The Youthful Cities Programme is a cultural and creative skills exchange between Coventry (UK) and four international cities: Nairobi (Kenya), Bogota (Colombia), Detroit (Michigan, United States of America), and Beirut (Lebanon). Based in Coventry, UK’s 2021 City of Culture, the program is for young adults (18-25) to creatively respond to important, urgent and youth-focused issues in their cities. The program will culminate in the creation of four new artworks and an event which brings together the ideas and innovations from the exchanges to the BBC Contains Strong Language Festival and a digital three-day Global Youth Summit in Coventry.
In seeking out “youthful” cities with which to collaborate, Beirut fit the description as a city “moving forward and taking control of [its] communities through art, creativity, technology and civic participation with activism at the forefront,” according to the Youthful Cities Index and Survey.
We are thrilled that Rusted Radishes: Beirut Literary and Art Journal was chosen as the Beirut arts organization partner to engage with the poetry, storytelling, and spoken word component.
For more info on the Youthful Cities Programme, please see www.youthfulcities.com.
Rusted Radishes is seeking six youths (18-25) to participate in the Beirut cohort of the Youthful Cities Programme which has five phases:
We are seeking a diverse group of applicants who are self-motivated, creative, and committed to exploring this nearly year-long project with a team and cohorts in four other cities. Applicants should be strong writers, performers, storytellers, or spoken word poets. All applicants must be based in Beirut and between the ages of 18-25. For any questions about the application process or the Programme, please write to info@rustedradishes.com.
Applicants should respond to the following questions in a Microsoft Word document, which should not have a name or identifying information anywhere. Applicants should also submit a writing or audio sample.
All applications will be considered on a blind basis. Short-listed applicants will be interviewed. All materials should be submitted through Submittable at this link by December 10.
Applications which include any information revealing the applicant’s identity will be automatically disqualified.
All youth participants will receive 2000 British pounds as well as travel to the UK in September for the BBC “Contains Strong Language” Festival.