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Why?
Promoting and preserving cultural diversity is one of the main pillars of the RC mission.
The action here presented is indeed part of a larger programme started by RC in 2005 in
the Oasis of Siwa – Egypt promoting and preserving local cultural heritage in all its forms
and declinations: language, architecture and handcraft.
Though Egypt can count on a well rooted cultural environment, only a small portion of the
population can access it, either as spectator or as creator.
This initiative aims at promoting
mutual understanding and cultural
exchange
between
neighbouring
Mediterranean
countries,
and
at
fostering
reciprocal
knowledge,
leveraging on youth and on community
participation and involvement.
The project responds to the priorities
established
by
the
Barcelona
Declaration which was signed and fully
acknowledged
by
Egyptian
Government. Though actions were
taken to try to comply with its
recommendations, the need to address
the issue from a different perspective,
building
on
grassroot
level
organizations and on the outspoken
demand of the civil society, is key to
build the confidence of the Egyptian
artists
towards
their
Northern
Mediterranean
counterparts
and
audiences.
The
common
roots
of
the
Mediterranean culture are well known
to all, but too easily the bias toward
southern European cultures affects
negatively the perception and the
attitude toward them, building barriers
rather that bridging cultures toward
positive exchange.
This initiative plans to initiate a pattern and to foster multicultural dialogue which will
have the common language of the art in its different declinations. Indeed the action will
allow for many Egyptian citizens, especially those who generally do not have the chance
to participate in cultural events, to have free access to shows and exhibitions, to get
acquainted with different forms of arts art, as music, literature and photo.
Moreover, the choice of the themes for the multi media exhibitions will build on the
traditional (but sometimes disregarded) local culture, in its more significant but less
fashionable aspects.
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Initiative context
Following on from the Declaration priority framework drawn up by EuroMediterranean partnership, the initiative is focused on reinforcing the delicate
compromise between, the existence, recognition and mutual respect of diverse
traditions, cultures and civilisations throughout the Mediterranean, on the one
hand, and the promotion of common roots, on the other hand.
The Egyptian cultural environment is well
established, but even in Cairo, only a small
portion of the local community has access to
it, either as punters or producers. Moreover
the access of both categories to a wider
audience is restricted. Egyptian citizens do
have few chances to attend to cultural
events, due to high fees for participation
and lack of widespread promotion; therefore
responsiveness and participation to cultural
activities is still limited to narrow parts of
the society.
Moreover there is a lack of knowledge and
not adequate visibility about the precious
legacy of the past: in the history of the
Arabic culture there are many relevant
personalities (writers, novelists, travellers,
figurative artists and musicians) who have
left the bequest of deep imagery about the
cultures and civilizations of the past.
Indeed the opportunities for cultural
exchanges between Egypt and EuroMediterranean countries are limited and
despite the respectable number of cultural
events happening in Egypt, only a minor
part of those involves artists coming from
other Euro-Mediterranean countries (and
vice-versa, being usually quite difficult to
expatriate
for
purposes
of
cultural
exchanges, especially for the young artists).
Moreover, Mediterranean artists often fail to build on their unique and peculiar
cultural assets leveraging instead on stereotypes and common places. This
results into limited reciprocal knowledge and limited appreciation of diversity
and of common heritage, both from the audiences and the artists.
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Stakeholders
Direct beneficiaries:
-
6 international bands and 6 local young performers from different
countries of the Euro-Mediterranean Area
50 Photographers from different countries Euro-Mediterranean
Area
200 Young people from Cairo
Representatives of the Egyptian civil society
3 Representative of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture
Representatives of the Egyptian and International Cultural
Institutions (4 international cultural centres)
Tourists and, in general, all the expatriate community present in
Cairo
Final beneficiaries:
-
Cairo local community (estimated 8.000 people)
Local partner:
The local partner is El Sawy Culturewheel, a no-profit organization
with 5 years experience in organization and management of nonprofit cultural events, concerts, theatre, seminars, lectures and art
exhibitions, festival workshops. It was involved in all the preparatory
phases (content-wise, budget-wise, management arrangements) and
it is directly organizing, managing and implementing all the activities
that will take place in El Sawy Culturewheel premises, under the
supervision of Ricerca e Cooperazione
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Sustainability
Economic and
institutional
sustainability is based
on the following:
- Participation will
help to build local
capacities and to
develop the
abilities of local
people to manage
and to negotiate
development
activities as well as
it can increase
coverage when local people are able to assume some of the burden of
responsibility and thus help to extend the range of activities of a
development activity.
