The Marit Ulvund's Catalyst for Change Award
This award is designed to support and empower delegates to participate in future International Teaching Artist Conferences (ITAC), fostering inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity within our global network.
The Marit Ulvund Award will provide financial assistance to delegates who demonstrate a strong commitment to the field of Teaching Artistry but may face barriers to attending ITAC conferences. By removing financial obstacles, the award aims to ensure that ITAC remains a space where voices from all backgrounds can be heard and celebrated.
The award will be integrated in the application process of the upcoming ITAC Conference hosts.
Meet Marit Ulvund
Marit Ulvund is a pivotal figure in the International Teaching Artist Conference (ITAC), co-organizing its first global event in 2012 with 130 representatives from 23 countries. By 2022, she helped expand ITAC to over 40 countries, exploring arts' intersections with education, health, environment, and society. As a SEANSE Art Center director and ITAC Leadership Committee member, she champions artists' global solidarity.
A Professor of Theatre with a PhD from NTNU (Norway), University of Minnesota, and Queensland University of Technology, Ulvund developed Echo Theatre—a innovative theatre method. Her research demonstrates that Echo Theatre's educational effectiveness depends on the teacher's theatre expertise and pedagogical approach.
The international ITAC community greatly benefits from including artist teachers from diverse artistic, social and geographical backgrounds. I am so grateful that the ITAC community has created this award, and humbled that it bears my name. I consider myself a world citizen and I am looking forward to the next ITAC conference!