Call for Applications – Digital Media Arts for an inclusive public Sphere

Digital Media Arts for an inclusive Public Sphere (Digital MAPS) is a programme funded by the British Council, covering Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Yemen, and Tunisia. This programme aims to support organisations and content creators operating in the media, arts, and cultural sectors to develop strategies and content which promotes inclusivity and openness in the public sphere (المحيطالعام) and in the virtual space (الفضاء الافتراضي) in particular.

Background

Information and communication technologies, especially social media platforms, have created opportunities for civic actors to become more visible and impactful than they were in the offline space. These technologies have also fundamentally altered the way individuals and communities interact, enabling them to make long-range connections. Indeed, they are no longer constrained by geographic proximity and traditional identities, two constraints which used to strongly shape human relations.

More recently, this early optimism has been dampened by the growing uses of these technologies for regressive and uncivil ends. The proliferation of online harms such as hate speech, disinformation, and extremist propaganda has contributed to the fragmentation of online communities, to the emergence of social divides and to the amplification of distrust. These negative effects are increasingly irrupting into the offline space and affecting community relations and social cohesion across the globe.

The Digital MAPS programme recognises that the networked structure of the virtual public sphere is a key factor driving polarisation and the fragmentation of communities. Specifically, virtual spaces are increasingly characterised by isolated, inward-looking communities whose divisions make it difficult for civic actors to foster mutual understanding and dialogue.

Navigating the virtual space and striving for social cohesion and inclusivity is increasingly difficult for civic actors, especially those representing marginalised groups. Online spaces and dynamics are increasingly complex and are governed by hidden rules which have harmful effects. Social media algorithms make it more difficult for positive actors to get their voice heard while they amplify harmful content, disinformation, negative emotions, and tensions between communities, thus further driving the polarisation of societies.

Overview of the programme

The Digital MAPS programme invites local actors to join an international network of civic, media, arts and cultural actors seeking to make a positive impact on the public sphere and to be better equipped to deal with the complexity of online spaces.

This network will be supported by the British Council and its technology and research partners, including a tech startup specialized in data science and social media analysis as well as UK and MENA universities.

The Digital MAPS network will provide its members with:

·     Access to social media mapping and analysis software which will help them better analyse the virtual environment they operate in, analyse their audiences, develop better strategies, and measure the impact of their content and online presence;

·   Training in social media analysis;

·    Access to local and international experts and researchers who will help them analyse the public sphere and identify ways to overcome challenges to their communication goals and amplify their reach;

·    Access to civil society organisations, artists, journalists, alternative media, and content creators across the MENA region with whom they will be able to share lessons experiences and build partnerships;

·    Funding to participate in programme activities and to produce content which advances openness, inclusivity, and social cohesion;

·    Solid tools and methodologies to measure the impact of their digital content. This may enable participants to better prove their impact and thus better convince funders to finance their future content.

 What will happen during the programme?

The programme will be delivered in six phases. The following table is an indicative timeline:

Throughout the programme period, participants will also have opportunities to exchange and share their experiences and learning with other participants from other MENA countries.

Who can join the programme?

Membership of the network is open to actors who subscribe to the values of inclusivity and openness. Across the countries, we expect the cohort to be diverse in cultural terms but also in terms of capabilities and outlooks. Types of actors may include youth-led alternative/digital media, solo YouTubers, comics, artist collectives, animators, photographers/photojournalists, documentary/film makers, NGOs working on cultural preservation or the representation of minorities, rap bands/singers etc.

Specifically, we are looking for candidates who:

-     Are young (or youth-led if they are an organisation);

-     Are interested in building digital skills for media/arts-based civic content;

-    Have experience producing digital content and disseminating it via online channels on a regular basis;

-    Have grown a young social media audience organically;

-    Have access to relevant production resources, including the required equipment, human resources, and social media channels/pages to disseminate their content;

-    Are committed to the values of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

There will also be other opportunities to involve additional partners during the content production phase of the programme.

What is required from partners during the programme?

Each participant is required to designate a “focal point” who is expected to be available and dedicate up to 50% of their time over the course of the programme. The focal point will attend all programme workshops and activities, including several multi-day intensive online workshops. They will also coordinate their team’s activities with the British Council and its tech and research partners. 

The position of focal point is open to all profiles (e.g. show runner, director, community manager, strategist, content creator)[1] but they will need to have sufficient authority and autonomy to make decisions and manage the project on behalf of your team/organization.

In addition to the focal point, other members of the participant’s team are also welcome to attend all or part of the trainings and workshops. By the end of the Digital MAPS programme, the focal point and team members who fully attend the programme will become trained social media analysis and will receive a certificate.

Since this is a relatively intensive programme, the British Council is willing to compensate participant for the time spent in Digital MAPS activities. Participants can receive funding to cover a half-time salary for the focal point and part-time salary or per diem for other team members who will participate in activities (depending on the intensity of their involvement).

By the end of the programme, participants will produce and publish content which is aligned with the strategy they will have developed with our tech and research partners. The British Council will make a financial contribution to support the production of this content, but participants are expected to also use their own resources (e.g. equipment, human resources) for content production.

If you are a solo content creator, you should be the programme’s focal point, but if you work with a team any senior member can be designated as focal point.

Applications and annexes should be sent to the following email address: 

 Iraq@britishcouncil.org

Please ensure that applications are sent within the deadlines specified by this call, i.e. on 23rd of September 2021, Any application exceeding these deadlines will not be considered.