87 Dirar Bin Al-Azwar
Amman 11191
Jordan
- Arts
We are a new collective, working in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and globally. We currently are composed of 5 volunteer staff, comprised of different ages, genders, and nationalities. We function in a collective style, in which no one person is in command; instead we come to collective, group decisions through a voting system. Our budget is at present limited; we are currently working on applying for funding and obtaining partners through local and international sources, as well as working towards local and regional partnerships (please check our website) The modalities of our actions are: applied arts workshops within communities, podcast series, online professional performances
Our aim is to supply creative and engaging solutions for expressing and sharing real life narratives mainly from the MENA (Middle East North Africa) with a wider audience, while retaining the anonymity of our participants (participants come from a range of backgrounds, including but not limited to: displaced persons and refugees, women, and youth) . Our goal is to raise discussions on contemporary regional topics through the use of multimedia (podcasts, workshops, radio plays, online performances) reaching a global audience on our online platform.
Our main projects this year (so far) will include: Aswatna/ Our Voices: a bi-lingual (Arabic and English) podcast series, exploring eastern and western canon literature and plays through performative readings (radio- plays) by our participants, followed by in depth discussions from experts in the field, examining the works through the lens of contemporary social topics, particular to but not limited within, the MENA region. First Professional Performance: Weam's Monologues. This is an original piece that will be performed by female performers, producing the work of the late Weam Aldairi, a theatre artist and Gazan refugee. Performers are of Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian origin. Original piece will be performed by a professional actress, with the individual monologues (5) recorded anonymously by the performers, mostly first time performers.
We believe we can contribute immensely to the regional Network in Jordan. Working with local participants and partners, to effect small changes and transformations at a local level can affect powerful, positive ripples through a community. Our core group are diverse, comprised of women and displaced persons, and we are using our lived knowledge and experiences to inform our work. As well, we thoroughly believe in working collaboratively with communities and individuals, introducing those who have never had access or understanding of why arts can be an effective tool for developing and transforming our societies. Our online platform will be utilized by our participants, for them to tell their stories, and share their unique perspective with the world, maintaining agency over their work. We believe that once we open our arms, and our hearts, to the possibility of art; as a tool for development, for connection, and for overcoming barriers, we open ourselves and our societies, to the possibility of transformation.
Joining the ALF Network will give us the opportunity to stay abreast of regional and international opportunities, to reach out to potential local partners, and to inform others in the Anna Lindh circles of our work. We also ally ourselves firmly with your aim of promoting dialogue between cultures, and working in the core areas of (though not limited to): community development, arts, youth and education, and gender. We firmly believe we would be a positive contribution to your network , and look forward to assisting other groups in enhancing their projects, as well as benefitting from the input and participation of our peers.