Palestinian Performing Arts Network (PAN)
In line with the Foundation’s five-year strategy to help establish effective networks, promote a flourishing cultural economy through partnerships and cooperation, lobby and advocate for changes in legislation, and expand audiences across the arts, the Foundation, along with eleven other major cultural organisations and the Ministry of Education, have developed a proposal for the Performing Arts Network (PAN). On 21 June 2012, the Foundation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) signed an agreement in support of PAN, whereby Sida committed to providing SEK13 Million (about 1.8M) for the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013 in support of the programme.
The eleven partner organisations represent the most active performing arts institutions in Palestine. They are: Magnificat Institute, the Palestinian Circus School, Freedom Theatre, Theatre Day Productions, Yes Theatre, Al Harah Theatre, El Funoun Dance Troupe, Al Kamandjati Association, Ashtar Theatre, The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, and the Popular Art Centre.
With an overall objective to contribute to the development of a democratic and pluralistic society that respects human rights and enhances Palestinian national identity, the programme will target Palestinian children and youth by sharing with them democratic principles and helping them to develop an awareness of their rights and cultural identity.
The programme involves thirteen strategies and fifty activities, each with a set of outputs and indicators. These activities include improving the quality and increasing the quantity of available productions and performances, and making them accessible to a wider range of audiences. Other activities target youth through short and long-term training opportunities, as well as strengthening the capacities of the programme partners through training and enhanced institutional resources. Specific productions and performances will be used for engaging and inspiring thought and discussion around democratic values, especially freedom of speech.
The programme has set the following primary goals:
- Establish an active performing arts network
- Provide Palestinian communities with greater access to performing arts productions and performances
- Encourage children and youth to be more culturally and socially engaged, through greater education and performance opportunities
- Provide performing arts institutions and professional artists with better resources
The establishment of a network of institutions across the performing arts, which is one of the programme’s primary goals, will help build a more engaged civil society, as well as a more vibrant performing arts community, through enhanced cooperation and lobbying to effect policy change in support of sustainability in the field. Coming together in their missions and mandates to develop a wide-reaching programme, the partners will work to stimulate a constructive dialogue within society at large, and between civil society and the Palestinian National Authority.