Featuring Imagine case studies from Ethiopia (Fekat Circus), Egypt (Orchestra Al-Nour Wal Amal), and Australia (ActNow Theatre), this online session looks at organisations and initiatives that use various art forms, such as dance, theatre, film, storytelling, and music, to empower marginalised communities, promote social change, challenge stereotypes, and advocate for human rights.
These themes highlight the power of the arts to empower individuals and communities, preserve cultural heritage, and create inclusive and accessible spaces. Through these diverse initiatives and organisations, the arts play a vital role in promoting social change, fostering understanding, and giving a voice to underrepresented groups.
DATE: Wednesday 7 August 2024
TIME: 5pm-6.30pm AEST (Additional time-zones: 10am-11:30 am Egypt and Ethiopia). Check your timezone here.
SPEAKERS:
- Dereje Dange, Co-Founder & Artistic Director, Fekat Circus, Ethiopia
- Azza Guergues, Journalist & Podcast Producer, Egypt
- New Speaker: Yasmin Gurreeboo, CEO & Artistic Director, ActNow Theatre, Kaurna land, Adelaide, Australia
MODERATOR:
- Wanyika Mshila, Social Change Agent
- Welcome by Lena Nahlous, CEO, Diversity Arts Australia
The Imagine Project by Diversity Arts Australia is proudly supported by Creative Australia and the British Council as part of the Creative Equity Toolkit
Speakers:
Azza Guergues
| Azza Guergues is an Egyptian journalist and podcast producer, she has nine years of experience in the news industry. She has produced videos and podcasts covering topics such as politics, climate change, economics, and social issues in MENA countries. She has covered events in Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, and Egypt as well as the war against the Islamic State in Iraq in 2017. Azza earned her MA degree in Digital Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London in 2019. She is also a fellow at UNRAF and Chevening Alum. |
Dereje Dange
Dereje Dange is the co-founder and artistic director of Fekat Circus. With the aim of developing the social circus sector within the country. Directed the first and second edition of the African Circus Arts Festival, involved over 200 African circus performers. Launched and settled the first circus tent in the Horn of Africa. Directed and overseen above 500 circus performances by Fekat Circus troupe in Ethiopia and abroad.
Fekat Circus is one of the few independent creative/cultural spaces in the heart of Addis. It cultivates a new generation of creative minds and spreads positive emotions. It is a recr-educational team involving children of all backgrounds into the circus world. It is a circus troupe searching and staging artistic performances in Ethiopia and abroad. It is the organiser of the African Circus Arts Festival, capacity building, networking and exchange programmes for young circus performers and organisations, with the aim of developing the circus sector within Ethiopia and the African continent.
Yasmin Gurreeboo
Yasmin is committed to championing underrepresented voices and diversity (in its widest sense of the term) on our stages
Wanyika Mshila Moderator
Waynika is currently the Community Engagement Manager at Sydney Opera House. With a career spanning over 15 years that is at the intersection of arts, community and corporate spaces, Waynika’s unique perspective means they not only understand the arts and community language and nuances, but I also have the financial and commercial acumen to initiate, manage and consult on projects to successful outcomes and positive social change.
The foundations for their work are based on intersectionality, access, progress not perfection, knowledge and excellence. Find out more at their LinkedIn.
