International project SHARE; creative powers of art begins its first artistic, creative and social laboratory in Burkina Faso, in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, in the framework of the International dance festival In and out. An important part of this extensive and diverse programme is an international conference dedicated to the three main topics: (1) cultural cooperation and exchange between Africa and Europe; (2) cultural collaboration and networking in Africa; and (3) Local support for arts and culture. The aim of the conference is to encourage dialogue and mutual understanding between artists and cultural operators, and decision-makers in order to enable creative powers of art to make a positive impact on local development and international relations.
The first day of the conference, February 7, is devoted to the exchange of best practices and capacity building for advocacy and cultural policy. It will be organized in the format of a workshop with the objective to define key recommendations of the cultural operators to the decision-makers in order to improve conditions of local artistic and cultural production, as well as to encourage cooperation and exchange within Africa and with Europe. The workshop will gather artists and producers from Burkina Faso, and their colleagues fromMali, Ghana and Senegal. The debate will be initiated with concrete examples of advocacy actions in Europe and Africa.
The second day, February 8, will focus on the perspective of the decision-makers who will be invited to present their efforts and plans, as well as to comment on the recommendations which resulted from the workshop. We expect the participation of various important stakeholders fromBurkina Faso (local and national level), as well as international and European institutions. The format of this session will encourage conversation and exchange of opinions between the decision-makers, and the dialogue with the cultural operators. We hope this conversation will produce concrete conclusions about the policy measures to be implemented in the upcoming period and the continuation of the dialogue.
The third and the final day, February 9, will gather artists and producers from several countries of West Africa and from Europe. It will focus on the topic of cooperation and networking between cultural organizations and artists in Africa and to collaborations dedicated to building bridges between Africa and Europe. Special attention will be given to exploring possibilities of forming a network of cultural operators in the territory of West Africa. It will be organized in the format of the moderated professional meeting that will enable the exchange and sharing of various practices and perspectives.
The languages of the conference are French andEnglish, and simultaneous translation will be provided.
We are hoping that you will find our program inspiring and that you can join us in Bobo Dioulasso.
Tamadia and Exodos Ljubljana, lead partner of Share project are organising that event. We are really glad that we have in the Share team; two experts: Emina Visnic and ChrisTorch, who will be the moderators and facilitators of the conference SHARE:West Africa.
Tentative schedule:
4.2 possible arriving date
5.2. Opening of thefestival.
A major event of the festival, the opening ceremony of the festival isa mix of national and international authorities, festival-goers, youths and third age people from the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. Each year more than 300people parade through the streets of Bobo-Dioulasso. This parade is made by people from different social backgrounds: festival-goers, neighbourhood moms, artists, traditional masks from different villages near Bobo, acrobats..
The opening will be with the presence of important public persons inBurkina Faso
6.2. Visiting the Art Greenresidence, the green project which is growing in the hills near Bobo-Dioulasso
We are building the art residences surrounding bio-eco fields of soya beans and sustainability farming. For local employment, for artists creativity and for future generations.
Late arrival to the conference
7.2. Conference starts
10:00-13:00 Workshop on advocacy and policy
-------
Launch of the project with young footballers and artists - SHARE; My story
After 14 days of the workshop, the artists and young footballers will present what they learned, experienced, and made - to the public. This will be the pilot project between art and sport.
8.2. 2nd day of conference
10:00 - 13:00 Conversation with the decision-makers
------
Festival performances and evening program
9.2. 3rd day of the conference
10:00 - 12:00 Meeting on networking and cooperation
12:00-13:00 Lunch and exchanges
14:00-15:00 Conclusions of the meeting on networking and cooperation
Festival performances and evening program
Departure.
4-12.2. Festival performances, talks, local attractions
This edition of the In and out festival will be special. With the title What's next? We imagine it as a meeting place between art and sport, dancers and directors, traditional and contemporary, Africa and Europe. Common rethinking about the common future.
This year there will be more than 20 events in the public spaces of Bobo Dioulasso and in the open-air theatre. The full program will be announced at the end of the year.
