Estonian Academy of Music And Theatre
The 5th International Ingo Normet Conference
COLLECTIVE ART. TEACHING. TODAY
28–29 November 2026 Tallinn, Great Hall of EAMT
The Theatre Department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre will host the fifth instalment of the international Ingo Normet conference series, Collective Art. Teaching. Today, on 28–29 November 2026 in Tallinn, in the Great Hall of EAMT.
A defining feature of collective art is that each participant’s development and performance are intrinsically linked to the contributions of others. In many forms of theatre, the quality and development of an actor’s work depend directly on the extent and depth of their partners’ engagement in the creative process.
In today’s shifting landscape of values and in the context of identity politics, the learning environment has become an increasingly charged and complex space where personal experiences, worldviews and forms of self-identification intersect. Collective practice presupposes a shared language and mutual agreement, yet these can no longer be taken for granted. The boundaries between participation, silence and refusal have become blurred, shaping both collaborative processes and artistic decisions.
A central challenge lies in balancing individual expression, difference and personal needs with the artistic qualities that emerge from collective work, including shared responsibility and common goals. The role of the teacher is no longer limited to guiding artistic processes but increasingly involves mediating ethical, social and political tensions. How can collective work be prevented from fragmenting into opposing individual positions?
The conference invites reflection on pedagogical and artistic strategies that sustain and develop the specific qualities of collective art while empowering the individual, maintaining mutual respect, and supporting the capacity to work together in a context where values are not fixed but continuously evolving.
The curated conference programme brings together invited speakers from a range of fields, including arts educators and practitioners, as well as experts in education, psychology and mental health from Estonia, the Baltic region and Scandinavia. The programme will feature presentations, panel discussions, debates and performative formats. Meet the speakers →
We warmly welcome teachers, academic coordinators and students in the creative fields, as well as anyone with an interest in culture and the arts, to join the discussions. Register for the conference →
The conference will take place in both Estonian and English and participation is free of charge. The event is organized within the framework of the ESF+ activity “Quality and Internationalisation of Higher Education”.
PROGRAMME (subject to change)
SATURDAY, 28 NOVEMBER
10:30 Arrival, coffee, tea and registration
11:00 Opening remarks – Mart Koldits
11:10 Presentation 1
11:35 Presentation 2
12:00 Discussion (45 min)
Coffee break (25 min)
13:10 Presentation 3
13:35 Presentation 4
14:00 LUNCH BREAK (1 hour)
15:00 Discussion (45 min)
15:45 Presentation 5
16:10 Presentation 6
16:30 Plenary panel discussion (1 hr 40 min)
18:10 Closing remarks
18:15 End of the day
SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER
10:30 Arrival, coffee, tea and registration
11:00 Opening remarks – Mart Koldits
11:10 Presentation 1
11:35 Presentation 2
12:00 Discussion (45 min)
Coffee break (25 min)
13:10 Presentation 3
13:35 Presentation 4
14:00 LUNCH BREAK (1 hour)
15:00 Discussion (45 min)
15:45 Presentation 5
16:10 Presentation 6
16:30 Plenary panel discussion (1 hr 40 min)
18:10 Closing remarks
18:15 End of the day
The conference programme will be updated regularly on the EAMT Theatre Department website.
Organizers:
Mart Koldits mart.koldits@eamt.ee
Liina Jääts liina.jaats@eamt.ee
Eva-Liisa Linder eva-liisa.linder@eamt.ee