Call for Applications: Kawalis Zoukak - The Mentorship Program
Call for Applications
Kawalis Zoukak - The Mentorship Program 6th Edition
Deadline for applications: 10th of January 2023 before midnight, Beirut time.
Fill in the application form in your preferred language and submit it with the needed supporting documents.
Download the full call: Arabic or English
Zoukak is launching the 6th edition of its “Mentorship Program”
The program aims to develop the artistic skills of emerging performing artists residing in Lebanon, and to support them in the creation of an original work. Through continuous and thorough follow up on their practice by an assigned mentor, in addition to various capacity building workshops and production support, the selected artists will be guided to present a finished work or a work in progress at the end of the mentorship program.
Supported projects:
- This program is targeted at any theatre practitioner wishing to develop a new piece, be it devised theatre, dance theatre, new writing, an adaptation of an existing text... Additionally, the program is open to any form of art practice spilling into performance, all-the-while keeping liveness as key. We encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations that aim to lead to hybrid forms of performance making, especially those involving music and the visual arts..
- The call is open to individuals wishing to work on their own, or to lead collaborations with other practitioners. We also encourage collectives (newly formed or pre-existing) to apply.
About the program*:
The selected artists will be led by Zoukak mentors to the completion of their desired projects from conception to execution, while sharing their work processes through regular one-on-one sessions. Zoukak will also provide the artists with technical, administrative, communication and production support, and each one will receive a grant to help cover some of the costs of their project.
The mentorship program invites the participants to commit to attending tailored workshops including initiation to production, plus a 12-hour collaborative communication training, and at least one of Kawalis Zoukak’s other trainings. In addition to taking part in self-led peer-to-peer workshops, and mid-term open studio presentations with feedback sessions.
During the mentorship program, and through regular working sessions over the course of 4 to 6 months, the artists and their collaborators will be provided with the following:
- Artistic mentoring;
- Capacity building workshops (Tailored workshops, a 12-hour collaborative communication training, Kawalis Zoukak’s training program, self-led peer-to-peer workshops.)
- Support to the production plan and execution;
- Support in the design and implementation of the communication strategy;
- A space for creating and rehearsing their work;
- Support for the presentation of a work-in-progress or final performance;
- Additionally, participants can attend events organized by Zoukak throughout the year (workshops, talks, performances, etc.) as available;
- A grant ranging between 1500 USD and 2500 USD to support the production.
Eligibility and selection criteria:
- To be an artist working in the performing arts (theatre, dance, performance art, musical theatre, multi-disciplinary…) since at least 2 years;
- To be residing in Lebanon (applicants can be of any nationality or background);
- To have previously realized at least one public performance project is important (whether as a collaborator or a leader);
- To be willing to share their process and accept guidance and constructive criticism, showing openness and cooperation;
- To have a concrete idea for a project they wish to realize, and a vision on how they wish to develop their artistic practice as a whole;
- To be flexible and able to adapt their work process in response to emerging crises and restrictions.
*Some parts of the program, especially the access to a space for rehearsals, the capacity building workshops and the final presentations, are subject to changes and adaptations depending on the general situation in Lebanon.
Previous editions of Kawalis Zoukak - The Mentorship Program
Fifth edition of the Mentorship program - ongoing 2022:
Selected Artists:
Hasan Laham mentored by Lamia Abi Azar, “Aliens in a Bed”
Christel Salem mentored by Junaid Sarieddeen, “Kayan”
Nicolas Fattouh mentored by Omar Abi Azar, “Living with a Piece of Furniture”
Melissa Ghazale mentored by Maya Zbib, “Incorrigibly Yours”
Fourth edition of the Mentorship Program - 2021
Selected Artists:
Jana Bou Matar mentored by Lamia Abi Azar, “Meaning Making Cocktails”
Joseph Rouhama mentored by Junaid Sarieddeen, “All About Eva”
Chada Halwani mentored by Omar Abi Azar, “Cement is a Memory”
Alia Hamdan mentored by Omar Abi Azar, “Dancers of the 17th of October”
Karim Chebli and Kathy Younes mentored by Maya Zbib, “Flee”
Third Edition of the Mentorship Program -September - December 2020.
Selected Artists:
Stephanie Kayal mentored by Junaid Sarieddeen, created “Evidence of Things not Seen”
Rahaf Jammal mentored by Omar Abi Azar, created “Man Fall”
Mada Harb mentored by Maya Zbib, created “Table Manners”
Zayrakoun mentored by Lamia Abi Azar, created “Rehla Ila”
The artists worked individually with their mentors and took part in group capacity building sessions; finally presenting their works-in-progress in December 2020 to an audience of local theatre professionals and cultural operators.
Second Edition of the Mentorship Program - 2018
July 2018 - January 2019.
Selected Artists:
Hassan al Malla mentored by Maya Zbib, created “The Date”
Anas Younes mentored by Junaid Sarieddeen, created “The Ho-Ha Dance”
The artists worked individually with their mentors and presented their works-in-progress within Focus Liban in November 2018 to an audience of international theatre professionals, and later presented readings of final works in January 2019 at Zoukak Studio.
First Edition of the Mentorship Program - 2018
January - November 2018.
Selected Artists:
Line Itani, mentored by Maya Zbib, created “Ecdysis”
Lena Osseyran mentored by Omar Abi Azar, created “Hamlet Machine”
The artists worked individually with their mentors and their performances were shown at Zoukak Studio as works-in-progress, followed by discussions; and later on within Focus Liban in November 2018, to an audience of international theatre professionals.