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  • Introduction

From 14 - 19 February 2010, 11 European professionals from the contemporary performing arts sector based in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and the UK visited Palestine in the framework of an IETM Caravan.

The visit was co-organised by Ramallah Municipal Council, and included trips to meet key people from around 15 organisations in six towns, as well as a lengthy video-conference between 40 West Bank Palestinian artists and cultural managers, the IETM group and a dozen artists and cultural managers from Gaza. In addition, individual participants also followed up their own itineraries and meetings.

As elsewhere in the Middle East, the amount, strength and professionalism of the contemporary arts has risen dramatically in the last 10 years. Of course, artists have extraordinary obstacles in Palestine, due to the lack of mobility and obstacles even to inward mobility (visiting artists and productions).

The participants left with a far greater understanding of the situation and working conditions for art and artists, and were all deeply moved by the warm hospitality and professionalism of their hosts and people they met. The Europeans came away convinced of the necessity to create exchange and cooperation projects with Palestinian counterparts, and felt that this visit certainly helped them to make progress with their ideas and contacts. One need that was echoed by all in Palestine was for training, especially for theatre technicians, but also in general for the cultural sector. To that end, IETM and a number of the participants are discussing possibilities with our Palestinian colleagues.

The EU deadline (DGEAC) for collaboration projects of up to 24 months, between EU and Palestinian partners, is 2 May 2010.

View here photos of the meeting, by Francis McKee (participant - Director CCA Glasgow).

Background:

IETM has invested its energies for the last 15 years in making it possible for Euro-Med professionals involved in the creation, production, diffusion and documentation of contemporary performing arts to meet, exchange ideas and collaborate on co-productions and projects.

From 1994 till now:
- meetings (large or smaller in Sevilla, Firenze, Paris, Polverigi, Casablanca, Beirut, Tunis, Amman, Palermo, Barcelona, Tangiers…),
- project “100 artists in Palestine” (visits of over 40 European artists to meet and work with their homologues in Palestine), as well as “Voices of Palestine” (series of conferences focusing on the work of invited Palestinian artists of all disciplines)
- implementation and/or support of networks involved in Med countries (DBM Dance Bassin Mediterrannée – FEMEC Forum euromediterranéen des cultures…)
- implementation and/or support of grant giving independent organisations targeting professionals Med countries (FRC Roberto Cimetta Fund – YATF Young Arab Theatre Fund…)
- publications…

For 15 years IETM has prioritised its involvement in the Euro-Mediterranean relations. This is the historic mission of IETM and, as always, we depend on the individuals themselves to make the most of the networking opportunities in order to identify partners and new projects, to develop artistic sensibilities and to encourage artistic movements and their diffusion. We look forward, together with the dynamic individuals and organisations active in the Med region, to collaborating in solidarity and towards the goal of ever-increasing respect and comprehension through contemporary arts, artists and audiences.