International Association of Theatre Critics
The International Association of Theatre Critics is a non-profit non-government organization that is an arm of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Founded in Paris in 1956, the organization's purpose is to encourage and promote theatre criticism, protect the interests of critics, and enhance comprehension between cultures. The IATC holds bi-annual young critics' seminars and an international convention of professional critics every two years. Additionally, the organization periodically offers symposiums, and other international events. The organization membership is largely made up of a little over 50 national critics groups, such as the American Theatre Critics Association and the Critics Circle of London. Individuals may also join who are in a country without a national organization. Historically the organization has served as mediator between adversarial critics' groups, and as a means for critics divided by political barriers to congregate.
