The Power of Culture

Theme - Art and development

Lying at the core of society, art is also a means of bringing about social change. Drama, film and music can help people get to grips with their own lives. Take, for example, youth in deprived areas. Artistic expression is giving them self-respect and belief in the future. Art is often an open platform for freedom of speech, even in societies where that freedom is restricted. This makes art an effective tool for exposing social issues.

In this section you will find news stories and articles on art and development, that were published on the Power of Culture website between 2003 and 2010. More recent articles from our network you'll find on our Facebook page.

Art and development

Hip-hop artist Fid Q: "I watched my sister die from aids"

February 2008 -

Music Mayday is organising a hip-hop tour to make the youth of Europe and Africa aware of the large-scale aids problem in southern Africa.

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Peru's Indian population films inside stories

January 2008 -

The Proyecto Amauta works from the Centro Bartolomé de Las Casas in Cusco and stimulates skills with audio-visual resources in the region.

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Colegio del Cuerpo: Viable alternative for talented Colombian dancers

January 2008 -

Young dancers from Colombia don't have to go abroad anymore in order to develop themselves professionally. Now there's an integral and long-term training course available, which occupies itself with their mental development as well.

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Theatrical event about fishers on the beach of Senegal

january 2008 -

Theatre Embassy based its performance about the working conditions of fishers on Senegal's beach near St. Louis on the famous Dutch folk drama Op hoop van zegen by Herman Heijermans. Director Anna Rottier has been working in St. Louis since the end of November, 2007.

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Bread and art for Nicaragua

january 2008 -

The European umbrella NGO Pan y Arte (Bread and Art) supported various independent projects in Nicaragua over the last fifteen years.

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From Eastgate to CH2: building on the energy watershed

december 2007 -

Mick Pearce was one of the speakers during the 'African Perspectives' event held December 6, 2007 in Delft in the Netherlands, a joint initiative of the Faculty of Architecture at Delft University of Technology and the ArchiAfrika Foundation. He delivered a lecture about the consequences of the upcoming energy crisis for the development of cities: 'From Eastgate to CH2: building on the energy watershed'.

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Special

Theatre & Development

December 2007 -

Theatre flourishes worldwide. Community art is a global hype. Theatre is used for delivering messages and for educational purposes. But fortunately theatre is still entitled to be art as well. Six articles on the relationship between Theatre and Development in three continents.

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Odak Onyango: "Theatre makes people more assertive"

December 2007 -

The Kenyan K-PAG creates performances with a message, without losing their focus on art. With Make love, make sense the company wants to create more awareness around hiv.

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Special

Introduction: theatre will always be connected to development

November 2007 -

Henk Tjon, Surinam's best-known theatre maker, on identity, artistic expression and the post-colonial inheritance.

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Special

MARACA keeps Central American youth away from street gangs

November 2007 -

The success of dance project Huellas proves that art can definitely offer an alternative for violence and poverty.

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