What makes (narrative) Change so hard?

Brett Davidson is the Narrative Lead at IRIS (read about the partnership between Mimeta and IRIS here). What makes narrative change so hard? Non-profits and funders can go too far in pointing fingers at their own shortcomings, and the reality is that they are playing on an uneven psychological field, explains Brett Davidson for the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Brett Davidson, a narrative strategist with deep experience in health equity, is particularly interested in the role of storytelling, popular culture, and arts activism in bringing about social change (from IRIS Hopepage)

Action for Hope opens in Jordan

Our partner on cultural rights, Action for Hope, Announces the Opening of its New Branch in Amman, Jordan: Action for Hope started its work in Jordan in 2016 in partnership with CARE International and Crescendo Music and Art Academy; two highly regarded organizations that provided support to Action for Hope’s activities in the country. Over the past six years Action for Hope organized two cultural relief convoys in Amman in 2015 and 2016, provided advanced training in filmmaking to 49 young people, and provided music education to 61 young people who graduated from its music school in Amman.

This step reflects the organization’s commitment to continuing its work to provide marginalized communities in Jordan with cultural services and activities. The Amman branch will also complement the organization’s work out of its Beirut and Brussels offices to promote and protect cultural rights and support cultural actors working under difficult conditions, especially in the countries that are undergoing difficult social, political and economic turbulences such as Sudan and Iraq.

Programme for Dream City Tunis

The 8th edition of Dream City will take place from 30 September to 9 October 2022 with a programme built around creative works in dialogue with the city and its inhabitants, developed during long periods of residency, broadcast works that resonate and echo the creations and, as always, times for debate, exchange and reflection.

Discover the programme!

Invitation for Fa’ael Forum 2022

Our partner Action for Hope is inviting for their Fa’ael Forum. The 2022 edition aims to present a realistic image of the economic, political, and social challenges facing art and cultural practitioners in the Arab region, specifically those who are on the margins of the central and elitist art circles, and it will also attempt to probe into some of the strategies used to address these challenges.

This forum will bring together over 20 former participants in the Fa’ael programme from several Arab countries, who also proposed the discussion topics in the program. We also added to the program brief focus sessions to shed light on the reality of cultural work in Yemen, Libya and Sudan, since very little information is available to art and culture practitioners beyond these countries’ borders.

We hope that the Forum will provide an opportunity, both for participants and for the general public, to get acquainted with the work of art and culture activists and directors outside of elitist circles. This is the second edition of the Forum, following last years’ first edition which took place online and was streamed on social media platforms. (The invitation text of Action for Hope)

Thursday 1 September to Saturday 3 of September 2022
At Al Madina Theatre, Beirut - Lebanon

See program for the event
Download the Fa´ael Guide

STATEMENT BY THE #CULTURE2030GOAL CAMPAIGN

#Culture2030goal Statement on UNESCO Mondiacult 2022

As a contribution to the UNESCO Mondiacult Conference, to be held from 28 to 30 September 2022 in Mexico City, the #Culture2030Goal campaign issued a Declaration on 28 April. The Declaration calls for concrete, bold and engaging actions to accelerate the transition to a world where culture is at the heart of decision-making. It also calls for a stand-alone Goal on Culture. The campaign is organized by International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity and partners.

Become a volunteer for Dream City 2022!

For its 8th edition, become a volunteer and participate in the implementation of the Festival of Art in the City Dream City which will take place from September 30 to October 9 in the Medina of Tunis and downtown.

Dream City, whose vocation is, since 2007, to bring Art where it is not, presents for this 2022 edition ten days of performances and installations in public spaces, in the streets, cafés, houses and squares of the Medina of Tunis and the city centre. In a festive and friendly atmosphere, the smooth running of the biennial is ensured at each edition thanks to the strong participation, enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers.

Aspiring mediators, art lovers, artists, communication enthusiasts or cultural explorers... It's your turn to be part of the adventure!

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