Irbid exchange participants in Jordan Irbid Exchange - A digital exchange project between the Netherlands and Jordan
In 2014 Framer Framed opened the exhibition space in the Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam-North with the project Crisis of History. In addition to the three exhibitions and an extensive public program, the project consisted of the Irbid Exchange international education program. During this exchange project, young people from Amsterdam, the refugee shelter AZC in Almere and young people in the refugee camp Irbid, Jordan entered into a dialogue via Skype, Tumbler and the exchange of artistic works by post.
Irbid has a huge community of Syrian refugees. Irbid has a million inhabitants and is currently hosting 145,000 Syrians. In this project cooperation, exchange and social cohesion are paramount, because Jordanese and Syrian children go to separate schools and lead very separate lives. The neighborhoods are mixed, but as a Syrian refugee, for example, you are not allowed to work and have no possessions. Irbid is not a rich city, so the presence of the refugees causes all kinds of tensions. A project like Irbid Exchange can contribute to mutual understanding.
Irbid, Jordanie
Engagement via Skype
During the workshops, the artistic creations of the Amsterdam youth and those in Irbid are shared via a Skype connection and published on a Tumbler page. “This is an experiment to find out to what extent it is possible to create engagement through digital media. At first sight this seems quite difficult.” The art project Irbid Exchange offered the opportunity to experience this. That is why it was decided to use other media as well.
A team from different disciplines was formed in Irbid, Almere and Amsterdam. The underlying idea was to collect their personal stories together with the children in different forms, and then exchange them between the Netherlands and Jordan. A rapper, creative writer, drama teacher and photographer supervise activities related to photography, film and visual arts. Collages were made, texts were written and a DVD video clip was produced with participants on both locations. These were put together in a suitcase that then traveled back and forth between the different countries. The aim was to create a kind of ‘gesamtkunstwer with all participants around the theme of ‘change’.
Kunstzone, tijdschrift voor kunst en cultuur in het onderwijs
Check the Tumbler page for more information: http://irbidexchange.tumblr.com
Education / Middle East /
