Fundraising for the Arts & Culture in MENA (PDF)

FUNDRAISING FOR
THE ARTS & CULTURE IN MENA:
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

TAMASI MEMBERS

TAMASI SUPPORTERS

ABOUT TAMASI:
Tamasi is a collective of 11 Arab performing arts organizations from
Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Tamasi members believe that
arts & culture are a main pillar for any meaningful, sustainable & long
term democratic process in the MENA region. Using the collective
research and expertise of our members, Tamasi has developed a robust
theory of change built on three core tenets:

1. The struggle for freedom in MENA is primarily a struggle for space,
be it physical, discursive or social.

2. Democracy does not start in the ballot box. For the democratic

process to be empowering and effective, freedom of expression must be
experienced as a lived reality in the region.

3. The performing arts are inherently diverse and inclusive, and

as such can become an indispensable tool for opening avenues of
dialogue.

Opening performance- Reem Al-Banna
Al-Balad Music Festival. 2014. Amman
Al-Balad Theatre. Jordan

CO-MOTION RATHER THAN CHANGE:
Rather than seeking a linear type of social change paradigm, TAMASI
collective (and individual organizations) are partners, along with others
in the region, in developing and experimenting with the concept and
paradigm of “co-motion” or “Hirak” in Arabic. The idea of co-motion or
‘Hirak’ gained new momentum following the recent Arab movements
demanding social justice and political participation, where youth started
their own Hirak/ co-motion: Working together in order to change the
status quo through constant collective movement in the streets and
within people’s minds. While Change is generally uni- directional, comotion builds momentum even within inertia; it creates movement within,
changing perceptions, beliefs, and impetus. Change can be illusory
in the sense that it gives the impression that in itself it can only be an
improvement; while more often than not change is only the beginning of
new turmoil. Therefore, as a collective and as socially committed groups,
it is more essential to move and work and reflect together to build
momentum that is sustainable before, during, and after whatever change
impacts our respective societies.

TAMASI WORKS
ON 4 MAIN AREAS:
1. Increasing access to

audiences especially in
underserved populations & areas
through:
Productions, performances,
targeted activities to children
& youth & after- performances
workshops.

2. Increasing the capacity of

independent artists through:
Trainings, mentorship, residencies
& providing placements & onthe-job training opportunities.

3. Increasing the capacity &

resilience of the independent arts
sector through:
Capacity building & sharing
of experience between
independent artistic
organizations & increasing
resources available to the
independent arts sector

4. Creating sustainable regional
bodies working on freeing
expression in MENA through:
Sub-granting, artistic
collaboration projects &
advocacy activities.

TAMASI initially started in
2008 as a project managed by
Dramatiska Institutet which
later became the Stockholm
Academy of Dramatic Arts. It has
been funded by The Swedish
International Development and
Cooperation Agency (Sida) to
contribute to the development
of a more sustainable, viable and
vibrant performing arts life in the
societies where they operate. In
2012 the collective was registered
in Sweden as ‘Stiftelsen Tamasi
Foundation’ and established its
offices in Cairo. Tamasi works
with national, regional and
international bodies that share its
vision & philosophy.

“PEOPLE DEVELOP,
RATHER THAN BEING
DEVELOPED, AND ART IS
UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO
AWAKEN OUR DORMANT
MOTIVATIONS.”

‘A letter to..’
Ramallah Cultural Palace. 2012 Ramallah
El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance
Troupe. Palestine

ABOUT THE
REPORT:
Accessing resources for the
independent arts sector has
been a long standing challenge
especially in the Arab countries
of the MENA region. As part
of its efforts to increase the
capacity of the sector, Tamasi
embarked on a two-tiered project
to increase the capacity of the
independent arts sector to access
funds & resources. On the one
hand, and as a first stage, Tamasi
commissioned this report to
increase understanding of the
specific context, challenges &
opportunities facing fundraising
for the independent arts &
culture sector in the countries
where Tamasi operates. We are
hoping that this report will also
serve as an advocacy tool to
influence the policies of donors,

governments & corporates
towards the independent arts
sector. In addition. We also hope
that the sector could make use
of this report as a ‘rallying point’
to develop a coherent agenda
to influence such policies. On
the other hand, and as a second
stage, the findings of this report
will feed into a tailor-made
capacity building program aimed
at current & potential fundraisers
in the sector. Tamasi will deliver
this capacity building tool in the
form of trainings on an annual
basis. Announcements regarding
the dates of the trainings, criteria
for selection of candidates and all
other relevant information will be
announced on Tamasi website:
www.tamasicollective.org

“THE STRUGGLE FOR
FREEDOM IS PRIMARILY A
STRUGGLE FOR SPACE, BE
IT PHYSICAL, DISCURSIVE
OR SOCIAL.”

Da Motus Dance Troupe.
Atelier Alexandria
Back Street Festival 2014. Alexandria
International Association for Creation &
Training. Egypt.