We hope you are well! We are busy working and planning away at MENA Arts UK, and can't wait to share more on what we're up to!   

Sharing Conversations and Opportunities

• A callout from Pro Helvetia Cairo for partner organisations:

"Pro Helvetia Cairo invites art and cultural organisations, collectives, spaces and festivals active in the Arab region to collaborate on developing new projects with Swiss counterparts and artists, in all art disciplines (with exception to cinema). Believing in the effectiveness of intra-regional collaboration, Pro Helvetia Cairo launches an open call to support projects that connect multiple partners from the Arab region with Swiss partners/artists to work on exploring new realms of international cultural exchange, where different tools are experimented, innovative formats are initiated, and beneficial artistic exchanges are created."

Deadline: 30th July. For more info or to apply: https://www.myprohelvetia.ch/LoginPage.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

• A callout from Gregory Nash for a theatre maker/ performer to work on Rose Bruford’s MA in Collabroative Theatre-making programme:

"I am working with Rose Bruford College to find a theatre maker/performer with experience of teaching, directing and leading collaborative projects to work on its MA/MFA in Collaborative Theatre Making programme towards a production in October 2021. Our invitation is to an experienced artist/teacher from a theatre, live art or related discipline and with an established professional practice to conceive, develop and produce a new performance work with the group. A track record in leading projects, coaching artists and getting work ready for a public audience is essential."

Deadline 19th July. Details: https://www.gregory-nash.com/post/director-lead-artist-for-ma-mfa-collaborative-theatre-project-in-october

• Arts Canteen and Liverpool Arab Arts Festival  are delighted to open applications for the first edition of Maharat مهارات (Arabic for Skills), their development programme for emerging creative professionals. The programme is designed to offer an introduction for people of Arab origin to working in the creative industries including music, film, events, performing arts and festivals. They will give five ambitious, curious, and emerging creative professionals from Arab backgrounds, who are based in England, the opportunity to develop their craft and professionalism. 

Deadline 19th July. To apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqzYj4cuVLRzwvht9hhkjoDji6PQObkd4Og_YSnOtNddkVZQ/viewform?mc_cid=c6b0af2fee&mc_eid=6d6c452ff7

• Theatre Deli are looking for a full-time Producer to support their Sheffield programme and venue.

Deadline 19th July. Details:

https://www.theatredeli.co.uk/Blog/producer?fbclid=IwAR0Fvk6pdrmUyCw-LvEXxHGl7QXD64k2SiJ3PY5PcZbF6aVBZfwrSDzsBhE

• Good Omens are looking for a variety of people based in Scotland who are interested in the TV and Film industry to fill Production Trainee roles on Season 2, and are particularly encouraging people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. 

More info: 

https://www.facebook.com/100044548174627/posts/351776042983999/?sfnsn=scwspmo 

• A callout from Strike A Light for a 1-year paid Arts Leadership Placement:

"We’re delighted to be partnering with Artistic Directors of the Future to host the second instalment of the Up Next arts leadership programme – a scheme designed to hand over power and resources to visionary people of colour within established theatre organisations.Under the scheme, one successful applicant will get a 1 year, 4 day/week placement with Strike A Light in the role of Executive Director. This will include mentoring, training and support from Strike A Light and the ADF network. This is a paid placement, at a rate of £35,000 per year pro rata."

Deadline: 6th September. To apply: https://strikealight.org.uk/2021/06/06/opportunity-1-year-paid-arts-leadership-placement-executive-directors-of-the-future/

• P21 Gallery is excited to announce a second OPEN CALL for their Fall 2021 Online reACT Programme! We invite UK based & international emerging artists aged 30 and under, whose work focuses on digital media OR on artwork that can be represented well online, that is dedicated to or inspired by the Middle East & Arab world.

Deadline: 1st August.

More info: https://p21.gallery/react/open-call-online-react-project

• Weapons of Mass Hilarity, a comedy night showcasing comedic MENA talent,  are back with their next comedy night on 14th July at 7:30pm.

For tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/weapons-of-mass-hilarity-tickets-159139268837?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Directory Shoutouts! 

Part of our Directory and have a show/project coming up? Let us know so we can shout about it in the next mailout! In the meantime, check out the following shows featuring our wonderful Directory members:

• Double directory shoutout! The brilliant Hannah Khalil’s play, 'BitterEnders', will be streamed live on 9th July at 7pm from Arcola Theatre. The black comedy tells the story of a family of Palestinians who are forced, by court ruling, to share their home with a group of Israeli settlers.  With a cast including directory member Sarah Agha, and direction from Maxine Peake, the play is definitely one to watch this week!

Grab your tickets here, where all proceeds will go to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians: https://www.stream.theatre/season/167

• Directory member Fatima Kried’s latest film ‘Can We Talk?’ is now available to watch online.

“In a foreign language, three female friends are deep in conversation at the dinner table. To anyone reading the English subtitles, this is a film about belonging, race, queerness, and female identity. However, anyone able to understand any of the languages spoken will realise that each woman is actually speaking a completely different language (Arabic, Somali and Maltese). Language in this case is a metaphor for the individual lived experience.”

Check it out here: https://vimeo.com/569099151

• Our very own talented Laura Hanna joins the cast of the Almeida’s production of ‘Once Upon A Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia!’

Grab your tickets from 24th July here: https://almeida.co.uk/cast-announced-for-once-upon-a-time-in-nazi-occupied-tunisia

• Our wonderful co-vice Chair Lara Sawalha has co-directed ‘Every Act of Recognition Alters What Survives’ as part of Shubbak’s Festival.

Find out more and how to book here: https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/event/shubbak-festival-at-chelsea-physic-garden-every-act-of-recognition-alters-what-survives/

The deadline for expressions of interest

And that’s everything! For the new members, mailout is usually sent on a fortnightly basis. Please keep sharing and sending me any of your wonderful work or opportunities you want included in the next mailout to this email. Now more than ever lets keep circulating our brilliant stories; whether its past work, articles, videos, or something you think the membership may find interesting, please do drop me an email! Please continue to sign up to our directory, and share our community with your friends in the industry!

Have a great week,

Jessie x

MENA ARTS UK 

 If you can, please considering support us on our journey. No amount is too small, and please help us by sharing with your networks!  Link to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mena-arts-uk?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

Our position on endorsement.

Our main areas of work is to help connect the creative industries with UK MENA+ talent, so we will always share castings, job opportunities, or marketing information. We will track these projects in the hope that they are a great example of how MENA+ talent is used. But by sharing this information, it should not be seen as an endorsement of the project.

We will call out work that is appropriating a MENA+ narrative and does not have MENA+ talent at the heart of the creative process; and we will always champion, front and centre, work that is made for and by MENA+ talent.

MENA ARTS UK