Sierra Leone, where a civil war raged from 1991 to 2001, is considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Opportunities for musicians to build up a musical career there are practically non-existent. Nevertheless, Sierra Leone has an interesting popular music culture with several genres, such as Meringue, Gumbay, Highlife, Soca, Zouk, Reggae and Dancehall. The musical tour Guitar better than Gun visited all four provincial capitals in Sierra Leone. Several bands were permanently linked to the tour, but there was also space for local artists (open stage) at each location. A festival CD/Cassette was also to be produced. This initiative offered young musicians a chance to develop their musical talents and gain exposure. The Prince Claus Fund contributed €10,000.
The 6th edition of this festival took place in Kathmandu in October 2007. The only documentary film festival in the region, it is professionally organized and its free screenings make it accessible to a wide public. The 2007 edition screened an interesting selection of documentaries by Asian filmmakers on the ‘Partition’ (the line drawn between India and Pakistan in 1947). Every year, the festival serves as an important meeting place for Asian documentary makers. The Fund contributed € 20,000. read more
The Prince Claus Fund helped Albanian composer Alexander Peçi to organize concerts in Tirana and other cities in Albania, such as Vlora, Korça, Shkodra and Durres. Albania is a country under construction, with a cultural infrastructure that needs a great deal of work. Peçi is well-known, and has the experience and contacts to organize such activities. By supporting this project, the Fund is giving a boost to contemporary music from a region that is relatively unknown to the rest of the world. Peçi received € 15,200 to organize a series of concerts.
In 2005, the Prince Claus Fund supports the follow-up of the ‘formations en atelier’, which was organised by the Centre Universitaire des Arts in Butare, Rwanda and took place in 2004. This organisation works on a new music theatre production that will be performed on stage in 2005.
Research is also being conducted on setting up a website that provides an inventory of cultural activities in Rwanda.
On 31 January 2005 recently revealed Bolivian baroque music was performed in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam by four Bolivian singers and the British Florilegium. This music is part of the cultural heritage of the Chiquitos region and was recorded on CD for the first time. read more
APAC
Network partner of the Prince Claus Fund MYSA (Mathare Youth Sports Association) has worked with mgrants in the slums of Nairobi and in refugee camps, thus having the capacity to extend its activities into zones of silence and crucial areas of migration. The reach of the MYSA network into these areas is of importance for the Prince Claus Fund. read more
Photo and CD cover of Guitar Better than Gun
Katia Escalara (soprano), Alejandra Wayar (soprano), Giancarla Tisera (mezoo-soprarno) and Henri Villca (tenor) singing Bolivian Baroque music at the APAC Music festival in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
The Prince Claus Fund creates space for the people and activities that are hidden and silenced through exclusion, war and/or unjust local or national government. The Fund provides these people with an international platform where they can air their opinions and forms of expression.