Application Deadline Extended: Apply for SMART: Strategic Management in the Art of Theatre (CLOSED)

Are you from a theatre group, looking to connect and learn more on managing theatre in India?
Explore the art of management from members of the arts community and your peers.

Apply for SMART (Strategic Management in the Art of Theatre) 2016!
Hurry, here's your chance, for the application deadline has been extended to April 15, 2016.

We are delighted to be associated again with SMART, the first programme of its kind in India. This is our second year of collaborating with India Theatre Forum (ITF), and managing the programme with Junoon.

Sameera Iyengar, Sanjna Kapoor, Sudhanva Deshpande, Sunil Shanbag and Swati Apte, along with Arundhati Ghosh, our Executive Director, will be among the facilitators, as well as mentors for the course.

Why SMART?
Discuss, argue, listen, and learn with members of 20 theatre groups, from across the country, for 10 intensive days of the Foundation Course. Be mentored by experts from the fields of fundraising, arts management, established theatre groups, and other stakeholders of the arts community. If that is not reason enough, here are some reflections on the first SMART programme (2014), from our alumni:

"There is no existing system that compels you to think about growing larger in the context of content, language and reach. Before SMART, we only thought about the creative side, never thought about the administrative front!" – Alok Rajwade, Natak Company, Pune

"We gained several new perspectives, insights, and realisations about the work we do at Gillo, why we do it, and what all is needed to enable us to continue to do this. A programme such as SMART offers organisations an opportunity to develop new leadership from within their team." – Shaili Sathyu, founder-director, Gillo, Mumbai

Join us on this journey, and do help us spread the word!

Please do remember the DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2016

Warmly,
The IFA Team

SMART
Strategic Management in the Art of Theatre
A capacity building programme for theatre makers

Conceptualised and Implemented by: India Theatre Forum
Managed by: Junoon & India Foundation for the Arts (IFA)
Supported by: Norwegian Embassy, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan,
Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS)

Have you ever felt that you could do the most amazing things in theatre?
That you had all these brilliant ideas and energy and ability, BUT there were always things pulling you back -- not enough funds, not enough audience, not enough time from your group ... and the list goes on ...

Then SMART is for you ... Make your theatre dreams come true!

When is SMART?
Residential Foundation Course (July 23 to August 01, 2016):
During this course, you will be guided through the various steps involved in the creation of a Strategic Plan for your theatre group/organisation, which will help realise your vision and dreams.

July 23 - Why We Do What We Do (a.k.a Core Values/Vision/Mission) with Sunil Shanbag
July 24 - Where Are We Headed? (a.k.a Strategic Planning) with Milena Dragićević Šešić & Sameera Iyengar
July 25 - Survive or Thrive? (a.k.a Group Sustainability) with Sudhanva Deshpande
July 26 - Where's My Audience? (a.k.a Audience Development) with Sunil Shanbag
July 27 - Can You Hear Me? (a.k.a Communication) with Sudhanva Deshpande
July 28 - What's My Bottom Line? (a.k.a Financial Management) with Swati Apte
July 29 - Money Can't Buy You Love (a.k.a Resource Mobilisation) with Arundhati Ghosh
July 30 - The Nuts and Bolts (a.k.a Administration) with Sameera Iyengar
July 31 - Feedback and Mentorship
August 01 - The Road Ahead (a.k.a Strategic Planning) with Milena Dragićević Šešić & Sameera Iyengar

Mentorship Period (August 2016 to November 2016):
4 months of working with your own organisation/group in your own location. With the skills and ideas you acquire in the workshop during Phase 1, you will return to your own organisation to evolve and implement your Strategic Plan with your colleagues. During this period, you will work with a guide who will act as sounding board, supporter and mentor.

Final Residential Workshop (November/December 2016): 
A 2-day residential workshop in November/December 2016. You will present your Strategic Plan to other participants and facilitators of SMART. At the end of this final phase, participants will receive course-completion certificates. And of course we'll have a party to celebrate!

What is special about SMART?
SMART builds on the experience and knowledge within the theatre community, while also drawing upon knowledge from outside to add strength and value to our theatre-making work. It is the first course especially tailored for the needs of theatre in India.

Who can apply to SMART?
Theatre groups and organisations.

The SMART Faculty:
Milena Dragićević Šešić, Course Consultant, Facilitator
Head of UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy & Management, Belgrade
Sameera Iyengar, Course DirectorFacilitatorMentor
Co-Founder, Junoon, Mumbai
Arundhati Ghosh, Course Co-Director, Facilitator, Mentor
Executive Director, India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore
Sudhanva Deshpande, Facilitator, Mentor
Jana Natya Manch and Studio Safdar, New Delhi
Sunil Shanbag, Facilitator, Mentor
Theatre Director, Arpana, Mumbai
Sanjna Kapoor, Mentor
Co-Founder, Junoon, Mumbai
Swati Apte, Facilitator, Mentor
Director, Junoon, Mumbai 
Satish Alekar, Mentor
Playwright, director
Menaka Rodriguez, Mentor
Head: Marketing and Business Development,India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore
Pravin KP, Mentor
Director, administrator, co-founder of Magic Lantern 
Pradeep Vaiddya, Mentor
Writer, director, Expression Lab, Pune 

Here's a short film of the SMART Course in 2015.

 

To apply, click APPLY NOW

For more information, log on to www.theatreforum.in

For Course Queries, please contact
Ashish Mehta | ashish@theatreforum.in | +91 99229 35591