Nadi is an informal, educational program initiated and monitored by RB5. It is a response to an educational landscape in Palestine that is missing an infrastructure for graduate students. Our aim is to offer tuition-free training in the language of contemporary art, an exploration of its theoretical and political dimensions, and an introduction to its practical working premises. Thematically, coursework will be closely tied to the working premise of RB5 itself, thinking through the structures of art and culture today. Another aim, however, is to foster a sense of professional solidarity within a small collective of emergent practitioners. The five members of the Nadi will form a core audience for RB5, perhaps the only constituency that sees the event in its entirety. The group will also partake in a number of sessions reserved for them alone: from artist-run workshops to research assignments, from study groups to social occasions. It bears mentioning that Nadi group expeditions are currently being developed with several institutions abroad. Nadi members are currently being identified in partnership with Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, the Media Studies Department at Al-Quds Bard College, A. M. Qattan Foundation, Birzeit University Museum, Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency (DAAR), Idioms Film, International Academy of Art Palestine, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, Palestinian Art Court – Al Hoash and Riwaq.
Participants
Yara Saqfailhait – Abdullah Erikat – Majd Nasrallah – Dana Abbas – Faris Shomali – Zina Zarour
Partner institutions
- Al-Mahatta Gallery, Ramallah
- Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, Jerusalem
- A. M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah
- Al-Quds University, BFA Department
- Al-Quds Bard College, Media Studies Department
- An-Najah National University, Fine Arts Department
- Alwarsha, Haifa
- Birzeit University Museum
- Dar Al-Kalima University, College of Arts & Culture, Bethlehem
- Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency, Beit Sahour
- Idioms Film, Ramallah
- Eltiqa Art Gallery, Gaza
- International Academy of Art Palestine, Al-Bireh
- Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, Ramallah
- Palestinian Art Court – Al Hoash, Jerusalem
- Palestinian Museum, Ramallah
- Riwaq, Al Bireh
- Windows for Contemporary Art, GazaNADI
TIMELINE
2014 – 2015
Meetings were initially held at Hoash El Etem, Birzeit, then at Beit Saa, Ramallah.
Session #1
December 16-17, 2014
Agenda: Introduction to RB5
Session #2
January 22-23, 2015
Agenda: Workshopping the International Dimension of Nadi / Self Presentations by Ayed Arafeh, Abdullah Erekat, Faris Shomali
Session #3
February 5-6, 2015
Agenda: Introduction to Riwaq part i / Self Presentations by Dana Abbasi, Yara Saqfalhait, Zeina Zarour / Special guest – Katya Sander
Session #4
February 19-20, 2015
Agenda: Introduction to Riwaq part ii / Site visit – Beit Saa / Self Presentations by Ahmad Hmeidat, Majd Nasrallah, Vivien Sansour
Session #5
March 5-6, 2015
Agenda: Stakes & Wagers of the BDS Workshop in particular and the Traction Program in general / Self Presentation by Reem Shilleh
Session #6
March 25-27, 2015
Agenda: Special Guest – Apolonija Sustersic / BDS Workshop
Session #7
April 9-10, 2015
Agenda: Stakes & Wagers of the Epic Artist Roundtables / Finalizing Decisions on Impulse Festival
April 23-24
Epic Artist Roundtable Dahrieh
Impulse Festival
June 11-21, 2015
The Impulse Festival in Duesseldorf, Cologne and Muehlheim an der Ruhr is devoted to experimental theatre practices across the international fields of art, music, dance and theatre. Thanks to a working partnership with the artist Phil Collins, the Nadi has been invited to intervene within buses transporting festivalgoers between the three German cities.