How did this grant contribute to the realization of your project in regard to artistic exchange, local cultural development and/or the promotion of cultural diversity?
During this trip I was able to: 1. Assure a cooperation with the French cultural NGO CREARC – The Freedom Theatre had a very active participation in the 23èmes Rencontres du Jeune Theatre Europeen and was invited to continue its participation in this festival in the coming years. Several interviews and articles were written about our participation, some quotes joined with this document in attachment. 2. Make several contacts with the companies participating in the Festival as well as along the whole trip through France, in order to host these artists and companies at The Freedom Theatre in the future. Among them institutions we are already working on projects with, as a result of this trip: L'Istituto teatrale Europeo and L’Accademia Teatrale Europea di Roma (Italy), Al-Rowwad (Palestine), Crearc (France), AFPS 14 (France). 3. Contact and participate in the funding of a new branch of TFT Friends in Grenoble 4. Meet with the Palestinian Diplomatic Representative in France, were future cooperations with TFT were discussed. These contacts and cooperations already assured have enlarged the TFT network of artists, teachers, producers.
How does exchange, networking and international contacts contribute to the development of your artistic and cultural project?
Our institution benefits from a great support from our international network. Exchanges allow us to reassure contact and cooperation as well as increase our network. It is therefore vital to invest in this kind of organized trips, the outcome is evidently and almost immediately positive. The outcome of this particular exchange has just started, I believe that there will be many more cooperations and artistic productions coming as results of this trip.
Can you elaborate on the learning and knowledge you have gained and shared throughout this experience?
Meeting a different culture, work experience and techniques has allowed me to increase my knowledge and I will hopefully apply it in my institution in the future. Participating in festivals has allowed me to gain more artistic and organisational references, that will make a difference in my future firstly as human being and secondly as cultural manager. This was the first time I travelled abroad, and the simple fact of going out of my country has given me the opportunity to better understand my identity as well as demanded me to be flexible, to listen and to create in different cultures.
Please indicate a link to your current work (website/facebook page)
http://www.thefreedomtheatre.org
