Our Impact

The Art of Making A Difference

For over 45 years, ISTA has inspired creativity, connection, and cultural understanding through the power of ensemble learning.

Our impact reaches across classrooms, cultures, and communities worldwide

For over 45 years, ISTA has inspired creativity and connection through theatre and the arts. Our ensemble approach empowers young people and educators to collaborate, think critically, and make a difference in their communities.

At the heart of our work is a belief that the arts can transform lives, strengthen communities, and build understanding across cultures.

Global impact through transformative learning

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Young people attend our events annually
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Educators trained through our PD
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Member organisations
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Global events run every year

Research shows ISTA events spark creativity, confidence, and collaboration—creating lasting impact through the arts.

Empowering agency and confidence

ISTA’s Ensemble Method gives students and teachers the tools to lead, create, and make meaningful choices. Across our 60+ events each year, participants move from guided inquiry to independent expression—building confidence, authorship, and the collaborative skills needed for change-making beyond each event.

Building community and cultural connection

At ISTA events, our global participants form ensembles that model inclusion, empathy, and shared purpose. Through creating and learning together, they form lasting friendships, deepen cultural understanding, and join a global network of artists and educators united by creativity and care.

Learning through immersion and reflection

Our research-informed pedagogy helps participants learn through theatre—by doing, reflecting, and adapting in real time. Immersive experiences strengthen critical thinking, confidence, and communication, with teachers gaining strategies they apply immediately and students discovering new ways to learn and lead.

Global Connections: Partnerships that Inspire

Below are a few partnerships that embody our mission to connect young people through the arts and inspire dialogue around identity, resilience, justice, and social change.

Nairobi
Amman
Cambodia
Still I Rise, Nairobi

In March 2025, through the support of the Dinos Global Legacy Fund, ISTA welcomed three students from Still I Rise to participate as Young Creative Leaders at our Nairobi Middle School CONNECT Festival. These students engaged in one-to-one mentoring with ISTA artists and led ensemble work throughout the festival—modeling confidence, creativity, and leadership.

Following the event, ISTA artists visited the Still I Rise school to deliver theatre workshops to over 180 students and provide professional learning for educators working in challenging conditions. This powerful collaboration exemplifies ISTA’s belief in the arts as a force for equity, empowerment, and global connection.

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Amala Education, Amman

Since 2022, ISTA has partnered with Amala Education—a pioneering organisation providing high-quality secondary education for displaced and crisis-affected youth. Together, we've delivered theatre-based professional development and student festivals in Amman, Jordan, exploring the themes of migration, displacement, and home.

Through this partnership, ISTA hosts three-day ensemble-based advocacy festivals where students from international schools collaborate with Amala learners—young refugees who bring lived experience and powerful perspectives to the creative process. These shared explorations culminate in performances that amplify student voice, build empathy, and foster cross-cultural understanding. This ongoing relationship exemplifies ISTA’s commitment to the arts as a catalyst for dialogue, connection, and social change.

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Phare Ponleu Selpak, Cambodia

Since 2020, ISTA has collaborated with Phare Ponleu Selpak—a pioneering Cambodian arts school founded by survivors of the Khmer Rouge—through festivals, performances, and ongoing creative exchange. In November 2023, this partnership was brought to life once again at a CONNECT Festival hosted by the International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP).

Students from international schools worked alongside Phare performers and ISTA artists to explore Cambodia’s complex history through ensemble-based learning, storytelling, and theatre-making. The festival featured powerful cultural experiences, including a visit to the Killing Fields and performances by local organisations such as Epic Arts. This enduring collaboration exemplifies ISTA’s belief in the arts as a force for healing, empowerment, and cross-cultural understanding.

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Join Us in Shaping the Future of Arts Education

Your support helps ISTA:

Expand access to high-quality arts experiences for young people and educators worldwide—empowering creativity, connection, and change through the arts.
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Inspire the next generation of artists, teachers, and creative leaders to build a more connected, compassionate world
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