What is the potential of media art initiatives in an intercultural dialogue? What roles do the different humanitarian, political and educational goals play in the projects? The forum presents the different approaches of the initiatives. Their methods, their possibilities, and their constraints are discussed.

The first panel is mainly focusing on projects situated in the Palestinian context. The work of Mai Masri and the Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts, Beirut forms the starting point. Films by Mai Masri on this issue are shown in a film portrait the evening before. The second panel aims to open the discussion among representatives from various educational initiatives involving photography.

Program

First panel: 3 pm to 5 pm

Arts Education in the Middle East: Historical memory, identity and creative expression
Participants:
Mai Masri, Filmmaker, Arab Resource Centers for Popular Art, Beirut
Peter Fryer, Photographic coordinator, Save the Children Fund, London
Jack Persekian, al Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, Jerusalem

Second panel: 6pm to 8pm
Youth and New Media: Between cultural exchange and arts education
Participants:
William Wells, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo
Mai Masri, Filmmaker, Arab Resource Centers for Popular Art, Beirut
Peter Fryer, Photographer, Project manager, Save the Children Fund, London
Jack Persekian, Curator, Photo Project “Exposure” al Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, Jerusalem
Maren Niemeyer, Journalist, Project manager „With other eyes“, Kosovo/Berlin
Andrea Schmelz & Anne von Oswald, Project manager, Netzwerk Migration in Europa, Berlin
Philipp Abresch, Initiator photo project Imagine, German Association for Technical Development (GTZ)

Presentation: Alia Rayyan, Political scientist