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 our stay in Porto, we were hosted at Maus Habitos (MH) premises by director Daniel Pires and also by producer Jorge Rui Martins (Ideias Peregrinas), both Portuguese partners of the cooperation music project “Caminos de Europa”. This trip has allowed us to strengthen and redefine our current partnerships and permitted to confirm budget estimations with MH producer Paula Oliveira, in order to co-organize various artistic activities planned at Maus Habitos in spring/summer 2013, within the framework of the same project. Through scheduled meetings organized at MH, I interviewed potential actors of the project, I reported on their interest, expectations and skills in order to confirm (or not) their future involvement in the project. While running our schedule at Maus Habitos we happened to come across the NEUNOW Festival (Managed by Dutch organization ELIA). I observed carefully how the event was ran and analyzed their platform concept and took note of their financial, public, private and media partners. It helped me to realize how we would run our residency and pushed me to develop more partnerships for our project in the near future. This business trip also permitted to visit Guimaraes 2012 as well as the Fabrica ASA where I met with the organizers of the “Laboratorio de Creatividades Urbanes ON/OFF”. We were kindly hosted for free in a beautiful medieval house specially rented for the ON/OFF organizers and participants. Back in Porto we visited various concert venues thanks to the collaboration of Depois das Ideias music producers, in the perspective of working together to operate a concert tour in Portugal.
How does exchange, networking and international contacts contribute to the development of your artistic and cultural project?
Those aspects are truly vital and crucial towards the development of a new project. A good approach to networking, well maintained and constantly updated address book will help opening doors and possibilities to the realization of the project. Being surrounded by experienced and active cultural actors feeds the whole process, helps maintain motivation and reach the potential of the project, it also allows to have feedback and see new approaches.
Can you elaborate on the learning and knowledge you have gained and shared throughout this experience?
Although the internet has increased the exchange possibilities, “mobility” has led to human experiences which can't be replaced by high tech communication processes. While working with people, I increased my skills as a project leader, found out about other organizations’ projects, developed partnerships, saw new and different approaches, discovered innovative artistic concepts, ran key meetings abroad efficiently, all of those actions required focused energy and flexibility, remaining serious and reliable as well as receptive and extrovert with others.
Please indicate a link to your current work (website/facebook page)
http://worldvillage.eu/
