A to Z Guide: setting up an education department

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A to Z Guide setting up an education department

• Anu Põrk
• Education Manager
• Valencia, March 2005

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• There are
• 1,4 million
• people in
• Estonia,
• 300 000 of
• Them belong
• to the
• age-group
• of 7-26

3

• The Estonian National Opera has 500 employees.
• There are 700 seats in the main hall.
• During last season 140 000 visitors were
  entertained.
• Around 250 performances of opera, operetta and
• ballet are given every year.
• The Estonian National Opera celebrates its
  100-years
• anniversary in 2006.
• This season is named The Season of the Young
• Audience .

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• Acknowledge what is done before!
• It is crucial to appreciate the work done before.
• That means to continue successful and
  established
• projects with some refreshing where needed.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Target groups. Targeted action.
• It is important to determine in advance to whom
  and why
• something is done.
• Action must be diverse and appropriate to each
  age group
• younger wants to act, older wants to listen and
  discuss.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Parent as co-educator.
• It is more effective if parents can be drawn into
  the projects.
• The child and his/her parent can be educated at
  the same
• time!
• Their relationship, as well their connection with
  theatre will
• be strengthened.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

7

• Modern action-based projects. From ideas to
• realization.
• The aim is to be noticed all around the year.
• All youth projects have to be as important as
  stage
• performances they have to be scheduled
  carefully and
• carried out with care.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

8

• Additional resources and equipment.
• Such elements as web pages, fairs, booklets,
  mascots help
• to bring theatre more close to youngsters.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Internal communication.
• Every employee at the opera house - from cleaners
  to
• managers - has to share the same idea of WHY ARE
  WE
• DOING THIS.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

10

• Establishing contact list. Human resource.
• Efficient youth-work relies also on a helpful
  contact list
• own journalists and other people who have the
  power and
• will to spread information own teachers in
  schools, own
• foreign partners, own partners in homeland,
  etc.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Education for teachers and youth-workers.
• Education for teachers and youth-workers would
  help them
• to communicate the message of the opera to
  children.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Large-scale cooperation and lobby.
• From different ministries and municipal
  governments to
• teachers at kindergartens.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

13

• Strategic plan, action plan, team and budget.
• You need to know what to do, when to do and how
  to do.
• And not only you others as well.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

14

• Performances for children and young people in
• the repertory.
• Children have to understand what is going on on
  the stage
• and why. Their first opera or ballet experience
  mustnt be
• frightening.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

15

• More money.
• Always search for extra funding to increase the
  quality of
• the projects.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
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• Think as a child. Ask for childs advice.
• It is often possible to connect childrens events
  with those
• for adults and the other way around.
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Feedback.
• From time to time there is a need to check
  whether we
• manage our job well, what do THEY think of US?
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z

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• Do something unique, but do not invent a
• bicycle! Learn from others mistakes!
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
  Z