The Past Present: A Symposium on Drama, Archives, and Historical Memory

Hotel and Travel Schedule
 Sessions and Speakers

 

The symposium will be held at 
University of South Carolina, Columbia

January 28-31, 2027

   Registration

Non Member - $550
Member - $450
Student - $200
Register Now
What happens when theatre educators enact history? The Past, Present is a four-day generative symposium hosted by the University of South Carolina that inverts the traditional conference model by asking participants to come not with finished work to present, but to learn, imagine, and create.

Grounded in Columbia’s inspiring constellation of historical resources—the Anne Frank House, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research, the Museum of Education, and the Rule of Law Collaborative—participants will take guided tours of each site and engage primary sources, oral histories, and archival materials firsthand. Structured reflection and conversation will follow each encounter.

The Past, Present asks a central question: how do we engage the past to inform our present? Through site-based immersion, attendees will develop and return home with project ideas rooted in their own community’s history. Participants leave with a project’s beginning, and a cohort of collaborators who are interested in sharing in this work.

A pathway to publication in Youth Theatre Journal will be available for participants who wish to develop their work toward scholarly contribution.

 

Symposium Access Grants Available!
Full Registration + Consideration for a Travel Stipend
We know this is a financially difficult time for many artists, educators, students, and community practitioners. A limited number of access grants are available for
The Past, Present:
A Symposium on Drama, Archives, and Historical Memory

January 28–31, 2027
at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.
Each grant covers full symposium registration, and applicants may also request consideration for a travel stipend to help offset the cost of getting to Columbia. To be eligible, you must attend all four (4) days of the Symposium. Grants are intended for community-based artists, participants not affiliated with institutions, students, freelancers, and others who need support — because we believe in broad accessibility, equity, and diversity throughout the symposium.
Whether you're hoping to reconnect with colleagues, find inspiration, explore your community's history, or simply be in community with others who understand the power of theatre and education — we want you there.
Applications close Friday, December 4th
Apply Here
Together, we can create a symposium that is richer, more inclusive, and truly representative of our field.