Out in the Open: Artistic Practices and Social Change in Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia

Chad Elias, Sultan Barakat, Luisa Gandolfo, Craig Robertson

Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned report

Abstract

Out in the Open aims to examine the role that art plays in providing a platform for social change. Focusing on Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya the study set out to collaborate with artists and cultural institutions to highlight new ways of looking at and thinking about art in a period marked by profound social change and political upheaval. In Egypt we met with photographers, video artists, activists, musicians, graffiti artists, bloggers, choreographers, and playwrights. Interviews were also held with gallery directors, curators, administrators and educators working both within and outside the state sponsored system of artistic production. Discussions were guided by two over-riding questions: What social and artistic freedoms has the revolution opened up for artists and art institutions in Egypt? Conversely, how has art instigated new-found possibilities of social and political expression on the street and in the public sphere more broadly defined?
Original languageEnglish
PublisherThe British Council
Number of pages160
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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