ATAP is sponsoring a working session at the American Society for Theatre Research/Theatre Library Association conference at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel this coming November 7-10:
Expanding Scholarship Through the American Theatre Archive Project (3 Hour Session)
Conveners: Susan Brady, Yale University (susan.brady@yale.edu) and Ken Cerniglia, Disney Theatrical Group (ken.cerniglia@gmail.com)
An initiative of the American Society for Theatre Research born at the 2009 Puerto Rico conference, the American Theatre Archive Project (ATAP) supports theatre makers in archiving records of their work for the benefit of artists, scholars, patrons, and the public. ATAP seeks:
· To preserve records of current theatrical process and product for future generations.
· To employ theatre legacy to develop theatres’ fiscal health and support new work.
· To promote a better understanding of theatre as a vital element of cultural history.
· To encourage scholarly research in contemporary American theatre.
· To increase funding for establishing and maintaining theatre archives.
· To support collaborations among theatre archivists, practitioners, and scholars.
ATAP is a grassroots network of professional and student archivists, practitioners, and scholars dedicated to preserving the legacy of the American theatre by developing archival resources for theatre companies. ATAP helps preserve theatre history that has yet to be written.
The working session’s goals are twofold: 1) to introduce new members to ATAP and give them specific tools and resources to extend the project into their areas and institutions, and 2) to give already participating scholars and archivists a forum to formally present their projects, share best practices, and analyze ATAP’s work within various geographical and historical contexts.
Format: The first 90 minutes will be an abbreviated training session for archivists and scholars interested in joining ATAP and working with theatre companies to establish their archives. The second 90 minutes will be dedicated to discussing pre-circulated papers from participants already working on archival projects with theatre companies. These can comprise archival case studies, company histories, production histories, historiographical essays, procedural descriptions, university course syllabi and outcomes, or other related writing. Papers should be between 1500 and 3000 words and must be circulated to participants by October 11, 2013. Interested scholars, archivists, and students should submit 200-word proposals by June 3, 2013 to both conveners that either describe the project/paper they would like to share with the group or how ATAP might intersect with and expand their current work and interests.
NOTE: Applicants can submit proposals to only one ASTR/TLA working session. All accepted participants must register for the conference before participating in November. (http://www.astr.org/conference/2013-working-session-cfps)