Cultural Policy in the Arab Region

Collaboration Project with Al Mawred Al Thaqafi and the European Cultural Foundation

Project Description 

Ettijahat.Independent Culture acts as regional coordinator and editor for the “Cultural Policy in the Arab Region” programme, which was launched by Culture Resource (al-Mawrid al-Thaqafy) in 2009. Ettijahat’s role includes working with advocacy groups in ten Arab countries to coordinate their work and support them to achieve their goals in the development and activation of transparent and democratic cultural policy in their countries.

Twice a year, Ettijahat issues a report covering developments in the region regarding cultural legislations, infrastructure, funding, production, and creativity, in addition to core changes that are expected to effect cultural work in the ten Arab countries participating in the programme.

Ettijahat also launched a regional database of cultural policy, which is expected to become a recognised resource for participation and knowledge in this field.

In cooperation with the European Cultural Foundation, Ettijahat reports current cultural developments in the region by conducting studies and circulating them within the Arab region and internationally.

Cooperation Objectives

Ettijahat monitors developments in cultural policy in eleven Arab countries and constructs profiles for each by coordinating with the Cultural Policies Task Forces in each of these countries and acting as liaison point between the National Task Forces and the World CP. The countries covered by Ettijahat are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, and Mauritania.