Rotterdam theatre artist and educator Kathie diStefano employs participatory techniques and theatre art to create awareness with youth and seniors about the environment through creative strategies to recycle and make smart consumer decisions in Heijplaat in Rotterdam. She did an artist residency in Brooklyn-Curtis Bay in December 2013 and is returning in September-October 2015 for another residency in this neighborhood. This is in conjunction with the 30th anniversary celebration of the Baltimore-Rotterdam sister city relationship. We are currently seeking funding to support these activities.
Preliminary list of activities for 2015:
Sep 26 — Workshop during the daylong celebration of 30 year Baltimore-Rotterdam anniversary at Baltimore’s Creative Alliance
Oct 5–9 — Weeklong series of theater improv workshops for Benjamin Franklin senior high school students
Oct 3 & 10 — Sustainability workshops for students at De Nederlandse School (a joint project with DC Dutch)
October — Workshops with Filbert Street Community Garden
October — Planning sessions for pen pal exchange with Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center (affiliated with Living Classrooms) and a school near Rotterdam
Fall — Bring a sculpture from Rotterdam to be installed in Baltimore (a mirror copy of a sculpture in Rotterdam harbor) in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship. C. Steinweg has generously offered to ship the sculpture to Baltimore. C. Steinweg is a logistics provider headquarted in Rotterdam specializing in the international transportation, handling & warehousing of non-ferrous metals & soft commodities; they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Baltimore office this year. More information about the sculpture is here: sealsculpturerotterdam.pdf
Kathie diStefano conducting a workshop for Baltimore schoolchildren in December 2013