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?

BEIRUT JAM SESSIONS, and especially Anthony Semaan have helped me book concerts, live gigs and dj sets in Beirut to promote my project Roscius. C U NXT SAT events have booked me to play for the WICKERPARK Festival Opening Party, in Batroun, and helped me introduce my music to a big crowd. SOFAR SOUNDS helped me perform an intimate gig which I had never done before.

How does exchange, networking and international contacts contribute to the development of your artistic and cultural project?

We're looking for bigger events and wider areas to tour, like Egypt, AfroBanana Festival in Cyprus, Jordan, and a booking at Wickerpark Festival next year. Beirut Jam Sessions will still be my main contact there, to help me organize the next tour ! Funding wise, we're still thinking about it. Artistic wise, I'm looking at a creation with artists I've met there, either a recording production, or a live collaboration during my next trip to Lebanon.

Can you elaborate on the learning and knowledge you have gained and shared throughout this experience?

I truly believe the more you travel, tour, move, the more you learn, as it's all a question of adaptation, capability of improvising with situations you were not prepared, flexibility. So yes, I do agree, mobility increase your skills. Places you go, way to go to places, conditions of travel, sound systems, different audiences, size of venues, people you meet, everything gives your project new challenges, and so you need to be able to react by being always creative, open-minded, aware and flexible.

Please indicate a link to your current work (website/facebook page)

https://soundcloud.com/williamserfass