Sida project - Tamasi
Dramatiska institutet (DI) has since 1996 worked as an institutional partner to Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) in several development projects within the field of performing arts - theatre, dance and music. From 2008 the cooperation project is called Tamasi.
In 2011 DI merged with The Academy for Acting and Mime (Teaterhögskolan) in Stockholm. The new name is Stockholms dramatiska högskola, Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. The Tamasi project continues within the new academy.
In 2008, a five year agreement was signed between Sida and DI for the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, for support to activities in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Morocco. This big regional programme is called Tamasi and involves eleven organisations and various projects and artists.
Tamasi is a civil society project which aims to strengthen freedom of expression, human rights and democratic development through performing arts and by that contribute to poverty alleviation in a broad sense in the MENA region.
The Tamasi project focuses on the young generation in the implementation, such as reaching a young and new audience, capacity building for young artists, development of children and youth theatre, audience building, cultural exchange and creating networks. Special attention is given to women’s and girls’ right and possibility to participate in the project.
Tamasi is also “an agreement between eleven Arab performing arts organisations identified by Dramatiska institutet for their experience, commitment, and strong artistic vision in a social context, aiming to contribute to the development of a more sustainable, viable and vibrant performing arts life in the societies where they operate.”
With the Arab spring, the freedom of expression and activities related to revolutionary and democratic processes in the MENA region have become a prioritized part of the Tamasi organisations’ work.
Background: Sida cooperation
Sida has since 1997 through DI supported activities in the field of performing arts in chosen countries and regions with the aim to strengthen the cultural field in its national or regional context: theatre, dance and music productions, educational programmes, theatre premises, audience development and cultural exchange.
- Palestine, 1997 to 2007
- Central America, 2003 to 2008
- Middle East North Africa region (MENA), 2003 to 2007
Goal
The goal for Swedish international development cooperation is to contribute to poverty alleviation and an environment supportive of poor people's own efforts to improve their quality of life.
In the autumn of 2010 Sweden adopted a new regional policy for the MENA countries. In the field of human rights a special focus is given to civil society, freedom of expression and women’s rights.
Sida presented in 2006 a policy for culture and media:
"Poverty means not only the lack of material resources, but also of power, opportunities, choice and security. ”Sida’s work with culture and media is ultimately founded on the rights of individuals; the right to freedom of expression, the right to exercise cultural and creative activities, the right to access information, the right to knowledge, the right to transform knowledge into action and the right to free themselves from poverty.”
Sida’s vision and overall objectives are the basis for the projects managed and coordinated by SADA .
Project management and coordination, Sweden
Stockholms dramatiska högskola, Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (StDH/SADA) is a state institution for research and higher education that offers training in scenic and media arts for professional practice. SADA is collaborating with both public and non-institutional theatres, individual artists, dance troupes and other organisations in Sweden. As institutional partner to Sida in the Mena region, Palestine, Central America, Africa and Vietnam, a big international network has been created.