organisations
Taleb Cherche Midi is a media art collective which aims to strengthen the Media Art sector in Morocco by organising projects which focus on the development of new media arts in Morocco and by stimulating artistic exchange between North and South on all fields of media art - from digital video to installations and interactive art. Taleb Cherche Midi wants to contribute to the circulation of works from the Arabic and North African countries in different (international) video and film festivals, diversify the "Western perspective" on art from the Arab world and acquaint the West with Arab artists. Further, Taleb Cherche Midi wants to establish a Media Art platform in Morocco.
Abdelaziz Taleb and Abdellatif Benfaidoul are the artistic directors of Taleb Cherche Midi. Both are film directors whose films have been shown in many international film festivals (Venice, Rotterdam, etc). The artistic directors of Taleb Cherche Midi have a Moroccan background and have good knowledge of the current situation in Morocco. They have connections in both the Arabic and Western Media Art sector.
In 2004-2006, Taleb Cherche Midi organised several Media Art Workshop in Agadir (Morocco). The project was successful. A platform was established which is still active. The works of the Media Art Workshops have been screened at many (international) festivals. A proposal was submitted in 2008 for a series of workshops in Casablanca. The proposal lacked a long term vision and local ownership. Therefore a short research and feasibility study will be supported as first step towards the development of a series of Media Art workshops in Casablanca and the creation of a sustainable Media Art Platform in Morocco.
The research will focus on cooperation with local partners, the capacity need of local partners, creation of a sustainable Media Art platform. The research and feasibility study will result in a long term proposal for Arab Media Lab.
This research and feasibility study is supported within the framework of Arts Collaboratory because it contributes to the infrastructure of visual arts in Morocco by strengthening a national/regional Media Art Platform and because it responses to contemporary society by focussing on new developments in Media Art.