Deadline: 1 June 2012 (12 midnight)
After the bang, unparalleled energy bursts everywhere. Thus, as society and politics take major turns in Egypt, creative energy holds centre stage, and many are just longing to set their artistic talents free. Therefore, if you think that you have it in you, now is the time for you to take part. The International Association for Creation and Training (I-act) is launching the 1st edition of the Backstreet Festival under the motto “Towards Art in non-traditional spaces”, because at times like these, we believe that Art is a major tool for social change. The festival aims to create a platform of innovation, exchange opportunities, and most important an atmosphere of creation for people from the Euro-Mediterranean region, highlighting the value of Freedom of Creativity. The festival is an international multi-venued event that will take place in Alexandria from 23-29 September 2012 in Alexandria, Egypt.
Major changes, however, do not happen in closed institutions, but amongst people in the streets. The socio-political changes have started on the streets, the demonstrations filled the streets, and the sit-ins that changed the face of this country as we know it, took place in public squares. Therefore, the festival is adopting a reach out approach to the mainstream audience of Alexandria reviving the cultural life in the Mediterranean city in order to assert the importance and value of cultural activities taking place in the street and how it shall contribute to nurturing and developing the general artistic taste. Thus, the festival shall take place over duration of 7 days involving Performances, Applied Workshops, theme-based Debates and Discussions, a special Children’s program in cooperation with the Schnawwl Theatre in Mannheim Germany, as well as a Scriptwriting Program. The festival’s geographical scope is Euro-Mediterranean with a special focus on the Arab region.
WHO ORGANIZES THE BACKSTREET FESTIVAL?
The Backstreet Festival is the initiative of the International Association for Creation and Training (I-act), which is a non-profit organization established in 2004 in Alexandria by theatre director and playwright, Mahmoud Aboudoma. I-act works in the fields of Arts, Culture and Social Development, where it mainly targets middle class individuals and groups, out of the belief that enhancing and reviving their role will contribute to developing societies and maintaining social justice.
Some of the activities of the Backstreet festival will be hosted in the newly established cultural space by I-act called “Teatro Eskendria”, which is a liberal cultural complex based in downtown Alexandria and offering wide-ranging activities to the Alexandrian society, varying between artistic performances, training for the creative sectors, dialogue and children’s programs as well as a Cultural café that will serve as a dynamic social hub.
Among the major initiatives that I-act has been leading over the past 7 years is the Creative Forum for Independent Theatre Groups (Europe-Mediterranean), which is an annual international event that takes place in Alexandria encompassing diverse theatre performances, publication and dialogue programs in addition to training and capacity building workshops for youth and Artists. I-act has organized 7 editions of the Creative Forum in cooperation with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and through it has provided training to young people across the Mediterranean, networking and exchange opportunities between artists, along with bringing over a hundred performances from countries across Europe and the Mediterranean to the city of Alexandria.
OBJECTIVES OF THE BACKSTREET FESTIVAL:
- Employing Arts as a tool for freedom of expression and social change;
- Enriching the Cultural Life of Alexandria through providing a platform for performing Arts in non-traditional spaces;
- Reaching out for young people from Egypt and the Arab Region in order to optimize on their potential and build their capacities in the field of Arts and Culture; &
- Enhancing dialogue, networking and multi-cultural cooperation between people from different countries with a specific focus on the Arab Middle East region, in addition to provoking debate and discussion on issues related to the status of street arts.
- International Association for Creation and Training (I-act)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AND WHAT KIND OF PERFORMANCES ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
The call is open for theatre troupes from the Euro-Mediterranean region and in its first edition, the festival is targeting the following types of performances: Musical and Improvisational theatre, Street performances (slapstick, living/human statutes, etc), Installations, Multimedia performances, Puppet theatre, Comedy, Clowning, Pantomime; all types of performances related to street art are welcome to apply. However, there is no focus this year on purely dramatic and/or classical plays as well as contemporary dance.
HOW TO APPLY?
1. Soft Copy of the application form and the related documents:
In order to apply, please fill in the attached application form and make sure to include within a link of an online video to your performance (minimum 15 and maximum 25 minutes). In addition to your application, please enclose the following obligatory appendixes: 1. Three photos of high resolution; 2. Synopsis of your performance (maximum 60 words in English); & 3. Short biography (maximum 60 words in English). Without these appendixes the application will be deemed ineligible. This material will be used in the promotional or publicity material of the festival in case the performance is accepted.
