South-South Arts Fellowship Explores Global South’s Artistic Connections at The Africa Institute

In a bid to foster enduring networks among individuals in the Global South, the South-South Arts Fellowship embarked on an immersive visit to The Africa Institute, supported by the Sharjah Art Foundation. The representatives, comprising artists, curators, architects, and cultural practitioners, gathered on June 7, 2023, to explore Sharjah’s local arts community and engage in thought-provoking dialogues about the (re)definition of the Global South.

The South-South Arts Fellowships 2022 program, spearheaded by Living Arts International (LAI), aims to nurture connections among cultural workers in developing economies across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Acknowledging the limited support for South-South connectivity in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors, this inaugural international initiative seeks to bridge cultural divides and create meaningful connections across the Global South.

Fellows who attended the visit included Sarah Abdu Bushra and Dawit Seto Gobeze from Ethiopia, representing “Contemporary Nights” (CN), a curatorial forum that directs, showcases, and documents post-disciplinary artistic productions. Also in attendance was Ali AbuAwad, the co-founder of Diwan of Culture, Design & Innovation (DCDI) in Lebanon—a cultural advocate, designer, and creative researcher focused on sustainability; Emmanuel Hove Mhike from Zimbabwe, an award-winning journalist and filmmaker; Marcellina Dwi Kencana Putri from Indonesia, the General Manager of Gudskul Ecosystem; and Tanya Dutt from India, an arts and culture manager and researcher. Click here to read full bios.

The fellowship representatives were welcomed by The Africa Institute’s Director Salah M. Hassan and senior faculty who broadened their understanding of African arts and the diaspora, contributing to reshaping the Global South narrative and sparking conversations about the dynamics and definitions associated with this concept. The engagement further enabled them to delve into Sharjah’s rich cultural tapestry, forging lasting connections with local artists and professionals.

Sarah Abdu Bushra, a curator of visual and performing arts exhibitions and representing the Ethiopian curatorial forum, Contemporary Nights, expressed her gratitude for the warm reception and described the physical space of The Africa Institute as a “home away from home.”

“We’re inspired by the wealth of knowledge in the room, shared generously with openness and curiosity. We would love to remain connected with the Africa Institute and find ways to cross paths again and again, through our individual and shared works. One of the Institute’s roles that resonated with us the most is The Africa Institute as a space for knowledge production with its publications and breadth of programming. We’re eager to remain in contact to seek counsel from the Institute’s experts in all our ongoing attempts to build and maintain spaces for knowledge production across our shared localities,” said Bushra.

Dawit Seto Gobeze, an Ethiopian contemporary dancer and choreographer, emphasized the importance of criticality in their work and their intention to redefine the concept of the Global South as a generative space. He also highlighted the anomaly of positioning indigenous people across the globe, defying geographical location while still connecting with the global majority through shared practices.

The South-South Arts Fellowship’s visit exemplifies the increasing prevalence of interregional collaborations in the cultural sector. As Sharjah establishes itself as an artistic hub, initiatives such as this are crucial for bridging cultural gaps, promoting understanding, and forging significant connections across the Global South and other regions. The Africa Institute, with the support of its collaborators, is driven in its mission to enable the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and experiences that will enhance academic scholarship in the Global South and beyond.