ZOUKAK’S THEATRE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT GRANT

** ARABIC VERSION OF THE CALL IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT ENTITLED "OPEN CALL"**

ZOUKAK’S THEATRE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT GRANT

The mentorship program aims at developing the creative skills of emerging theatre makers through a continuous and thorough practice leading to a final performance or open studio.

Mentoring and support of two emerging artists and their collaborators for the creation of a new performance:

Zoukak is launching a call for participation targeting emerging theatre artists residing in Lebanon who wish to develop their work through a 6-month mentorship program.
The aim of this initiative is to create a platform for learning and development, open to young practitioners working in the theatre, and tackling pressing social and political issues with innovation and creativity. Two participants will be selected based on eligibility and artistic criteria (listed below). Each participant will receive the amount of 2500$ to support the creation of a new performance. The final performance or work-in- progress presentation will be shown in Zoukak Studio in June 2018.

During the mentorship program, participants are encouraged to take responsibility of creating their own performances by setting up regular work sessions. Over the course of six months, Zoukak mentors will lead the artists to the completion of their desired projects from conception to execution, while the artists share their work processes with them through regular sessions. Zoukak will also provide the selected artists with technical, administrative and production support.

By following up on the participants throughout the phases of creation and supporting them with hands-on advice and expertise, the project aims to increase their autonomy and leadership abilities, to better realise projects on their own in the future.

Each selected artist will be mentored by a member of Zoukak.

During the mentoring program, the artists and their collaborators on their specific projects, are provided with the following:
- Grant for production: USD 2’500 is allocated to cover some production costs
of the project;
- Support to the production plan:
The mentor supervises and supports the artist in:
Planning the project’s timeline;
Designing the different phases of creation, defining their goals and the needed material and human resources for their completion;
Writing the production file that can be addressed to potential co-funders/producers;
Finding information on potential funders that could be interested by the project and understanding the funders’ requirements;
Developing the project’s needed budgets;
Identifying potential collaborators as needed (light designer, sound designer, etc.).
- Use of Zoukak Studio for rehearsals in accordance with the studio’s schedules;
- Use of Zoukak’s technical material as available;
- Artistic mentoring through regular observation, feedback sessions and meetings: The mentor attends different phases of the work to orient the artist in the development of his/her project, sharing his/her expertise and Zoukak’s methodologies of creation;
- An open studio presentation in the presence of Zoukak members and a chosen audience: At an advanced stage of the creation process, Zoukak organises an open presentation of the work-in-progress in order to widen the scope of feedback that can be provided to the artist;
- Support in the design and implementation of the communication strategy: Zoukak’s communication officer will assist the artist in developing the communication material of the performance (synopsis, poster, flyer, press kit) and supports them in contacting the press and promoting the work through social media;
- The work-in-progress presentation or final performance will be presented in Zoukak Studio and will benefit from networking opportunities with local and international festival and venue directors and professionals from the performing arts field;
- Additionally, participants can attend events organized by Zoukak throughout the year (workshops, public talks, performances, etc.) as available: This allows them to be in contact with other artists, increasing opportunities to develop their actual or future works.

Eligibility and selection criteria:
- To be an emerging artist working in the theatre field since at least 2 years;
- To be residing in Lebanon (applicants can be of any nationality or cultural background);
- Having previously realized at least one theatre project is important (whether as a collaborator or on their own);
- To be willing to share their process and accept guidance and constructive criticism;
- To be flexible and collaborative;
- To have a vision of how they wish to develop their practice;
- To have a concrete idea for a theatre project they wish to realise;
- To be serious about working professionally as a theatre practitioner;
- The artistic creativity and innovation demonstrated in the project concept;
- The connectedness of the theatre project to the artist’s context and the necessity of its topic today.
- Projects can include several collaborators.

Supported by Drosos Foundation
With the contribution of The British Council