REveaL- Art To Exchange

ongoing

RELATE takes a stand ‘against discrimination and combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance’ by engaging the arts as a means of creating space to build understanding and connections between people of migrant backgrounds (i.e. refugees, asylum-seekers, and economic migrants), civil society, creative/ cultural sector, and the general population. This has been identified as an important action across the EU, although specifically in Cyprus, due to existing socio-cultural division that is consistently exacerbated through pervasive systemic racism and conflict supporting social narratives. Inclusion of French cultural organizations and artists, brings in transnational expertise for the development of new structures and valuable networking opportunities. Specific project objectives are: (1) To connect, empower and support artists from a migrant background living in Cyprus and France. (2) To establish strong personal and professional relationships between artists from a migrant background and members of the creative and cultural sectors in Cyprus, to boost inclusion, appreciation, and recognition of migrant artists. (3) To establish greater awareness and respect for the cultural diversity in Cyprus, especially related to migrant communities. (4) To use arts as a tool and platform to combat non-tolerant behaviours and promote EU and Cypriot non-discrimination legislations and values. Key activities to achieve these objectives focus on (1) connecting artists of migrant background with local peer mentors and cultural professionals, (2) production of artworks that reflect on cultural representation, (3) connecting communities through artistic events, (4) facilitating best practice sharing between EU countries, and (5) establishing an artist collective of artists from migrant backgrounds in Cyprus. The ultimate impact is to enhance intercultural dialogue and cultural representation, for stronger European societies.