Following the success of the first two editions, the Goethe-Institut Libanon launched the ArtEvolution program for the third consecutive year.
At a crucial moment for Lebanon’s cultural scene, ArtEvolution returns with a renewed commitment to establish and strengthen peer and professional communities in the art sector in Lebanon. With the support of a production grant and in cooperation with local organizations, five participants will take part in a seven-month programme where they can pursue their passion for performing art through creative-critical practices and finalize their already conceptualized projects.
The project is running from May to November 2023. The artists will enjoy their first short-term residency at Happinest in Wadi Shahrour in May, and later in October at Hammana Artist House. They will attend a series of monthly workshops and skill-acquisition classes designed to create a stimulating environment and produce professional performances. With the goal of creating well-rounded and critical thinking productions, the programme will be further accompanied by individual tutoring, and a series of Impulse sessions in June, July, and November. Those Impulse sessions open to the public will be led by guest curators with the aim of promoting an open debate with civil society.
In October and November, ArtEvolution will conclude with three public platforms in Hammana, Saida, and Beirut, where the artists will be able to perform in diverse cultural spaces and demonstrate the capacity of art to bring a community together in shared appreciation of creativity.
Five leading and distinguished cultural practitioners constitute this year’s all-female international jury to select the artists for this year's program:
Frederike Berje, Head of Arts for the MENA region at the Goethe-Institut in Cairo.
Nedjma Hadj Benchelabi, Dramaturge, Independent Curator, and the current Dramaturgical Advisor for the Curation of Tanz Im August’s Festival Program, 2023.
Nora Hertlein, International Programs Curator at Hamburg’s Thalia Theater.
Maral Mikirditsian, Deputy Director of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC).
Louna Sbou, Director of Oyoun, an Antidisciplinary Arts Centre in Berlin-Neukölln.
These outstanding experts reviewed every application and nominated five emerging artists in the field of performing arts:
Rana Albaba, Lebanese Visual Storyteller, and Independent Researcher.
Sara Almoneem, Syrian Dancer, and Performer.
Marie-Thérèse Ghosn, Lebanese Choreographer, Dancer, and Actress.
Rahaf Jammal, Lebanese Freelance Filmmaker, and Theater Director.
Abraham Younan, Lebanese Singer, Songwriter, and Voice Over Actor.
Reflecting on this year’s transition from a research and development program to a production program, Milena Gehrt, ArtEvolution Co-Manager says that “ArtEvolution aspires to support artists over the long haul.” She adds that “half of the artists supported in 2021 and 2022 have reapplied this year, and this is proof enough of the need for ArtEvolution.” Her colleague and Co-Manager Marie-Mathilde Gannat-Jaber asserts that “artists in the MENA region often face challenges in bringing their ideas to life due to limited time, funding, and guidance. ArtEvolution aims to bridge these gaps through its grants and diverse program offerings.”
About ArtEvolution 2023
ArtEvolution 2023 is a funding opportunity by the Goethe-Institut Libanon supported by the Ta’ziz-Partnership fund of the German Federal Foreign Office. ArtEvolution brings years of experience and specialist knowledge to bear upon its mission of equipping Lebanon-based artists working at the forefront of artistic practice, with the expertise to cross boundaries, unleash their creativity and take their performances to the next level, all whilst helping nurture the region’s growing art landscape.