| By Mike Bindon, ISTA Executive Director |

Dear ISTA community,

As we begin a new year at ISTA, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us, look ahead to what’s coming, and share some of the ways your feedback is shaping the future of our organisation.

Wherever this finds you, and wherever you are in your own school or creative year, we hope you’re finding a little space to pause and look ahead.

For many of you, and for many of us too, it hasn’t been a straightforward year. Budgets have tightened, timetables have shifted, and arts programmes have come under increasing pressure. The pace of change in schools shows no sign of slowing. If that’s been your experience, you are not imagining it, and you are certainly not alone.

That’s exactly why I wanted to begin the ISTA year by saying thank you.

Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in ISTA, and especially for the honesty you brought to our recent Community Engagement Survey. More than 100 community members from over 45 countries took the time to tell us what we’re doing well, where we can do better, and what you need from us next. We read every response, and that feedback has helped shape the year ahead.

Strengthening the foundations

One message came through particularly clearly: we haven’t always been as responsive as you need us to be.

The honest picture is this. ISTA remains a deliberately small team, with around half of our staff focused directly on delivering programmes and events. Over the past two years, we’ve been steadily investing in the foundations that support our work: better systems, improved ways of working, and a team structure with dedicated leadership across programmes, operations and communications. Those changes happen largely behind the scenes, but they’re designed to help us deliver programmes more effectively, communicate more clearly, and support our community more consistently.

The goal is simple: to spend less time on administration and more time supporting our community.

You may already have noticed some of these changes through our booking systems, digital platforms and the way we communicate with you. Some have been seamless; others have inevitably felt a little clunky. That’s the reality of improving an organisation while continuing to deliver programmes around the world.

We’ll continue making these improvements gradually, communicating openly, and listening carefully when something isn’t working. Some of our best ideas have come directly from conversations across our community, and we hope that continues. Our hope is that, over the coming year, you’ll increasingly notice the difference: clearer communication, smoother systems, and a more responsive experience whenever you engage with ISTA.

Looking ahead

The year ahead will see educators, artists and young people come together through almost 60 events across more than 20 countries and five continents, including student festivals, TAPS and FRAME events, IB workshops, and an expanding programme of online learning and community events.

We’re especially excited to strengthen our learning opportunities for educators with two new initiatives.

  • ISTA Theatre Labs have been years in the making. For as long as many of us can remember, one of the most common requests from educators has been for an experience that captures the spirit of TAPS, but designed for teachers themselves. This year, we’re delighted to make that happen. Launching in London, in partnership with Shakespeare’s Globe, before expanding to Singapore, Theatre Labs place educators back at the heart of the creative process. Working alongside professional artists and fellow teachers, participants reconnect with their own creative practice through making, collaboration and reflection.
  • We’re also introducing free monthly online professional learning as a new benefit for ISTA members. Each month we’ll explore a different theme relevant to educators, combining practical tools, shared ideas and live conversations with colleagues and practitioners from across our global community. Every session will be recorded and added to the Members Hub, making it easy to join live or catch up whenever it suits you.

Our Global Ensemble

Perhaps more than ever, we believe in the idea of a Global Ensemble. Not simply a network of schools, but a community of educators, artists and young people who learn from one another, support one another, and continue to champion the value of the arts together.

At a time when so many educators and artists are working under increasing pressure, that sense of connection matters because it reminds us that none of us is doing this work alone. Whether we meet this year in a school, an arts venue, online or over a coffee between sessions, thank you for continuing to be part of this remarkable community.

Here’s to another year of creativity, curiosity and connection. We can’t wait to see what we create together.

With gratitude,

Mike Bindon

ISTA Executive Director