CAN has developed a new creative-digital programme between 2016 – 2017 with national and international reach through the TANDEM programme. TANDEM is an initiative of the European Cultural Foundation and MitOst e.V. – an exchange programme assisting cultural organisations to develop long-term working relationships, knowledge development and networking opportunities within Europe and beyond. The project connects and inspires cultural managers through the sharing of knowledge and experience across geographical and cultural borders.
CAN has established a partnership with the Dutch organisation Stichting de Vrolijkheid to explore the co-creation process in an inter-cultural setting with people with a refugee or migrant background. The project will develop a short film to use as new training material and to inspire other European organisations. The film will focus on two Netherlands-based arts initiatives and two Manchester-based arts initiatives, Manchester International Roots Orchestra (MIRO) and CAN Young Artists @HOME. The final film will be showcased at the Welcome to the Village Festival in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden in July 2017 and at a Manchester arts venue later in the year.
The exchange programme between the two organisations began in August 2016 when Sara Domville, CAN’s Digital Arts Creative Producer visited Vrolijkeid in Amsterdam to learn more about the organisation. The visit included several trips to refugee and asylum centres to see the creative workshops that Vrolijkeid delivered. Tom Saal, Business Manager, from Vrolijkeid, visited CAN during the Journeys International Festival meeting the team behind the Exodus programme. Filming of the short film will begin in February 2017.
