ISTA’s global arts blog
SCENE.
Ideas, insight and stories from our global ensemble of artists, educators and young people.
Journal
10 stories
JournalSitting and Listening
What does it mean to listen when what we hear makes us uncomfortable? Reggie Yip reflects on privilege, process and creating theatre with migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
JournalDon't Wait for Permission
Filmmakers Elliot and Zander Weaver share how learning by doing and embracing the limitations of independent filmmaking took them from childhood home movies to their first industry-financed feature film.
JournalImagination is our superpower
Imagination is our superpower: it shapes how we learn, create, and engage with the world. Dr Penny Hay explores how to embed imagination and creativity at the heart of education, fostering curiosity, collaboration, and transformative learning across disciplines.
JournalPaper, tape, mops, and other noble things
As I lifted the 1948 Ford Deluxe convertible, it hit me — the car wouldn’t fit through the door. I was going to have to chop it up.
JournalThe vibrant world of Nautanki: India’s beloved folk theatre
Nautanki is a vibrant folk theatre tradition from North India, deeply rooted in rural entertainment. Combining storytelling, music, dance, and humour, Nautanki captivates audiences with tales of love, bravery, and…
JournalCollaborative practice: Learning on location
As any film graduate will tell you, the leap from second year to the final-year project stretches the tendons. Students will enter their concluding year having worked on a number of productions and will be finding their…
JournalWhy Dance Matters
Creativity is vital, and dance is its purest expression. For me, teaching dance is about shaping critical thinkers, creators, and principled citizens, who will make a positive impact on the future. Teaching is an…
JournalMore that connects than divides us: A Bridge to Understanding
I am a vocalist, and singing helps me make sense of the world in which I live. There is something quite profound about this simple act: inhaling, feeling the lungs expand and then feeling the vibration of sound riding…
JournalAccess as Process: Visual theatre and deaf-led practice
My career in theatre has spanned almost 30 years — as performer, teacher, actor, and director. For many years I have focused on developing my own visual theatrical vocabulary. This is an important aspect of my work —…
JournalPathways: Alice Powell (Film Editor)
I work as a film editor, primarily working in long form documentary film, but also working across other genres as well, such as fiction films and work for galleries. I try as much as possible to vary the types of…