Macedonian Centre of the International Theatre Institute - ITI/UNESCO

Founded 1992, membership in the ITI -UNESCO since 1993 
Legal form: non-governmental association 
Valid Statute from December 18, 1996 
President of the Founding Board: Ljubisha NIKODINOVSKI-BISH (1992-1993)
First President: Risto STEFANOVSKI (1994-1996)
Second President: Goran STEFANOVSKI (1997-1999)
President (since 2000): Ljubisha GEORGIEVSKI 
 
1. History of the Macedonian ITI Centre

  • After the fall of ex-Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav ITI Centre of which several theatre workers from Macedonia were members ceased to function.
  • Representatives of the MOT Festival were present at the 24th ITI Congress (Istanbul, 1991), as guests of the Turkish Centre.
  • The Founding Assembly of the Macedonian Centre of ITI was held at the 17th MOT International Theatre Festival (1992).
  • After contacts with Mr. André-Louis Perinetti, ITI Secretary General, the Macedonian Centre received the information (fax no. B237, 5th of May, 1993) that it would be accepted as a regular member of ITI (UNESCO).
  • At the 25th ITI Congress (Munchen, 1993), the Macedonian Centre was recognised as a regular member of ITI. Ljubisha Nikodinovski-Bish and Prof. Dr. Kiril Temkov participated in the Congress.
  • In April 1994 the First Executive Committee of the Macedonian ITI Centre was constituted (President Risto Stefanovski).
  • Representatives of 11 countries took part in the Symposium in Ohrid (1994), among them Mrs. Martha Coigney, President and Mr. André-Louis Perinetti, Secretary General of ITI-UNESCO.
  • For the participants in the Symposium, a bulletin in English was prepared with information on the theatre in Macedonia, as well as an appropriate programme with performances of the theatres in Macedonia.
  • Within the regular activities of EXCOM, a communication was established with a number of ITI centres in the world, as well as an exchange of information, publications and theatre magazines.
  • Texts of "Oresteia" (with the supplement "Oresteia in Action"), Sashko Nasev’s drama "Who Do You Belong To" (in English), staged in the Dramski Theatre, as well as "Light in the Night" with texts and essays by Berry Stavis were published in collaboration with the Metaforum Cultural agency (editor-in-chief Prof. Dr. K. Temkov).
  • Lj. Nikodinovski-Bish was present at the 26th ITI Congress (Carakas, 1995). At the Plenary Session he spoke about the activities of the Macedonian Centre and the Ohrid Symposium, and was elected to the Communication Committee of ITI.
  • In the 4th edition of the distinguished international publication "The World of Theatre 1992 - 1994", which is published in English and French by the ITI (UNESCO), there appeared the text "The Theatre at the Cross-roads", by Lj. Nikodinovski-Bish, about the theatre in Macedonia.
  • The Macedonian ITI Centre of ITI traditionally celebrates World Theatre Day - 27th March, and since 1996 also World Dance Day - 29th April.
  • In December 1996 there was constituted the new Executive Committee (President Goran Stefanovski), which at its session of 18th December ratified the Statute (standing orders), the Programme for 1997 and the new principles and directions for activities of the Macedonian ITI Centre.
  • On the 27th March, 1997 the Macedonian ITI Centre of ITI, celebrates World Theatre Day, issued First INFO bulletinin in Macedonian language (per annum: Macedonian edition (2) and English edition (1), with special issues, with world premiers of new work in Macedonia). For the the first time a Macedonian Message "The Theatre will Survive" was wrote by Kole Chashule, playwright.
  • Gorgi Jolevski was present at the session of the University Albert Botball Theatre of Nations from 15- 29 June 1997 in Pochun/Seoul (organized by Korean ITI Centre). The theme of this international course was: "Working Methods with the Asian Actor".
  • Lj.Nikodinovski-Bish was present at the 27th ITI Congress (Seoul, 1997).
  • In the 5th edition of the distinguished international publication "The World of Theatre 1994- 1996", which is published in English and French by the ITI (UNESCO), there appeared the text "A Theatre in Search of its New Identity", by Dr. Jelena Luzhina.
  • At the 28th ITI Congress (Marseilles, 2000), the Macedonian Centre was presented by Ljubisha Nikodinovski-Bish, M.A. and Prof. Dr. Kiril Temkov.
  • In the 6th edition of the distinguished international publication "The World of Theatre 1996- 1999", which is published in English by the ITI (UNESCO), there appeared the text "The Paradox of Values", by Ivan Dodovski.
  • Lj.Nikodinovski-Bish, M.A. was present at the 29th ITI Congress (Athens, 2002).
  • In the 7th edition of the distinguished international publication "The World of Theatre 1999 - 2002" (Edition 2003), which is published in English by the ITI (UNESCO), there appeared the text by Lj. Nikodinovski-Bish, M.A., about the theatre in Macedonia.
  • Macedonian ITI Centre - World Wide Web issue: http://www.unet.com.mk/iti-macedonia
 
2. Board / Executive Committee Representatives (since 2000)

Ljubisha GEORGIEVSKI, director, Professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Skopje, President 

Ljubisha NIKODINOVSKI-BISH, M.A., theatrologist, Artistic director of the MOT International Theatre Festival, Secretary General, member of ITI - Communication Committee 

Gjorgji JOLEVSKI, actor in the Drama of the Macedonian National Theatre, Board member

Dimitar STANKOSKI, director in the Dramski Theatre in Skopje, Board member

Blagoya STEFANOVSKI, actor, Minister of Culture of the R. Macedonia (since November 2002), Board member

Kiril TEMKOV, D.Ph., Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, Skopje, Board member

Nikola RISTANOVSKI, actor in the Drama of the Macedonian National Theatre, Board member

Sashko NASEV, D.Ph., playwright, Board member

Iskra SHUKAROVA, dancer and choreographer in the Macedonian National Balett, Board member 

Guner ISMAIL, ex-manager of the Turkish Drama of the Theatre of Nationalities, Board member

Ilindenka PETRUSHEVA,  film critic, ex-conselor for the theatre in the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia

 * The President and the Secretary General of the center is elected at the Board members conference for a period of two years.

 
3. Network of ITI (UNESCO) Committees and responsibilities of members of the Executive Committee of the Macedonian Centre:

  • National Commission on UNESCO of the Republic of Macedonia, member Prof. Dr Kiril Temkov, 
  • Communication Committee, member Lyubisha Nikodinovski-Bish,
  • Committee for Cultural Identity and Development, coordinator
  • Dance Committee, coordinator 
  • Playwrights Committee, coordinator
  • New Theatre Project Group, coordinatori 
  • Committee for Theatre Education, coordinator 
  • Dramatic Theatre Committee, cordinator
 
4. International theatre organizations in relation with ITI (UNESCO):

  • Association internationale du theatre pour l'enfance et la jeunesse - ASSITEJ - coordinators 
  • Association internationale des critiques de theatre - AICT, there is a need to establish such an association in Macedonia,
  • International amateur theatre association-IATA, coordinator
  • Federation internationale des acteurs - FIA, coordinator 
  • Federation internationale pour la recherche theatrale - FIRT and Societe internationale des bibliotheques-musees des arts du spectacle - SIBMAS, 
  • Union internationale de la marionnette - UNIMA, cordinator 
  • Organisation internationale des scenographes, techniciens et architectes de theatre - OISTAT, coordinator