Communities Connecting Heritage for Women in theatre, dance or performing arts
The U.S. Embassy Kathmandu seeks ten Nepali female artists with expertise in arts: theater, dance or performing arts to take part in a fully funded program. We are looking for young women between 18-30 who will be able to engage larger communities.
About the program:
Communities Connecting Heritage is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by World Learning. The program engages underserved communities, empowers youth, and builds partnerships between communities in the U.S. and in key strategic world regions through exchange projects that explore cultural heritage topics. American company, Carolyn Dorfman Dance (CDD) and Nepali theatre partner, Katha Ghera are partnered together to create a dance/theater piece and accompanying workshops and performances that celebrate and elevate the power and essentialness of the female voice in cultural preservation, evolution and change.
Who should apply?
- Women between the ages of 18-30 with experience/interest in theatre, dance or performing arts
- Preferably with an experience in using arts for community development, women and gender issue
- Adequate English Language skills with ability to participate in virtual workshops
- Women from racial, geographical and ethnic minorities will be given preference
Time commitment:
- February – March 2020: participate in weekly virtual sessions
- March 6- 20, 2020: participate in two-week artist residency in Kathmandu resulting in two-three performances (Note: Participants will be provided a minimal stipend to cover necessary meals and incidental costs during the residency)
- End of March – June 2020: participate in further virtual sessions
Goal of the program:
- To establish a safe space for culturally and ethnically diverse participants to share personal stories and experiences through their art.
- To feature women as key transmitters of culture, tradition, values and change. We will explore how they are the “keepers of cultural pearls” and discuss existing values and traditions.
- To present a public performance accompanied by workshops and artist/audience dialogues in various settings in each country to include a public theater, university, community center, high school, etc.
Benefits of participation:
- Once the participants complete the program, they will be alumni of US Department of State (DOS) exchange programs. This comes with several benefits, such as worldwide networking and access to alumni grant funding. All participants must meet the standards for minimum completion of program requirements in order to receive a ‘Certificate of Completion’ from World Learning and to be admitted into the DOS International Exchange Alumni community at the end of the program pre-defined by the U.S. Embassy in coordination with World Learning and Katha Ghera
- Out of the 10 selected, 3 Nepali participants will take part in an exchange program to U.S. The selection will be made after the Kathmandu Residency of March, 2020.
All applications (with CV/ biodata outlining artistic career) must be submitted by email no later than Wednesday January 15, 2020; 5 p.m. Nepal time to cultureKTM@state.gov. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
Download application form (.doc 136KB)
If you have any questions, please send it to cultureKTM@state.gov and kathaghera@gmail.com