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Un-Cover Dis-Cover Re-Cover Un-cover Dis-cover Re-cover AFAC 2015 Annual Report AFAC is an independent Arab initiative generously supported by a number of foundations, corporations and individuals in and outside the Arab region. Yemeni Women with Fighting Spirits Women Yemeni Cover photo: Amira Al-Sharif, Cover photo: Amira Al-Sharif, Media partners 2 Individual Donors (ƫ $+1 ƫđƫ(!.0ƫ+#$+//%*ƫđƫ).ƫ!*ƫ(%)ƫđƫ* .!!ƫ"!%.ġ!)(!.ƫ đƫ*0$+*5ƫ* ƫ* .ƫ)!.ƫđƫ/%(ƫ(ƫ 66%ƫđƫ.(ƫƫ!*#0//+*ƫđƫ.+(!ƫ $/ƫđƫ!%(!ƫ +*#!ƫđƫ*%ƫ''ƫđƫ%*ƫ* ƫ +$) ƫ)!(%ƫđƫ(%!ƫ +1ƫ+1*ƫđƫ(%6!0$ƫ //ƫđƫ.!#+.5ƫ* ƫ(1 %ƫ2*/ƫđƫ(ƫ1ƫ $ .ƫđƫ*%ƫ (+10%ƫđƫƫ.%*!//ƫ %(ƫ%*0ƫ 1(($ƫ%*ƫ 1(6%6ƫ (ƫ1 ƫđƫ1//!%*ƫ%"%ƫđƫ )*!ƫ.t/ƫđƫ 0$.5*ƫ10$!.(* ƫđƫ %$!(!ƫ $%(%,,% %/ƫđƫ +*ƫ //ƫ(ƫ $+1.5ƫđƫ +1*%.ƫ+1% 5ƫđƫ%(ƫ 1)%ƫđƫ "!6ƫ 1* %ƫđƫ&0ƫ%6'ƫđƫ("0ƫ(ġ 10(-ƫ 1û(%ƫđƫ1//)ƫ%"$%ƫđƫ%!..!ƫ (%2%!.ƫ.'+65ƫđƫ)+*ƫ//%*!ƫđƫ1(ƫ()%ƫđƫ.ƫ(!)ƫ +$)) ƫ %*( !*ƫđƫ.ƫ5!ƫ $(%"ƫđƫ!.%*ƫ$!$%ƫđƫ.!'ƫ$/ƫđƫ(% ƫ* ƫ 5ƫ(ġ $(%(ƫđƫ(% ƫ) *ƫđƫ+(ƫ+1&%) * AF A C is also gr ateful to a number of donors w ho prefer to remain undisclosed. 3 Table of Contents Introduction Message from the Chairman .......................................................................................... 6 Message from the Director ..............................................................................................7 Themes And Narratives .......................................................................... 8 Un-cover ........................................................................................................................... 8 Dis-cover ........................................................................................................................... 8 Re-cover ............................................................................................................................ 8 Summary Of Year ............................................................................................9 Grants ............................................................................................................................... 9 Advocacy ..........................................................................................................................10 Philanthropy for the Arts ...............................................................................................10 Outlook Year 2016 .....................................................................................11 The Year’s Granting Schedule ..................................................... 12 Statistics ............................................................................................................. 13 Applications Statistics ....................................................................................................13 Grantees Statistics ......................................................................................................... 15 The Annual General Grants .............................................................18 Visual Arts .......................................................................................................................21 Performing Arts ............................................................................................................. 28 Research, Training & Regional Events - RTR ...............................................................34 Music ................................................................................................................................41 Cinema ........................................................................................................................... 48 Special Programs ....................................................................................... 55 AFAC Novel Writing Program ....................................................................................... 57 Arab Documentary Photography Program.................................................................. 62 AFAC Documentary Program ....................................................................................... 77 Crossroads ......................................................................................................................85 Field Visits And Outreach .................................................................90 Covered Social Justice Themes .................................................94 International Recognition & Awards .................................. 97 4 Breakdown by Program ................................................................................................ 99 Timeline ................................................................................................................100 Advocacy for Arts and Culture ................................................. 102 New Communication & Fundraising Material ...........................................................103 AFAC featured in Canvas Magazine ........................................................................... 103 AFAC Film Week ...........................................................................................................103 AFAC Cultural Week in New York ............................................................................... 104 Beirut Gala Dinner Media Coverage ...........................................................................105 Measuring the impact of Arts and Culture .................................................................105 Meetings and Participation to Events .........................................................................106 Webpage Statistics .......................................................................................................108 Grantees Stories and Voices ......................................................................................... 111 Philanthropy For The Arts ..............................................................112 AFAC Governance Model ......................................................................114 Committees ...................................................................................................................114 AFAC Board Of Trustees ......................................................................115 AFAC Team ............................................................................................................117 Financials ..........................................................................................................119 5 Message from the Chairman Dr. Ghassan Salamé, Chairman of the Board AFAC Dr. While the current situation in our region is that of a dire humanitarian crisis that is worsened by the expansion of war, conflict and extremism, we remain steadfast in promoting arts and culture and lobbying for long-term support for artists of the region in the absence of public funding. Despite this invaluable contribution by the artists to uncover hidden narratives, discover forgotten pasts and recover a sense of collectiveness, their resources remain very limited. Institutions such as AFAC and many others are working alone, with little means, and striving to secure sustainability. Without this sustainability, they operate with vulnerability, depriving these artists from the support they deserve. Art is playing a primary role in this generalized conflict situation: It is providing us unusual and complex perspectives on situations prone to oversimplification. It is offering us solutions and alternative narratives that go beyond stereotypes and the sensationalism of mainstream media. We continue to make the case for engagement and intervention, not through politics but rather through arts and culture. There is a way to engage today, and to make a difference. We invite you to invest into such work for a better future for all of us, and the future generations. – Dr. Ghassan Salamé 6 Message from the Director Oussama Rifahi, Executive Director of AFAC Today, we live in a schizophrenic world where instantaneous and global connectivity lives hand in hand with large-scale fragmentation along the fault lines of wealth and ideology. We are constantly made aware of the differences to the “Other” from across the fence. Our initial aspiration to explore, understand and accept those differences is ever more quenched by induced fears, by our desire to prevail and assimilate. Cultural exchange has proven so far to be the most effective antidote to these divisive trends of modern times. What else could substitute that? Across borders, culture is a basic human expression that is traded actively by individuals and institutions alike to narrate, create, inspire, reflect on our shortcomings and celebrate our successes. It is through the rich diversity of cultural expressions, the mobility of artists and the advancement of artistic freedom that we stand the best chance to promote better understanding and transcend the difficult times we live today in our region. Well into our 10th year of operation, we shall continue to support and advance the cause of independent cultural production as a main component of development for our societies, and encourage a larger segment of stakeholders to play a role in it. We shall critically reflect on our past years with the help of experts in the cultural field, and devise an ambitious strategy for the next 5 years to expand the footprint and impact of Arab artists and cultural institutions, locally, regionally and internationally. – Oussama Rifahi 7 Themes and Narratives Early in 2015, we have set out to examine the topics addressed by our grantees, trying to make sense of the richness of their narratives,
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