RCF - Results of Upline 2015

The Roberto Cimetta Fund (RCF) is pleased to announce the results of the 2015 call for applications for the Upline.

 

This funding line aims to promote cultural and artistic initiatives lead by Arab artists and cultural operators developing local projects (venues, networks, platforms).

 

The call received 350 online requests in two months (15th August – 15th October 2015) and 102 written applications (31 in Arabic, 28 in French, 43 in English). These applications were sent from 14 countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen) which is an increase compared to the first call. 50 applications out of 102 were considered eligible (24 in English, 9 in Arabic, 17 in French). The evaluation of the applications was made by the Expert Committee of RCF and took place from October to November 2015. The final selection was approved by the Steering Committee and the Board of Directors of RCF in December 2015. 

 

The selected projects are:

 

1) Chrysalide, an Algerian association, grouping together passionate professionals and artists in theatre, literature and arts. Chrysalide invents the time and place of meetings between creators and the city of Algiers. Their watchwords are simple: to share freedom and fun in cultural discovery, arouse curiosity by the radiation of artistic culture, encourage the intermingling of legacies and modes of expression. The Roberto Cimetta Fund provides support to the renovation of an abandoned cellar in the city centre of Algiers. 

2) Medrar is a Cairo-based organisation that sets the stage for artists seeking to have extensive conversations and collaborations with their peers to embrace their purpose as active contemporary artists thus creating a dynamic and inspired movement. The funds will be used to improve the venue in Cairo to allow for optimal working conditions for artists and a better exhibition space.  

 

3) Nassim el Raqs, is an on-site choreographic and interdisciplinary art creation festival. It is a laboratory for artistic creation offering on-site art residencies in Alexandria, honouring dance, body expression and movement. The festival is at a turning point in its development. After 5 years of bold initiatives it needs to strengthen and shape its activity in Alexandria in a sustainable way, by providing the appropriate workspace and working tools for the team. 

 

4) Studio 8, is the only youth-run performing arts studio in Jordan. The Studio 8 artists conduct public workshops, classes, and performances in order to use the arts to bring people from diverse backgrounds together. The support given by the RCF will enable Studio 8 to finalise renovation of a new creative space and return to its creative programming.

5) Danseurs-Citoyens - The Tuniso-African training centre for street arts " Lang'art " is involved in training young Tunisians in alternative music, contemporary dance and street theatre through the notions of citizenship and human rights. RCF funding will contribute to the renovation of a dance space and provide equipment (dance mat, screen, projector) that can also serve outdoors. 

 

The five projects will run throughout 2016 and 2017. 

 

The countries where the actions of the 50 eligible projects are taking place are as follows: Algeria (2), Egypt (14), Iraq (2), Jordan (1), Lebanon (6), Morocco (8), Palestine (5), Syria (2), Tunisia (9), Turkey (1). 6 projects are from rural areas only, 27 in urban areas, 7 in suburbs, 3 in refugee camps and 7 in a mix of rural and urbain areas. The average age of project leaders is 31 years old. 20 project leaders are women and 30 are men. The artistic disciplines involved are : architecture (1), dance (7), film (6), multidisciplinary work involving also art in the public space, sociology, ecology (14), music (5), theatre (7), visual/digital arts (5), writing/literature/language/calligraphy (5). 38 of the 50 projects are very good. 

 

The Roberto Cimetta Fund and the French Ministry of Culture and Communication support in this way the financial autonomy of local independent cultural and arts initiatives.