Doual'Art

Cameroon

Doual'art is a non-profit organisation founded in 1991 in Douala, Cameroon. It sees itself as an experimental laboratory for new urban practices of African cities. It addresses freedom of expression and social cohesion through cultural and artistic productions. doual'art introduces a participatory approach in cultural practice, discussing and negotiating with local communities, NGOs and authorities their needs and aspirations and involving artists as facilitators of the development processes.

In 1991, doual'art started an outdoor programme with public art, urban interventions and social engineering projects implemented in several neighbourhoods of the city Douala. "espace doual'art" - the exhibition space of doual'art - was created in 1995. It hosts exhibitions, performing art events, conferences, seminars and a residency programme.

For 16 years doual'art has been developing its own methodology and approach of intervening on Douala, by combining competencies in contemporary art with social/economic development. The two elements of artistic quality and social impact have always been considered by doual'art as central and essential to their work: art projects have been chosen for their artistic quality and the location, function, priority and theme have always been discussed with communities involved and selected to have a social impact. 

Website

www.doualart.org

Supported by Artscollaboratory for

Bridging Douala is a three year programme aimed at putting contemporary creation in the heart of a new urban audience; create a culture of exchanges and openness to the world and encouraging inhabitants of Douala to respect collective space.

The main target groups are artists, architects and designers, but also the inhabitants of Douala, with special focus on youth and local authorities.

During the 3 year period, Doual'art will implement variuos activities.

  1. Artistic interventions in 5 neighbourhoods of Douala. 5 local artists will work for 3 years in one of the neighbourhoods with local youth and create artistic projects. Every 6 months a public activity will be organized related to the project. International artists will be involved in these projects through residencies in the specific neighbourhoods.
  2. Projects spread in the city. Various activities aimed at strengthening the cultural sector in Douala, such as: establish an inventory of historical and public art in the city; train speakers guides for art-tours in the city; an intense program of exhibitions in Espace doual'art, accompanied by panel discussions and artist talks.
  3. Research Ars & Ubris. Doual'art wants to create platforms of reflection on art and urbanity; define elements of methodology; identify changes induced by the artistic action and publish the results of research and reflections.
  4. International exchanges. International meetings will be organised abroad either to reinforce the local expertise of journalists, artists and curators or to present through exhibitions or conferences the particularity of the work done in Douala.
  5. Salon Urbain de Douala 2010. Through 14 days of artistic events in different neighbourhoods and urban sites, doual'art aims to offer a festival for all inhabitants of the city facilitating and promoting social diversity. Creating international attention for and enriching the heritage of Douala through high quality contemporary art.
  6. Organisational development of doual'art. During the 3 year programme, doual'art aims to facilitate access to documentation; improve capacities and working conditions of the doual'art staff; improve residency conditions and increase the percentage of self-financing.
Focus on Doual’art
Le Jardin Sonore de Bonamouti