Artist Residency in Ghana

If you missed our first call for the residency, we now have space for a few more participants.
If interested, please contact us for details.

Cross Cultural Collaborative

Artists Residency in GHANA

August 17 - August 31, 2015

The residency is open to 10 people who are interested in cultural exchange & collaboration with African artists

Participants will live and work at our cultural center/guest house in a fishing village - will mentor young Ghanaian artists - will exhibit in a gallery in Accra &will learn about the rich culture & traditions of GHANA

Artist can work in (but not limited to) paper - book arts - painting - collage - photography - textiles

If interested in an application contact

aba@culturalcollaborative.org

There is no application fee,but if accepted the residency cost is $1800.00

INCLUDES: airport pickup - room - meals -one guided visit to Accra - participation at an exhibit at a gallery in Accra - one exhibit catalog - performance by a traditional drum and dance troupe - pre-departure orientation -help with logistics

NOT INCLUDED: airfare and related expenses - art materials

CROSS CULTURAL COLLABORATIVE is a 501 (C) 3 NGO that brings people from different cultures together to interact creatively and strongly believes in mentoring young Ghanaian artists

http://www.culturalcollaborative.org

some Ghanaian cultural snipits

at http://www.diasporicafrica.blogspot.com there are some interesting cultural stories.
Under the Akan there's a paper about dream interpretations where most of what you dream (according to the Akan) means just the opposite.
For example, if you dream that you will find gold, it means that you will always be poor.

There is another paper about a young girls induction into a shrine. If you're curious about African ceremonies, this will interest you.

Written by an African scholar, the blog also offers books for sale, but just browsing through the
stories is free.

Shoveling snow in Boston and packing for Ghana.

What a contrast.

From Ghana we go to Burkina Faso.

Read all about it when we get back.

We have been updating the VOICES page at http://www.culturalcollaborative.org

It's still missing alot of Aba House alumni, but if you'd like to see who's been to Aba House, the VOICES page is the place to look.

And if you'd like to be an Aba House alumni, let us know.

Our next programs will take place in July and August. Check the WORKSHOP page at http://www.culturalcollaborative.org. If you don't see what you want, contact us. We can put together a program for you.

aba@culturalcollaborative.org

Interesting film

I happened across a film called " T Shirt Travels " which you can view free on snagfilms.com.
Although about Zambia, it really represents most of Africa and is compelling on many different levels.

It starts with the question. "What happens to second hand clothes that are donated to organizations like the Salvation Army ? " For one thing a significant number of them travel through many hands and end up being sold on the streets of Africa. And as the film unfolds, many other questions come to mind.

The largest export business in the US, according to the film , is second hand clothes. They have many local names in Africa. In Ghana the term translates into dead white mans clothes. Africans can't imagine giving them away unless the owner is dead and doesn't need them anymore. In Accra there's a long line of second hand mens suits for sale. I am told that they are bought to bury people in. I guess what comes around, goes around.

Although this sounds like it might be a humorous film, it is really very sad. There are no more textile mills in Zambia. And this film raises the question of colonial mentality and the perception thst donating their clothes, to the westerner, is a good thing, but to many Africans it's just another example of throwing them the discards.