Mapping. A Map on the Aesthetics of Performing Arts for Early Years.

Mapping is an artistic research project focused on creating a sensory-based relationship with very young children, from 0 to 6 years old, through performing arts. In particular, it explores the idea of children-spectators of today and not only of tomorrow.

A process full of open questions to start mapping the aesthetic dimension of very young children, trying to detect the tracks, the many aesthetic moments, that children reveal during the artistic relationship and the underlying reasons. The research path, choosing from many intriguing and shared questions or reflections, will lead to identify the first points of a dynamic Map on the aesthetics of performing arts for early childhood.

The research on the Map will connect all project activities:

• The Mapping festivals: 19 festivals for Early Years over the four-year period
• The Common co-production process: 16 new productions for Early Years
• The Map, Research book: a book written by the researchers of ITYARN on the 30 points of the Map
• The Map, illustrated book: the 30 points of the Map illustrated by four international illustrators, coordinated by Bologna Children’s Book Fair
• The Map, the Exhibition 2022
• The Children-spectators Exhibitions
• The Final event 2022
• A new audience: the research on Audience development
• Follow-up: in-depth studies on direction and dramaturgy
• The Map books: documentation on the specific paths.