The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Bang On a Can’s Found Sound Nation are teaming up to offer a three-week residency and tour to musicians from Algeria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, and the U.S. Chosen fellows will explore Black diasporic musical traditions that have traveled from Africa, to the Americas and back.
Due Sept. 2, applications are open to musicians from the participating countries, of any amount of formal training, who work in almost any background, “including but not limited to: traditional/folk, hip-hop, experimental, electronic, jazz, classical, sound design, beat-making, multimedia art, or any combination of these styles,” according to the website. If accepted, musicians will “collaboratively create original work and develop a global network of civically engaged music initiatives.” Specifically welcomed are “adventurous musicians who double as community organizers, instrument builders, writers, videographers, musicologists, educators, storytellers, dancers, shadow-puppeteers, and more.”
The program is scheduled to take place in Algeria in February 2021, depending on the world’s situation then, with all expenses paid by the program.
There are dozens of great musicians we’ve covered from the listed countries, and there must be countless more whom we don’t know who have a lot to give, so don’t be shy in your application. For more information or to start your application, visit OneBeat’s site right here.
