continue to grow international partnerships, to showcase the dexterity and innovation that exists in youth arts, to see new, original, international plays and performances, and to attend ground-breaking seminars.

YPAA's international board representative and ASSITEJ Executive Committee member, Noel Jordan (Casula Powerhouse), and YPAA board representatives Helen Hristofski (Sydney Theatre Company) and glen r johns (Cirkidz) will also be in attendance to support the ever-increasing profile of the Australian youth arts industry.

They will accompany YPAA's newly appointed Executive Director, Jim Lawson, to this world leading celebration of children and young people, performing arts and international collaboration.

Lawson will facilitate a seminar to the ASSITEJ International delegates with an esteemed discussion panel of Australian theatre practitioners, arts programmers and educators as they explore issues of voice and agency for young people in theatre.

Lawson is thrilled to represent the youth arts industry at ASSITEJ 2011 alongside our attending members at this important event,

"Going to ASSITEJ Congress and Festival with such a large group of Australians is an exciting opportunity for cross-cultural and creative exchange. It also reflects the strength and influence of the Australian sector", YPAA Executive Jim Lawson said.

YPAA continues to grow its international reputation and since it co-hosted the last (16th) ASSITEJ International Congress and Festival in Adelaide in 2008, YPAA and its membership have keenly anticipated attending the next event which is held every three years.

YPAA Executive Jim Lawson said,

"It's great to reflect that in 2008, the world came to Australia for the ASSITEJ Congress and Festival, and now we are going to the world."

For over 35 years, YPAA has been the ASSITEJ Australia Centre for ASSITEJ (a French acronym) for Association International du Theatre pour l’Enfance et la Jeunesse International, otherwise known as the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People.

ASSITEJ 2011 celebrates children and young people, the performing arts and collaboration across borders. Its theme, 'Building Bridges, Crossing Borders' is reflected in the cultural diversity of the performances and in Denmark and Sweden. Copenhagen and Malmoe are joined by the longest road and rail bridge in Europe.

A very highly revered event; H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is the patron of 17th ASSITEJ World Congress.