Creative Encounters: Cultural Partnerships between Asia and Europe

Creative Encounters: Cultural Partnerships between Asia and Europe invites art and culture organisations and networks of Asia and Europe are invited to apply for support.. The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), Arts Network Asia (ANA) and the European network Trans Europe Halles (TEH), will jointly promote this initiative for projects taking place between 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2013. The submission deadline is 31 July 2012.

ASEF, ANA and TEH have maintained active roles in fostering connectivity and engagement across cultures through artistic collaborations, exchanges and dialogues. Through this programme they aim to reinforce Asia-Europe exchanges with the objective of deepening mutual understanding between cultural communities in the two regions.

ASEF, ANA and TEH encourage organisations to submit multilateral projects that engage as many partners and participants from ASEM countries (Asia Europe to reflect diversity between the two regions.

This initiative includes the following as criteria for consideration:
• Artistic/creative projects and networks that facilitate collaboration, dialogue and
exchanges between Asia and Europe
• Networking projects that offer networking opportunities, encourage initiative of
collaborative projects, platform for sharing common network’s interests and
benefit for greater public.
• Projects in any discipline of contemporary arts (e.g. performing arts, visual
arts, literary arts, film, new media) or cross-disciplinary projects
• Projects that engage as many partners and participants from ASEM countries
(Asia Europe Meeting)
• The content should reflect the cultural diversity of Asia and Europe with the aim
of showing different perspectives from the two regions
• Generate an artistic outcome with and outreach to public through public
components (e.g. performances, exhibitions, training modules, toolkits, new
curatorial strategies, new / improved methodologies of working)
• Projects are required to be sustainable and this grant does not provide seed
funding or operational grants.
• Proposed jointly by a minimum of 2 partner organisations in Asia and Europe,
one partner from each region
• Applicants should be from ASEM countries
• Projects should take place in ASEM countries.

The support for each project will be up to SGD 25,000. Selected projects are expected to secure additional funding, sponsorship or in-kind contribution from other partners or sponsors.

Initial project proposal MUST be submitted in English through ANA website (www.artsnetworkasia.org) by 30 June 2012. (6pm Singapore time)

Important: Please include “Creative Encounters/<<Your Project Name>>” in the Name of Project field in the online application form. Any project proposals that exceed the word limit will not be considered.

The initial proposal should include information on the concept, content and objectives of the project. Please download dedicated application form on the ANA website.

If there are any problems encountered in the online application or if you are unable to apply online due to the specific contexts of your city, please contact mervyn@theatreworks.org.sg or taytong@theatreworks.org.sg

Subsequently, shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal. This full proposal including details of projects’ budget and communication plan will be submitted on or before 31 August 2012. Successful applications will be informed by 28 September 2012.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

For further information, you may communicate with Tay Tong, ANA Director at taytong@theatreworks.org.sg

About ASEF, ANA and Trans Europe Halles
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) promotes greater mutual understanding between Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Through ASEF, civil society concerns are included as a vital component of deliberations of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). ASEF was established in February 1997 by the participating governments of ASEM and has since implemented over 500 projects, engaging over 15,000 direct participants as well as reaching out to a much wider audience in Asia and Europe.  To read more about ASEF’s work in arts and culture, visit ASEF’s Arts and Culture www.asef.org

The Arts Network Asia (ANA) is set up by an independent group of artists, cultural workers and art activists, is an enabling grant body working across borders in multiple disciplines that encourages and supports regional artistic collaboration as well as develops managerial and administrative skills within Asia. The ANA is motivated by the philosophy of meaningful collaboration, distinguished by mutual respect, initiated in Asia and carried
out together with Asian artists and arts communities. It operates in 11 languages. The
ANA is supported by the Ford Foundation since its inception in 1999 and hosted and
managed by TheatreWorks (Singapore). www.artsnetworkasia.org

The Trans Europe Halles (TEH) is a European Network of Independent Cultural Centres that connects pioneering cultural actors of Moscow, Budapest and Belgrade with creative forces in Amsterdam, Helsinki and Berlin – to mention a few. The network currently has 50 members and 13 Friend organisations in 26 European countries. Founded in 1983, the network now brings together more than fifty multidisciplinary and socially engaged member centres throughout Europe. Most centres are located in buildings from industrial heritage and have taken important action in challenging the established cultural policy. http://www.teh.net