Global Arts Corps Partners to Present Workshop at DokuFest in Prizren, Kosovo
Heartefact Fund and Qendra Multimedia, in collaboration with Global Arts Corps, are pleased to present a 3-day series of workshops, panel discussions, and a film screening on July 13th-15th, for invited local and regional NGO leaders, theatre directors, writers, and actors. The event is being hosted by Dokufest in Prizren, Kosovo.
On the evening of July 13th, the events will begin with a screening of excerpts from the documentary film, Truth in Translation, to be used as a catalyst for dialogue in the workshops and discussions that will follow over the next two days. The film follows the journey of a group of South African actors who take it upon themselves to re-tell the story of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and test its relevance in other post-conflict zones around the world. In so doing, they fight to protect a hard-won reconciliation of their own, as they realize their individual responsibility for the very truth upon which their county’s future has been staked. Their journey becomes an inner struggle for personal and group survival as well as a fight for memory and identity, as they are forced to test their own personal courage, integrity, grace and truth to maintain their ensemble as a community of individuals.
On Saturday, July 14th, workshop participants will focus on how, in the face of civil unrest, cultural organizations have led the way to shared dialogue and how theatre and film projects can be made accessible to diverse audiences. This will be followed by, on Saturday afternoon, a practical demonstration of ensemble-building techniques and, on Sunday, a panel discussion with regional and international actors on the notion of portraying those perceived as “the other” on screen and stage. The panel will discuss special problems arising from this practice and how the very craft of acting itself might give insight into grappling with issues of revenge, historical identity, and reconciliation in societies emerging from violent histories.
Truth in Translation, the film, has been funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Embrey Family Foundation, Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Charles Engelhard Foundation, and the Norman Hirschfield Foundation. This event has been made possible through funding from Heartefact Fund, with the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society, and CCFD terre-solidaire. Participation is by invitation only. Please contact info@globalartscorps.org if you are interested in further details.
About Heartefact FundHeartefact Fund (heartefact.org) is a regional organization established with a view of supporting, encouraging and linking the progressive forces contributing to the democratization and strengthening European perspectives of the Balkans. Heartefact Fund is dedicated to building open and free societies through creative exchange of important social issues, such as freedom of expression, sustainable regional cooperation, and strengthening of critical consciousness and responsibility. Heartefact acts as a platform which unites actors from the domains of politics, civil and human rights, culture and art, joint in an effort to enhance intercultural dialogue and regional cooperation, thereby contributing to the formation of democratically organized societies based on civic values. Heartefact Fund is committed to building new regional relationships which contribute to overcoming the consequences of the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Heartefact Fund encourages, supports and promotes the participation of marginalized social groups in public life and improvement of their status.
About Qendra MultimediaQendra Multimedia (qendra.org), based in Prishtina, Kosovo, is a cultural production company, working in the field of arts and culture since 2002. Qendra produces and co-produces cultural activities for all ages; locally and internationally. Its main focus is in contemporary theater and dramaturgy. Some of our main theater partners we worked with include: Volkstheater -Vienna, Markus Zohner Theater Compagnie – Lugano, nomad theater- London, L’Espace d’un instant – Paris, Oda Theater – Prishtina, National Theater of Kosovo -Prishtina, CTC – Skopje, Bitef Theater – Belgrade, Prizren City Theater – Prizren, CZKD – Belgrade etc. Qendra cooperates with theaters, cultural institutions, universities, theater schools and art organizations from all around the globe. Since 2002 Qendra organized more than 100 cultural projects in Kosovo as well as in other countries of Europe, including Serbia, Macedonia, France, Germany, UK, Austria, Albania etc. Our theater productions have toured in several European festivals. Qendra’s community of collaborating artists/experts create its own events and facilitate programming for others.