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?

This grant enabled me to travel to Beirut and show two important films. While in Beirut i met with Louis Henderson a film-maker with whom i share many research interests with. Our event was to introduce films that have been inspired by the US anti-racism movement to the Beirut context. The discussion that happened after the films was rewarding as it revealed insight into both contexts, the US and Lebanon.

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

the project itself , Planetary Erotics, is an attempt to study the overlaps of cultural work from separate geographic regions. in other language it is an attempt to build networks across different cultural struggles. here we describe the project - Planetary Erotics was initiated by Arjuna Neuman followed by Lorde Selys and Rachel Dedman. It aims at working towards trans-regional methods of solidarity. The first chapter will question the possibility of shared modes of cultural resistance between Black Lives Matter and the Palestinian Resistance.

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

In particular the way different ideas or sets of ideas are relevant in different locations. In particular as mentioned above, the way identity politics in a certain contexts can have violent consequences. The parallels between police led violence in the US against black and brown bodies and the military violence against Arab bodies in Israel/Palestine are quite evident. This is something we wanted to consider.

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

http://arjunaneuman.com/