What ISTA membership offers, and what it asks of the schools, organisations and people who join.
1Overview
This document outlines the terms and conditions of membership with ISTA. By submitting your application for ISTA membership, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the following terms and conditions.
2ISTA Mission and Vision
Mission
ISTA utilises theatre and the arts to unlock human creativity, fostering lifelong learners through transformational and immersive experiences.
Vision
ISTA believes in the unique power of theatre and the arts to connect, develop, and empower individuals to become active members of their communities and the world.
ISTA invites schools, organisations, and individuals interested in international arts education and learning through theatre to join our global community, provided they commit to being responsible and active participants.
3Membership Fees for 2025-2026
- Solo Membership£50GBP
- Ensemble Membership£150GBP
- Company Membership£525GBP
- Association MembershipBased on negotiation with ISTA
4Membership Benefits: Access to the ISTA Hub
All membership tiers include access to the ISTA Hub, a dedicated online member space for collaboration, community, and sharing. Through the ISTA Hub, members can:
- Access free monthly resources designed to support and inspire arts educators and practitioners.
- Read the latest digital editions of SCENE Magazine, as well as explore an archive of past issues filled with insightful articles, interviews, and creative resources.
- Engage with fellow members in community forums and discussion spaces, exchanging ideas, questions, and best practices in a supportive and collaborative environment.
5Hosting Commitment
The following hosting commitments apply to Ensemble, Company, and Association members. Solo members are exempt from hosting requirements. Once membership is approved, ISTA’s Engagement Manager will initiate the hosting process. Members are expected to fulfil their hosting commitment by the fourth year after joining. This obligation applies regardless of the number or type of events attended annually.
5.1 Ensemble & Company Members
Membership for Ensemble and Company members includes a commitment to host a student festival every four years. This requirement must be discussed and agreed upon by the senior leadership team or the staff responsible for hosting international events before confirming your membership application.
5.2 Association Members
The hosting requirements for Association Members are articulated in the set terms of the association agreement.
6Membership Obligations
ISTA members agree to:
- Engage actively in the ISTA community.
- Utilise ISTA’s Artist in Residence program when bringing an ISTA artist to their school.
- Allow adequate time for planning bespoke events and services.
- Ensure Educator Chaperones are fully informed about communication channels and processes for any ISTA trip.
- Abide by ISTA’s Event Terms and Conditions when attending events.
- Comply with ISTA’s Managing Risk policies and procedures.
- Maintain accurate and updated contact information through their ISTA account.
- Adhere to the annual membership renewal procedures.
- Respond to emails and invoices in a timely manner.
- Agree to have and maintain an ISTA account.
7Participation Expectations
ISTA is a global community of artists, educators, and creatives who support and uplift one another. To create a dynamic and inspiring space for all members, we encourage the following positive participation expectations:
- Engage with the ISTA Hub: Contribute to discussions, share experiences, and support fellow members through collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Take advantage of resources: Regularly explore and utilise the free monthly resources available in the ISTA Hub to enhance your teaching and creative practice.
- Celebrate and share: Use ISTA’s community spaces to showcase student achievements, celebrate successes, and contribute valuable insights and experiences to the network.
- Respect and uplift others: Foster an inclusive and supportive environment by interacting with kindness, generosity, and professionalism in all community interactions.
- Stay informed: Keep up to date with ISTA’s opportunities, events, and developments by engaging with SCENE Magazine, community forums, and ISTA communications.
By actively participating, members contribute to a thriving, inspiring, and impactful global arts education community.
8Membership Renewal
Membership is automatically renewed 365 days after the activation or payment of the previous year’s fees. Your payment options can be reviewed and updated via the dashboard of your user account. To upgrade, pause, or terminate your membership subscription, please email membership@istaglobal.org at least 30 days before the end of your current subscription year.
9Contacting ISTA
ISTA staff operate remotely from various global locations. Due to time zone differences and regional holidays, immediate email responses may not always be possible. ISTA aims to respond to emails within three working days (Monday-Friday) in each team member’s time zone. During busy festival and event periods, responses will be provided as soon as possible upon staff members’ return to normal duties.
To facilitate timely responses, members should avoid sending multiple emails or copying all team members on a single query. Specific contact information for various queries is available on the Contact ISTA page of the ISTA website.
10Membership Upgrades and Downgrades
ISTA members have the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade their membership tier during the 365-day membership period, under the following conditions:
Upgrades
- Members may upgrade their membership tier at any time during their current membership period.
- Upgrades will be pro-rated and invoiced immediately, with the new tier’s benefits becoming available as soon as the upgrade is processed.
- Members will only be charged the difference between the current membership fee and the upgraded tier fee, adjusted for the time remaining in the current membership period.
Downgrades
- Members wishing to downgrade to a lower tier may do so, but the downgrade will only take effect at the end of the current membership period.
- No refunds or partial credits will be provided for downgrades.
Membership Period
- All ISTA memberships run on an annual cycle (365 days). Members cannot switch to a shorter membership period once the membership is active.
Effective Date: 1 March 2025