In 2026, we welcome AATE to Greenville, South Carolina, a city of complex histories and powerful artistry. In this three-day conference, we will celebrate local artists, practitioners, and educators whose work has not been seen at the national level. In this time of momentous change, the work of artists and educators has never been more important. Through our theme Echoes of Us: Theatre That Reflects, Resonates, and Revives, we invite artists, educators, and theatre practitioners to share lessons, practices, and creative journeys. Join us as we learn from the echoes of our memories and dreams, honoring the past and imagining the future.

For this year’s conference, in addition to proposals for our regular sessions (75-minute Workshops, Panels, Performances, Posters, and New Guard Panel), we invite teachers, teaching artists, practitioners, administrators–anyone invested in theatre by, with, and for youth–to submit proposals for Short-Form Workshops, Papers, and Narrative Presentations that will be shorter in scope and duration, such that we can combine presentations linked by theme, content, and/or practice. We hope that these shorter formats will appeal to first-time presenters or more seasoned presenters who are willing to share their session with other voices. These shared presentations are in addition to our regular presentations, not in place of them.

All concurrent sessions will be scheduled in 75-minute blocks, so these shared sessions will be scheduled as follows:

• For Short-Form Workshop experiences, we will schedule presentations in duos, allowing each presenter 30 minutes to present followed by 15 minutes of collective discussion.

• For Paper and Narrative presentations, we will schedule presentations in triads, allowing each presenter 20 minutes to present followed by 15 minutes of collective discussion.

For the shared session option, we invite you to propose individual presentations which we will combine thematically, or you can submit a proposal in collaboration–as two short-form workshops or three papers or narrative presentations.

Regular Session Descriptions

Workshops

A 75-minute workshop includes interactive activities that attendees experience and process, and then can later apply to their own work.

Panels

A minimum of three in-person presenters engage in a 75-minute moderated discussion centering on a common topic, theme, or issue.

Performances

A major section of the session is a performance or excerpt of a theatre piece, which serves as inspiration for further artistry and discussing process during the 75-minute session. 

Posters

Posters from multiple presenters will be displayed and presented in the same room at the same time. Each presenter gives a 5-minute summary of their research or creative project. This is then followed by informal questions and dialogue with the audience.

New Guard Panel

New Guard is AATE’s network for students and emerging career practitioners. In this session, each presenter will deliver a 10-15-minute presentation. Presenters are expected to offer an oral presentation of their practice-based or research-based work and answer questions.

Shared Session Descriptions

Short-Form Workshops

These workshops include interactive activities that attendees experience and process, and then can later apply to their own work.

Paper or Narrative Presentations

Paper or narrative presentations may draw on personal storytelling, scholarly analysis, or practice-as-research. We especially welcome work that shares the arc of a particular project, partnership, or community-engaged process—highlighting successes, failures, questions, and lessons learned.