Ramallah – A. M. Qattan Foundation – September 13th, 2018:
The first annual meeting to review the Swedish-funded “Visual Arts: A Flourishing Field” (VAFF) project was held in Ramallah in September. The meeting was attended on behalf of Sweden by Christina Etzell, Head of Development Cooperation, and Maria Ardaji, the Programme Manager from Sweden, and from the A. M. Qattan Foundation, Fida Touma, Deputy Director General, Mahmoud Abuhashhash, Director of the Culture and Arts Programme, Yara Odeh, VAFF Project Manager, Eman Sharabati, Project Coordinator, and Awni Wahbeh, Project Accountant.
The participants discussed the implementation of the VAFF project during 2017, the first year of the project. The project team presented the methodology of the implementation and the selection process that led to the signing of eight grant implementation agreements with eight organisations in the West Bank (including Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip by the end of the year. There was also a discussion about the upcoming round of the project, and the accountant Awni Wahbeh presented the projected spending for this next round.
Mr Abuhashhash pointed out the importance of the critical discussions that AMQF held with partner organisations. These discussions aimed to develop new mechanisms for enhancing the capacities, effectiveness and sustainability of the partner organisations, and will also assist organisations in achieving a more positive impact in the cultural scene. The project is challenging in nature and requires close follow-up and support from the project team, but Mr Abuhashhash gave assurance that the Foundation’s team has been responding to partners effectively.
Ms Odeh added that the development process for the applications included a series of meetings and conversations with all the shortlisted organisations to ensure openness and the provision of equal opportunities to artists and professionals in the field.
Ms Touma commended Sweden for their support of the cultural sector in Palestine and for the flexible and transparent nature of Sweden’s partnership with the Foundation. In commenting on the partnership, Ms Ardaji indicated that Sweden appreciates the role of the project team in supporting the partner organisations in the administrative and financial aspects of the grant, which will ensure achievement of the intended results and compliance with guidelines and procedures. She added that Sweden has confidence in the experience of the Foundation in grantmaking and in its procedures and systems. The meeting concluded after the two sides provided each other with an update on the Palestinian and Swedish political developments and the implications of these developments on the cultural scene.
This is the first annual review meeting to be held between the two administering parties of the VAFF project. Follow-up meetings and field visits to partners’ sites will continue to be held periodically.
The VAFF project is funded by Sweden
