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?
The period of development supported by the Cimetta fund travel grant helped me to strengthen the collaboration with our local partner, the Women Committee of the Old city Charity of Nablus by finalizing the preproduction and budget for Bait al Karama, implementing the web site (www.baitalkarama.wordpress.com) and define the architectural rehabilitation plans for the Bait al Karama Centre. Moreover we hosted a group of 30 visitors from the association Slow Food Bergamo (Italy) on the 29th of April to showcase our project, as we funded Slow Food Nablus in February 2011. We have started to contact and visit local women farmers in the outskirts of Nablus in order to structure a network with local producers. In preparation for the art residency, contacts has been taken with local handicrafts as the soap factory Touqan and a traditional tile factory at the outskirts of the old city of Nablus.
How does exchange, networking and international contacts contribute to the development of your artistic and cultural project?
Exchange and networking are at the core of Bait al Karama missions – as we are an international team collaborating on the project with a strong grass rooted element (the women committee) one of the main outcome is to generate mutual understanding between individuals and instigate interests in the cultural aspects of Palestine as well as to expose Palestinians to foreign cultures.
Can you elaborate on the learning and knowledge you have gained and shared throughout this experience?
Personally I have been traveling and living in several countries and therefore I embrace totally the importance of mobility for artists and cultural producers, keeping in mind though the need to respect and reflect upon the context in which we operate. Certainly being close to foreign mindsets and habits trigger creativity and ideas, though it is fundamental to stay open towards accepting the other.
Please indicate a link to your current work (website/facebook page)
https://baitalkarama.org
