An EU-funded project has completed a five-week 2,000km journey from Algiers to Tamanrasset, stopping in 5 cities along the oldest caravan route in Algeria, which connects the north and the south, with its different cultures and different realities along that route. On 13 October, the MASAR1 project presented its last installation in the city of Tamanrasset.

The MASAR 1 project is funded by the EU under the SouthMed CV programme. Its bus departed from Algiers on 10 September, aiming to travel for almost 2,000km implementing workshops in land art, photography, storyboarding and writing in 5 selected cities along the route: Laghouat, Ghardaiia, Meniaa, In Salah and Tamanrasset.

In each city, the one week activities were divided between theoretical training in Land Art and Photography, and practical setting up of Land Art installations, documenting the process and results. The project has engaged 75 teenagers and 10 young artists taking part in the workshops and installations, and 5 artists that lead the workshops and mentored the participants.

Driving back to Algiers from Tamanrasset, the project team will now set up an ephemeral exhibition along Route 1, made up of photographs of the installations built in the 5 cities, this exhibition is estimated to last 2 years. Moreover, MASAR 1 will produce a short documentary about this journey.

MASAR 1 is made up of a team of 7 people coordinating, communicating, documenting and organising this journey. The project intends to establish a network of cultural associations and cultural workers and artists across Algeria. The project has launched its interactive platform where information about the journey is available.

Med Culture is part of the regional programme “Media and culture for development in the Southern Mediterranean” which has been allocated a total budget of €17 million over a four-year period, of which €9 million for the award of grants on a co-financing basis, and €8 million for one capacity-development mechanism on media (Med Media) and one capacity development mechanism on culture (Med Culture).

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SouthMed CV