World Congress and International Festival 2015 – exploratory visit to La Plata, Argentina
On 14 October 2011 a delegation from AITA/IATA visited La Plata, Argentina to explore the possibility of the city hosting the World Festival and Congress in 2015. The delegation was led by President Merja Laaksovirta: she was accompanied by English Speaking Secretary Anne Gilmour, Regional representatives Kathleen Maldonado, from NARA and Steiner Arnesen and Svein J. Svensson, from NEATA. Svein was also one of the Tromsø Dialogue 2011 organisers and is shortly to be the Administrator of the AITA/IATA Secretariat.
The delegation was met in Buenos Aires by Guillermo Rodoni, Spanish Speaking Secretary, and his wife Ana Barrionuevo, and they accompanied the delegation throughout their visit.
The delegation travelled to La Plata, 52 kilometres east of Buenos Aires and a city of one million people. The first meeting was with the Secretary of Tourism of Buenos Aires Province, Lic. Ignacio E. Crotto and the Director of Production and Assitance to Events, Lic. Ana E. MARTIN. The Secretary confirmed his support for the project which he felt would raise the profile of La Plata as a cultural centre and he recommended La Plata as a city that could offer all the necessary facilities for such a prestigious conference.
The following day, the delegation met the organisers of Taller de Teatro de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, who hosted lunch and evening meals on the stage of their intriguing theatre which is also home to the University’s extensive theatre library. In the afternoon Turismo Buenos Aires provided the transport for the visit to the Teatro Argentino, Coliseo Podesta Theatre, Pasaje Dardo Rocha and the Jockey Club meeting rooms. These are all venues, which could in some way host theatre performances, the Congress and General Assembly and other meetings.
The following day, Steiner and Svein left for Buenos Aires and the delegates remaining climbed aboard the open top bus provided by Turismo Buenos Aires for a tour of the fascinating city of La Plata. As well as pointing out the historical and cultural highlights the tour included a visit to the open air Amphitheatre Martin Fierro in the beautiful Circuit Bosque or City Park to the north of the city, where the delegates were welcome by the Director of the Theatre of the Province, Dr. Siro Colli. The delegation then had a short tour of the Armando Discepolo Theatre, or Comedy Theatre. The final stop was the Teatro Argentino where Turismo Buenos Aires who had kindly provided the delegation with tickets to see two ballet performances, Estancia and El Pajaro de Fuego, or The Firebird. Guillermo and Ana then drove the delegation back to Buenos Aires.
The delegation will write a report, which will be presented to the next meeting of the EB and Council in March 2012 hosted by FNACT in Nancy, France. This report will be supplemented by the outcome of a meeting Guillermo is due to have with representatives of Turismo Buenos Aires and the Ministry of Culture in early November. We, and he, hopes to report personally on this meeting and further developments about the Festival to the EB and Council.
Excellent work by everyone who was concerned with properly launching this project! And the timely reporting is certainly very useful for all our member organizations and individuals.
[...] government and theatre representatives and inspected possible performance venues. Their report is here on this [...]