OSIWA West Africa Art Action Academy 2019 for Artists, Activists & Journalists (Fully-funded)

OSIWA (Open Society Initiative for West Africa), C4AA (The Center for Artistic Activism) and La Muse (Guinee) invite artists, activists and journalists to apply to participate in a 5-day Workshop, the Art Action Academy, from December 17 to 21, 2019 in Dakar, Senegal. 

Application Deadline: 30th October 2019

Eligible Countries: Ghana, Guinea and Senegal.

To be Taken at (Country): Dakar, Senegal.

About the Award: The Art Action Academy is part of the two-year intervention ‘Regional Creative Hubs: Tapping into the Power of Arts and Culture to Embolden Citizen Action against Corruption’ which includes similar activities in Western Balkans. The goal of the project is not merely to impart knowledge, but to empower artists, advocates and journalists to be more effective in their efforts to influence people’s engagement on corruption issues and to create opportunities for meaningful synergies across themes and geographies.

Using a range of contemporary and historical examples of organizing and activism from around the world, participants will study the various ways cultural creativity has been employed for raising awareness, building organizations, influencing legislatures, and drafting policy. The selected participants will explore ideas from cultural theory to cognitive science to social marketing. Additionally, participants will learn to apply these ideas through a range of practical exercises designed to unlock their imagination from the prison-house of the possible – and then to figure out how to make the impossible possible, through new strategies and tactics.

Participants will be eligible to apply after the workshop for funding to collaboratively or independently produce creative action projects, and will be further eligible for advanced training.

Type: Workshop

Eligibility: The Art Action Academy is open to experienced artists, activists and journalists living and working in Ghana, Guinea and Senegal.

Selection Criteria: Desired applicants will show:

• Interest in and passion for using creativity to address public to reconsider various aspects of combating corruption.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to participate in the training, with possible further work and opportunities to participate in Training of Trainers Program in 2020.
• Willingness and eagerness to learn and collaborate with people from diverse professional and geographical context.
• Experience with art and creativity, activism for social change, and/or journalism.
• Experience as facilitators, teachers or trainers is welcomed but not required.

The selected applicants will be trained in the Artistic Activism methodology by experts from the Center of Artistic Activism and the La Muse. They will have opportunity to practice their skills in artistic activism by performing a creative action through collaboration with other artists and activists from West Africa. They will be eligible to receive grants for creative actions and projects and to apply for participation in Training of Trainers for West Africa Creative Activism Team. Selected applicants will join a network of artists, activists and journalists from different countries passionate about promoting artistic activism in West Africa and beyond, and access information and support from that network.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: Applicants must be able to commit to the full workshop for 5 days and evenings plus travel time. Costs (travel ticket, accommodation and meals) will be covered.

Duration of Award: December 17-21, 2019

How to Apply: To apply please complete the information on the form at this link,  attach your CV with relevant to this initiative information and submit it. Due to the high numbers of applications, we may not be able to respond to every inquiry. If you have questions, please email: aba@osiwa.org or madiallo@osiwa.org.

• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details