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?

Addressing subjects such as the historical and urban development of El Jadida, with its rich multicultural diversities, the research interests were focused upon practices that generate process of modification of actual into new kind of social reality, on the level of interaction between the artistic and the daily experience. The research was developed upon the questions such as: What is the input of social clashes in the process of producing contemporary art practices? How do we interpret different histories and its direct effect on urban development and visual art?; It tended to examine alternatives of mapping and revival of the existing cultural heritage into recovering place through art strategies. The project was presented in a form of visual guide, through the methodology that involves an exchange of experiences with local artists and curators, in order to investigate the potential of creating sustainable environments and contemporary production, through the different manifestation of urbanity within the local social and cultural framework. The project resulted with the exchange of experiences and the establishment of partnership and mutual cooperation with international artists, curators and cultural workers, in order to continue the critical dialogue and cultural exchange of knowledge with cultural operators from El Jadida, Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh with the possibility of organizing a joint curatorial project and residency exchange in the future.

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

The collaborative “brainstorming” between curators and cultural operators who work in dissimilar social context, but who share common concerns, enable us with opportunity of gaining reversible knowledge; by re-evaluating of our own experience in the field of curatorial and art practices, but also through the process of exploring the possibilities of getting involved, or remodeling the same educational process, or system, through more involved art strategies.

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

The residential stay provided an opportunity for creating a platform for development of new, innovative and alternative models of rethinking of the urban curating related with the contemporary art practices public activism and urban involvement in different socio-political and cultural context and different surroundings. Our research interests and curatorial activities were focused upon art practices that generate process, not only of visual, but of wider modification of actual into new kind of social reality, on the level of interaction between the social, daily experience, artistic practice. We have also explored the possibilities in inventing the options for the shifting place of curatorial practice, as one of the possible intermediates between art, and socio-transformational tactics perceived as a whole of political, economic and cultural phenomena in the local context of Moroccan art scene.

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

http://www.presstoexit.org.mk