Launched in 2016 and co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the project “Culture, Art and Social Engagement” (CASE) aims to promote social responsibility and participation through arts and culture, and intends to highlight the role of arts and culture as an effective tool for promoting social engagement, strengthening social cohesion and cultural identity, thus promoting freedom of expression and social accountability.
Phase I of the project spans over four years (2016-2019). An agreement may be reached with (SDC) to fund a second phase of the project (2020-2023). In Phase I, the project has been implemented in Ni'lin, Jericho, Qalqiliya, 20 villages in Hebron, Al-Jiftlik, Deir al-Ghusoun in Tulkarem, Anabta, Qatanna, Abu Nuwar Bedouin community in Al-Eizariya, Gaza, Khan Yunis, Beit Lahiya, and Abasan. The project managed to reach out to more than 10,500 community members in various locations. At least 30 art projects, which addressed issues of concern to people and reflected their priorities, were carried out. The project is implemented by the AMQF Culture and Arts Programme (CAP) and Educational Research and Development Programme (ERDP). In one track, work is done through offering grants to fund innovative and creative art and cultural projects and initiatives led by artists, artist collectives, or art and cultural groups or institutions. On another level work is done through direct implementation with the local communities and is led by location teams and the AMQF staff.
Projects are developed through a participatory approach, which engages communities in marginalised areas across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The project contributes to improving community dialogue and promoting social engagement with local community issues. To raise awareness and find appropriate solutions, local community needs and priorities are identified and communicated through art projects to officials and decision-makers, including local government units. Project outputs take a variety of art forms, including visual art exhibitions, artworks in the public space, film screenings, plays, and publications. All these are an outcome of a community-based research process and workshops with students, mothers, artists, teachers, and community activists.
The project aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Empowered, motivated and inspired communities capable of identifying and articulating their needs and priorities to officials and decision makers.
- Artworks which reflect the hopes and needs of local communities used to invoke a broad community dialogue followed by engagement and action.
Target Groups:
Civil society, especially youth, women and marginalised groups, decision makers in local government institutions (local councils and municipalities) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community action committees, in addition to artists and cultural practitioners.
This project is co-funded by:
