Deconfining arts, culture and policies in Europe and Africa

?? Schengen visas: a barrier or a bridge for artists? ?? For many artists and culture professionals from Africa, obtaining a Schengen visa remains a challenge—affecting mobility, collaboration, and career growth. Our latest report uncovers key findings and proposes solutions, but we also want to hear from you! ?? Have you or someone you know faced difficulties with visa applications for cultural mobility? Vote in our poll and share your experiences in the comments! Let’s raise awareness and push for solutions. ?? Find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ev_hvub8

?? Why intercontinental cultural mobility matters? ?? What barriers do artists face when working across continents? From visa issues to funding restrictions, mobility remains a challenge. SHAPING CROSSROADS brings together experts & cultural workers from Africa & Europe to develop solutions. Join this peer-to-peer exchange and explore solutions for sustainable cultural collaboration. Apply today! ?? https://lnkd.in/e7EMwkNf #CulturalCooperation #ShapingCrossroads

???What’s the reality of Schengen visa applications for artists & culture professionals from Africa? A new report by?On the Move, produced as part of the?Deconfining project, explores the challenges and barriers faced by African artists and culture professionals in navigating the Schengen Visa Code. Based on 435 visa cases and survey responses from individuals and organizations, the findings highlight: ??Persistent obstacles?– from appointment difficulties to opaque rejections ??Career impacts?– lost opportunities, income, and visibility ??Limited progress?– no significant improvement since the pandemic or the Visa Code revision ???But solutions exist:?digitizing the process, improving embassy training, and enhancing transparency. ???Download the full report here:?https://lnkd.in/ev_hvub8 We want to hear from you!?→ Have you or your organization faced visa-related challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments. #CulturalMobility?#SchengenVisa?#ArtistsOnTheMove?#Deconfining

?? Open Call: SHAPING CROSSROADS → APPLY NOW! ?? Intercontinental cultural mobility remains a key challenge for artists & cultural producers. The SHAPING CROSSROADS exchange programme brings together professionals from Africa & Europe to address these challenges and develop new collaborative approaches. ?? Workshops: July – Nov 2025 (Online & In-person in Tanzania) ?? Fully funded participation ?? Deadline: March 21, 2025 ?? ?? Get more info and access the application here:?https://lnkd.in/e7EMwkNf #ShapingCrossroads #CulturalMobility #CulturalPolicy NAFASI ART SPACE Nafasi Art Space

TODAY, 18 February 2025, from 13:30 to 14:30 CET ? AUJOURD'HUI, le 18 février 2025, de 13h30 à 14h30 CET

Dear friends, We are pleased to invite you to join us on 18 February 2025, from 13:30 to 14:30 CET, for an online event where our collaborator Sylvia Amann will present the latest policy recommendations developed within the #Deconfining project. It’s time for new positive energy in Africa-Europe & Europe-Africa relations! The event will be in English and French, with simultaneous translation. Please register by 10 February by scanning the QR code or simply reaching out to Sylvia at office@inforelais.org. Find out more about the document here: https://bit.ly/3Wsxevb **** ???? Chers amis, Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à nous rejoindre le 18 février 2025, de 13h30 à 14h30 CET, pour un événement en ligne où notre collaboratrice Sylvia Amann présentera les dernières recommandations politiques élaborées dans le cadre du projet #Deconfining. Il est temps d'apporter une nouvelle énergie positive aux relations Afrique-Europe & Europe-Afrique ! L'événement se déroulera en anglais et en fran?ais, avec une traduction simultanée. Veuillez vous inscrire avant le 10 février en scannant le code QR ou en contactant directement Sylvia à office@inforelais.org. Pour en savoir plus sur le document, cliquez ici : https://bit.ly/3Wsxevb

How can art, culture, and heritage create meaningful bridges across continents? ?? We are pleased to present to you a handbook created within the Deconfining project, imagined and compiled by Sylvia Amann, offering practical strategies for fostering intercontinental and international cultural connections. Focusing on local-to-local cooperation, it demonstrates how art and culture can drive global cooperation while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities of working across borders. ?? You can find out more about it here: https://bit.ly/3Wsxevb / Comment l'art, la culture et le patrimoine peuvent-ils créer des ponts significatifs entre les continents ? ?? Nous avons le plaisir de vous présenter un manuel con?u dans le cadre du projet Deconfining, imaginé et compilé par Sylvia Amann. Ce guide offre des stratégies pratiques pour favoriser les connexions culturelles intercontinentales et internationales. Axé sur la coopération de local à local, il démontre comment l'art et la culture peuvent stimuler la collaboration mondiale tout en abordant les défis et opportunités uniques du travail transfrontalier. ???Pour en savoir plus (en anglais), cliquez ici : https://bit.ly/3Wsxevb

Dear friends, here is something you might find interesting - the mAkE MOOC kick-off webinar, taking place on Thursday, 23rd January 2025. This webinar is designed for makers, makerspace managers, DIH leaders, and entrepreneurs looking to launch, manage, or grow their makerspaces. ?? 23rd January ?? 13:00 English session / 14:30 French session Feel free to join if it resonates with you!

?? Dialogue from Between the Worlds – film premiere ?? Join us tonight at the iconic Romuva cinema in Kaunas for the premiere of Dialogue from Between the Worlds! This remarkable film, produced by the Nacionalinis Kauno dramos teatras (Lithuania) in collaboration with Raw Material Company LLC (Senegal), is part of the DECONFINING project. The film reconstructs an imagined meeting between two cinematic geniuses, Jonas Mekas from Lithuania and Ousmane Sembène from Senegal. Despite their different worlds, both filmmakers challenged norms and reshaped cinema to reflect freedom, resilience, and autonomy. Duration: 13:21 min ?? For more insights, check out our interview with the filmmakers here: https://lnkd.in/dEgkyF49 __________________________________________________________ ?? Dialogue from Between the Worlds – Première du film ?? Rejoignez-nous ce soir au cinéma emblématique Romuva à Kaunas pour la première de Dialogue from Between the Worlds! Ce film remarquable, produit par le National Kaunas Drama Theatre (Lituanie) en collaboration avec RAW Material Company (Sénégal), fait partie du projet DECONFINING. Le film reconstitue une rencontre imaginée entre deux génies du cinéma : Jonas Mekas de Lituanie et Ousmane Sembène du Sénégal. Bien que leurs univers semblent différents, ces cinéastes ont repoussé les normes et transformé le cinéma pour refléter la liberté, la résilience et l’autonomie. Durée : 13 min 21 s ?? Pour en savoir plus, découvrez notre interview avec les réalisateurs ici : https://lnkd.in/dEgkyF49 #DialogueBetweenWorlds #FilmPremiere #DECONFININGProject #JonasMekas #OusmaneSembene #IndependentCinema

???The Deconfining Partner Forum is taking place this Thursday, October 17! This online forum will focus on?cross-continental mobility?and the challenges and opportunities in cultural cooperation between Europe and Africa. ?? Simultaneous translation will be available in?English and French (EN ? FR). The full agenda and registration link are available here: https://lnkd.in/eFEp6uzr We look forward to connect with you! ?? #Deconfining #CulturalMobility #GlobalArts #ArtsAndCulture #CulturalCooperation #CrossContinentalCollaboration Art Transparent Salzkammergut 2024 Kulturhauptstadt Europas Bod?2024 Culture Funding Watch Goethe-Institut Madrid HNK Ivana pl. Zajca Rijeka Nacionalinis Kauno dramos teatras On the Move Pro Progressione Vydia TAMBY Samba Yonga. MA Museum of Women's History Zambia Nela Riehl Anna Mas?oń-Oracz,PhD