The “Istikshaf” project - meaning something like exploration in Arabic - aims to build up an interactive platform for the questioning and development of artistic mobility around the Mediterranean. I invite you to get to know the project partners, its goals and planned actions and help them by sharing information and participating actively in their events! Do not miss the upcoming Euro-Med meetings to take place in 2010 and 2011!

This project is targeted at mobility operators, artists, policymakers and other cultural professionals so to deepen understanding and further opportunities that structure and promote artistic mobility in this region. It was initiated by the Arab Education Forum – promoter of the Safar Mobility Fund - and is backed by the Anna Lindh Foundation. Partner organisations are the Roberto Cimetta Fund, The Arab Theatre Training Centre in Lebanon, Dramatiska Institute from Sweden, Studio Emmadeddine in Cairo and Al Balad Theatre in Amman.

Mobility, even within the EU, where its citizens are supposed to be free to move, is still hindered by many administrative, economical, professional and cultural barriers. When EU external borders have to be crossed, obstacles simply double, as visas, work permits and other security and immigration regulations apply. Outside this EU free zone, as in the neighbouring Mediterranean area, mobility is a key issue, especially for artists as movement and expressions are not that free in this region.

In order to contribute to facilitate mobililty and improve creation conditions in the Mediterranean, Istikshaf project partners aim at:

- developing a platform of mobility operators - funders and programmes - that support artistic mobility and will organise two meetings to develop interaction between these operators;

-creating communication tools to favour the setting up of collaborative arts projects, through newsletters, publications and web media;

- increasing opportunities for mobility by organising three regional meetings of artists and practionners whose work relies on networking and exchange and

- favouring the emergence of cultural connectors in the arts sector who will respond to the challenges of international cooperation and mobility.

Therefore the partners will contact mobility operators in the region to ask them to provide information on their respective programmes. These programmes will be promoted to the artistic community in the relevant Mediterranean countries. A mapping process will evolve that will locate and encourage communication with artists, cultural operators and cultural organisations throughout the region in an effort to reduce artistic isolation and improve intercultural dialogue between Mediterranean countries.

In the framework of this project, The Roberto Cimetta Fund will organise two European meetings that will take place in 2010 or during the first semester 2011.

The 1st meeting will group together some twenty mobile artists and/or cultural operators who are particularly interested in transnational exchange and networking. They will be able to share ideas and experiences on the question of mobility in the Mediterranean during plenary sessions and workshops.

The 2nd meeting will group together mobility operators working in Europe who are keen to open up their programme to neighbouring countries particularly on the South and East coasts of the Mediterranean. This meeting will give the opportunity to share experiences and reflect on new opportunities for mobility in and around the Mediterranean.

The dates and venues of both of these meetings are not yet confirmed, but if you are interested in taking part, please send a message to info@cimettafund.org

This scheme enables the partners and other operators to meet at regular intervals over a period of two years (January 2010 to August 2011) in order to explore the question of cultural mobility and its implications in political, economic, philosophical and strategic terms. It also acts as an advocacy group so that the opinions of artists, programmers, distributors and cultural workers can be communicated to local political or institutional representatives. Finally this scheme also enables mobility funders and operators to access common resources and tools (such as publications and web portals) that are easy to use and that will increase the sustainability and efficiency of artistic and cultural projects in the region.

For more information on Istikshaf, please contact:

Angie Cotte, Secretary General, Roberto Cimetta Fund

Tel:+33 1 45 26 33 74

Email: info@cimettafund.org