NICA (Networking and Initiatives for Culture and the Arts)

Profile and Programmes

NICA (Networking and Initiatives for Culture and the Arts) – nurturing artistic, cultural and human resource development in Myanmar

NICA is a newly established art center aimed at contributing towards development in the fields of culture and the arts. It is located in Yangon, Myanmar and in its founding stage is being managed by IFIMA (International Forum for InterMedia Art), working directly with local and international artists, writers, educators and trainers to create a platform for mutual sharing and learning across various art disciplines. It will also offer training schemes and educational programmes to promote a well-rounded development of arts and cultural practices, focusing on aspects that will range from skill training, studio practice, theoretical studies, to curatorial writing and project management etc.

One of the primary initiatives of the art centre is to develop collaboration, networking and resource-sharing especially between Myanmar arts and cultural practitioners with those from the region, and also from other parts of the world. NICA welcomes interested parties to contact us about possible collaborations and participation in our programmes. Further information can be requested from: nica@yangon.net.mm

Art activities such as exhibitions, performances, workshops, children?s art, and artist?s talks conducted by Myanmar artists will be regularly featured at NICA. NICA will act as a facilitator for these activities in terms of providing the space, administrative support and requested assistance.

NICA will be managed by IFIMA only in its founding stage, during which we will work towards a transition over to a local Executive Committee

Location of NICA:
Located at 47, Khaymar Road, in San Chaung Township, adjacent with Kyi Myin Dine Township, home of local craftspersons producing marbleworks, plaque, religious object and metal structures that are installed on top of pagoda?s and chedi?s. Nearby is the famous Koe Thet Kyee pagoda and about 1.5 km away is the Swedagon Pagoda. Trips on public buses to downtown Yangon (Bogoye Market), costing US 1-2 cents, will take around 20-30 minutes, and taxi trips, costing US 0.80 cents – $1.00, will take around 15 mins.

Tel: 95 1 510002
E-mail: nica@yangon.net.mm

Facilities:
Office, 2 multi-purpose rooms, exhibition space, studio spaces, kitchen, accommodation for artists-in-residence.

Objectives and functions of NICA

To begin with, NICA will have these 4 main functions:
– To nurture artistic and cultural practices; through training and educational programmes, creative workshops, symposiums, seminars, talks, etc.
– To support the creative and intellectual impulse; through residency programmes, adoption of projects by Myanmar art practitioners etc.
– To act as a resource and networking centre; for local and international artists, art critics, curators and cultural workers for the purpose of networking, resource-sharing and resource development.
– To provide space and organizational support services for arts and cultural activities

NICA?s Programmes

NICA?s proposed programmes are divided into 3 categories: Residency and Training Programmes; International Networking and Resource-sharing Programmes and General Programmes/ Services. Each of the proposed programmes in these categories will be carried out independent of each other.

I. Residency and Training Programmes:
The following residency and training programmes are open for application by interested artists, writers, educators, students and other persons involved in the creative fields.

1) Young Adults Education and Training Programme To offer a well-rounded supplementary education and training programme to young adults in the fields of arts and cultural management. The programme will cover both theory and practice, and will train the young adults in research and writing skills, IT skills, professional knowledge and organizational skills, art appreciation and criticism, history of art, exposure to studio practice, exhibitions etc. The trainees will benefit from local and international guest artists, curators and educators who will be attached to the programme. Acceptance will be based on applicant?s aptitude, motivation, interest level and track record of previous activities. The programme will last for 9 months and will be offered free-of-charge to a maximum of 10 young adults in the first batch. Bursaries will be given to those in need of financial assistance. The first programme will run from April ? December 2003. Some of the scheduled lectures and workshops under this programme may be made open to registered participants from the interested public.

2) Artist-in-Residence Programme
To provide space, assistance and financial support to selected artists, writers and poets for a period of between 3 – 6 months in order to realise a body of work, research or project. This programme will include support for accommodation if the person comes from outside Yangon. Candidates will be selected by an advisory committee to NICA.

3) ?Art for Children? Education and Development Programme
To work with selected artists and educators on further researching and developing teaching methods for children?s art by providing professional assistance, financial support and assisting in the matching of expertise for a period of 3 – 9 months. The selected artists and children?s art educators will have to conduct workshops with other artists and educators to present their work and research on children?s art education. Candidates will be selected by an advisory committee to NICA.

4) Women?s Creativity Support Programme
To provide assistance and financial support to selected women artists, writers and poets for a short period of time, between 3 – 6 months, to realise a body of work, research or project, culminating with a final presentation/ project at NICA. Candidates will be selected by an advisory committee to NICA.

Enquiries and applications for all the above programmes can be made with Ko Thiha (a) Than Tun Zaw at telephone number 510002 or e-mail nica@yangon.net.mm

II. International Networking and Resource-sharing Programmes
1) To facilitate foreign artists/ art groups who wish to come into Myanmar to develop collaborations with local artists/ art groups in a project, in forms of cultural exchange, and will host foreign artists in residency programmes with NICA.

2) To source for international organizations and art centres outside of Myanmar that are willing to host Myanmar artists and art administrators in exchange programmes, artists-in-residence programmes and arts management in-house attachment trainee programmes. NICA will assist Myanmar artists and persons working in cultural fields to obtain opportunities in education, intellectual exchange, foreign residencies, project funding, workshop and exhibition outside of Myanmar.

3) To co-organize an international event, Open Academy 2, together with a local committee, tentatively scheduled for December 2003, to be held in Yangon and Mandalay; with symposium and workshops to promote creative exchange, collaborations and resource-sharing amongst Myanmar artists and also with foreign participants. This is a continuation of the project, COLLABORATION, NETWORKING AND RESOURCE-SHARING: MYANMAR held in Yangon in June 2002, but on a smaller scale.

III. General Programmes/Services:

Art and Educational Activities for Children To invite artists and educators to conduct art and educational activities for children at NICA.

Facilitation of Local Art Activities To offer space, administrative support and other requested forms of assistance to artists and groups who wish to organise art and cultural activities at NICA, e.g. exhibitions, talks, and performances. Events with educational intentions will be given priority when resources are insufficient.

Archive and Research Centre
To build an archive and research centre on various aspects of Myanmar arts and cultures for the purpose of research by local and visiting researchers, curators and writers, etc.

Art Consultancy Service
To offer consultancy and administrative assistance to any artist/ group on aspects of organizing projects, e.g. writing project proposals, application for funding and other aspects of their projects.

Discourse Initiative
To organise and host talks and discussions on a range of topics and issues, in response to the needs of the artistic communities.

Publications
To publish documentations of various programmes held at our facility and periodically to publish books on selected subjects related to the arts and culture of Myanmar.

Collaboration with Local Organisations Across Disciplines
To collaborate with local organisations of various disciplines, based on project proposals that are inline with shared objectives.