INTERNATIONAL art students

MEETINGWITH

sahrawi refugees

October 1st – 15th 2011Sahrawi Refugee Camps

of Tindouf (Algeria)

The Western sahara conflict is rooted in the failed process of decolonization of this territory. In 1975 Spain, the colonial power until then, yielded to the expansionist interests of the neighboring countries of Western Sahara delivering the territory to Morocco and Mauritania despite successive United Nations resolutions that recognized the right to self-determination for the people of this African country. This led to the outbreak of an armed conflict between the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) and the states of Morocco and Mauritania (the latter retired from the conflict in 1979).

Since 1991, a cease-fire gave way to successive peace plans sponsored by the UN and the African Union. They have failed to implement the agreements and have lengthened over 35 years the suffering of the Saharawi people, that lives divided on either side of the two thousand mile Moroccan wall, which is also the world’s largest continuous minefield. The wall -invisible to the

world as this conflict is, traverses the Saharan territory from the north to the Atlantic coast, forcing the separation of families and individuals. Towards the coast, the Sahrawi population living in their territory under Moroccan occupation and suffering the persistent violations of their human rights (repression, rape, torture, arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, summary trials...), marginalization and the plundering of their natural resources. On the other hand, in the refugee camps in Tindouf, in the unhospitable desert of the Algerian Hammada, some 200.000 Sahrawi live on international aid.

artIFarItI In the CaMPs, a training program in Arts and Communication that takes place every October in the Tindouf camps, attempts to bring a breath of fresh air and hope to the Sahrawi refugee youth, who have had their present stolen and they try to take away their future too. Textile art, screen printing, metal sculpture, painting, social networks, radio, citizen’s journalism, video creation... Using contemporary tools and materials

related to the culture and identity of Western Sahara, Sahrawi youth expresses itself, overcomes isolation and seeks opportunities for personal and collective development. Also finds a job. In this process, a rich exchange of experiences occurs, as they collaborate with artists and art students from around the world.

ARTifariti is a working context in which artistic practices play a provocative, reflective and transformative role. The focus is the Sahara conflict, but from here expands into other territories, questioning any situation where individual and collective human rights are violated.

PrOGraM

Day 1:11 am. Meeting at Barajas Airport, MadridMadrid – Algiers – Tindouf flightArrival at the refugee camps

Day 2:Morning: Making contact with the host Sahrawi family and workspaceEvening: Welcome Meeting (reception with the cultural authorities, presentation of ARTifariti: International Meeting of Art and Human Rights in Western Sahara. Video presentation and Sahrawi music concert)

Days 3 to 11:Background workshops. Provision of a direct contact with the reality of the Sahrawi people, both in the refugee camps and in the occupied territories, through different workshops. Each workshop will take either a morning or an afternoon. The rest of the day students will be free to reflect and work on implementing their own art project to be presented at the end of the seminar. Student are requested to bring in their luggage from their country of origin the materials and equipment they consider necessary to create their work.

Workshops and activities:- Participation in the Artists Caravan touring the Sahrawi camps with cultural activities for the refugee population- Workshop of reflection on artistic practices and Human Rights- Workshop of Sahrawi Women (Visit to the Women’s School and the National Union of Sahrawi Women-UNMS. Work with a women’s group)- Workshop of Sahrawi Children (Work in primary schools with Sahrawi children)- Art Therapy Workshop in the context of the

conflict- Workshop on the project The Unknown: Portraits of Disappeared Sahrawi and conference on human rights violation in the occupied territories (Work with the Association of Relatives of Sahrawi Prisoners and Disappeared-AFAPREDESA)- Workshop Landmines / Wall: Weapons of Occupation (Work with the Center for Victims of Landmines “Martyr El Sheriff”, with experts in landmine clearing from the NGO Landmine Action, military logisticians and youth groups against the Moroccan Wall)- Workshop Sahrawi Red Crescent-MLRS on the status of Saharawi refugee population- Interaction with workshops ARTifariti in the Camps

Day 7Free day to spend with the host families or with the camps population

Day 12Work in the personal art project

Day 13Morning: installation of the students art projectsAfternoon: Presentation of projects and finissage party.

Day 14Free day and trip back to Madrid

aPPLICatIOn Fee 875 EURIncludes transportation from Madrid-Spain, insurance and visa, accommodation and meals

aPPLICatIOn deadLIne Until July 31st

InFOrMatIOninfo@artifariti.org movilizacion@saharasevilla.orgTf. 0034 954 282 205

The Sahrawi refugee camps located in the Algerian town of Tindouf will host a laboratory

of knowledge and experience on Artistic Practices and Human Rights for art students

worldwide.

The aim of this international meeting is to reflect on the role of art as a tool for social

transformation, focusing in the specific case of the Saharawi conflict: the forced exile and

occupation.

Students will present their findings through a free artistic proposal.

This seminar is developed in conjunction with the program of Arts and Communication

Workshops ARTifariti in the Camps, Tindouf (Algeria)

October 1st to 15th, 2011

InternatIOnaL art students MeetInG WIth sahraWI reFuGees

October 1st – 15th 2011Sahrawi Refugee Camps

of Tindouf (Algeria)

information info@artifariti.org

movilizacion@saharasevilla.org more

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