- The Ministry of Culture and the Governorate of Cairo will be informed of
and involved in the project’s activities. Their support will be essential for
the sustainability of the project.
- The Local Partner’s managerial-technical capacities, their past experience
and the experience gained during the project will guarantee continuity and
sustainability of the activities
- The project will have a positive impact on the emerging non-profit cultural
sector in Egypt: it will encourage the artists to work together and find new
ways of cooperation and mutual help. It will create sensitiveness in the
civil society, contributing to a change of attitudes towards music and
literature. Also, efforts will be made to encourage the establishment of
groves of local stakeholders interested in lobbying for the improvement of
the legislation and bureaucratic procedures towards the creation of a
friendly environment for non-profit associations in Egypt.
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Synthesis
Overall
objectives
- Promoting the dialogue and mutual understanding, through
cultural exchange between Egypt and other Mediterranean
countries
- Encouraging exchanges artists from Euro-Mediterranean region
- Improving access and participation in cultural activities for
Egyptian citizens
Specific
objective
- The link and the dialogue between artists from EuroMediterranean countries are strengthened
Expected
results
- The dissemination of the Mediterranean cultural heritage is
strengthened
- The exchange among artists from Euro-Mediterranean is
promoted
Timelines and
target area
Egypt, Cairo
Oct 2008 – Oct 2009
Cost, stakeholders
and expected
contributions
Total cost of the project
€ 62.000,00
European Commission
79,98 %
Ricerca e Cooperazione
11,29%
Local Partner
European
Commission
8,73 %
Ricerca e
Cooperazione
€ 7.000,00
€ 49.587,60
Local Partner
€ 5.412,60
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Partnership opportunities
WORDS:
three events with the
participation of lecturers,
related invitations and
thousands of handouts
publication
PHOTOS:
exhibition of photo
contest for 10 days,
invitations and catalogue
publication, jury for
contest
IMAGES:
group exhibition for
contest participants,
invitations and frames
NOTES:
three concerts with local
youth musicians and
from Mediterranean
basin, well implemented
by sound and light
engineers and stage
manager
€ 1.790,00
€ 2.245,00
€ 565,00
€ 2.400,00
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Developing Partnership
In addiction to the project activities, Ricerca e Cooperazione would to organize a festival with the
presence of the following bands in order to improve this initiative. All bands are international award
winners. In order to pay for their travel and accommodation and ensure a successful outcome of
the festival, RC constantly needs to raise new actors interested to join this cause. Would you
become a partner to implement the festival?
Theodosii Spassov and his band
Jazz from Bulgaria
www.theodosiispassov.com
Travel: 2000 euros
Accommodation: 550 euros
Aaron Bebe and the flute magician in
concert
Music from Ghana, the xylophone and flute
dialogue
Travel: 2600 euros
Accommodation: 560 euros
Jouban’s trio
transfusion of emotions into oud and back
out toward the audience, from Palestine
http://www.letriojoubran.com/en
Travel: 2600 euros
Accommodation: 560 euros
From Egypt
Eftekasat band
www.myspace.com/eftekasat
Wust el Balad band
www.wustelbalad.com
Sahara band
www.myspace.com/sahara
Dor el Awwal band
www.myspace.com/dorelawwal
Travel: 1000 euros
Accommodation: 2400 euros
Blue Perro
afroamerican rhythms mixed with blues, jazz
and funk from Spain
www.myspace.com/blueperro
Travel: 2600 euros
Accommodation: 560 euros
Bestie rare
Hip Hop from Rome, Italy
www.bestierare.org
Travel: 2600 euros
Accommodation: 560 euros
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