2.DVD of your performance:
In addition to your application form, please send a CD/ DVD of your performance (each troupe must submit only ONE performance). In case of acceptance, the DVD version of your show will be considered as the final one to be presented, unless stated and agreed otherwise with the Festival Organizers. Along with the DVD, you can attach any promotional material (leaflets, brochures, etc). The same deadline applies 1 June 2012.
DEADLINES:
Deadline for submission: The deadline of receiving the electronic version of the application along with the above mentioned required information via email as well as the DVD is 1 June 2012 at 12:00 midnight (no applications will be accepted after this deadline). Applications and required material are to be sent in soft copies to Amina Abodoma (Festival Coordinator): amina@iact-eg.org
DVDs and the related material should be sent in hard copies to the following address: 2 Albert El Awal Street, University Compound, Building # 2, apartment 22 Smouha, Alexandria, Egypt.
In order to avoid the risk of delay or loss, the material must be shipped via special courier (DHL, Aramex, FedEX, but not via normal post). A Jury committee will be responsible for the selection process and only the selected performances will be notified by 15 June 2012.
Important notes:
1. Any applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
2. Handwritten application forms will be automatically rejected.
3. The material sent via courier is not returnable even if the performance is not selected.
WHEN AND WHERE?
The Festival will take place from 23-29 September 2012 in Alexandria in different venues. The performances will be taking place in cooperation with several cultural institutes in Alexandria, and therefore in different theatres or open spaces depending on the nature of the performance (such as: squares, dead-end streets, gardens, rooftops, etc).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION:
- The festival covers the expenses of accommodation, per diem and Airport transportation for the performers, but it does not support production and flight tickets.
- Troupe size:
- The Festival will cover the expenses of a maximum of 6 persons within the selected theatre troupe. Any additional artists or guests accompanying the troupe will have to cover their own expenses; however, they can benefit from any discounts or rates provided for the festival.
- Accommodation:
- The Festival covers a maximum of 4 nights/5 days in double rooms on bed and breakfast basis in 3* or 4* hotels in Alexandria.
FLIGHT TICKETS:
The Festival does not support flight tickets at all. However, troupes are invited to cover the expenses of their flight tickets or search for funds to support their participation. The flight details have to be sent at least 3 weeks before the festival starts in order to ensure a well organized logistical service.
PERDIEM:
The festival will provide a 4-day per diem for each of the selected artists within a troupe to cover the meals and daily transportation expenses.
VENUES AND TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT:
The Festival provides a venue according to the type of performance applying in addition to technical support and equipment based on the technical rider sent by the troupe (considering that the technical rider is subject to negotiations). Performances that can better be performed in an indoors place will be programmed in traditional theatres and non-traditional venues, while Street Art performances will be shown in public spaces and semi outdoors venues around downtown Alexandria.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS:
The Festival will cover the airport transportation cost of the troupes (for a maximum of 6 persons); one van upon arrival and another one upon departure unless the troupes express their wish to take the train or bus. The Festival will not bare costs of transportation for members of the same troupes, who arrive/depart on different dates/flight schedules. Additional costs of transportation will have to be covered by the troupes.
LANGUAGE:
The official working languages of the Festival are English and Arabic. One of those languages should be spoken fluently; otherwise at least one person of the troupe should be able to communicate in English.
LETTER OF AGREEMENT:
The selected troupe will have to sign a letter of agreement with the festival organizers to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each party.
INSURANCE POLICY:
The festival does not provide any travel or health insurance for the participating artists.
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE BACKSTREET FESTIVAL:
Along with the Performances program, other activities are taking place including Applied Workshops, Themed Debates and Discussions and Children’s and Scriptwriting Programs. Do not hesitate to inform your contacts (theatre students, artists, theatre groups and art and cultural organizations) about the Backstreet Festival. Further call for participations and deadlines will be announced at a later stage.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries/submissions: contact the festival coordinator Ms. Amina Abodoma at amina@iact-eg.org
Website: http://www.iact-eg.org/