This is an open call for creative and cultural entrepreneurs in leadership positions to apply for a new professional development opportunity being offered by the British Council Iraq
Deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 October 2023 11:59PM Iraq time
About the programme:
In 2022, the British Council commissioned a mapping exercise of Iraq’s emerging creative economy. It was clear from this exercise that despite the wealth of talent and potential in Iraq, there is still a great need for skills development across all sub-sectors of the creative economy. Skills development was identified as one of the most important and sought-after forms of support required for Iraq’s creative practitioners, creative businesses and cultural leaders, including policy-level stakeholders.
To address this need, the British Council is conducting a Creative Enterprise Bootcamp, a training and development opportunity aimed at Iraqi cultural and creative entrepreneurs based in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and Erbil who are currently leading cultural and creative initiatives and seeking to strengthen their ideas, business models and/or project management skills.
‘Seed funding' will be made available via a competitive process following completion of the training bootcamp. Successful applicants will receive grants that will allow them to put their learning into practice and deliver new action-oriented initiatives.
The main objectives of the training bootcamp are:
- To develop the skills of early-to-mid-career creative leaders to be able to develop sustainable creative enterprises/interventions that have cultural and social value and can secure financial investment.
- To increase participants’ awareness and understanding of the creative economy, its value and potential impact, and how to build engagement in the sector.
- Increase the skills of participants to use research, insights and case studies to advocate for and raise awareness about creative economy in their contexts.
Who can apply?
This bootcamp is open to 12 creative and cultural practitioners and entrepreneurs in leadership positions aged 25 – 35 from Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and Erbil to help build their capacity to develop sustainable creative enterprises /interventions that have cultural and social value and can secure financial investment.
Applications will be accepted from individuals only.
We are looking for talented and diverse creative practitioners to participate in this programme and would welcome applications from under-represented groups eg. persons with disabilities.
Essential criteria:
- Relevant experience (3 - 8 years): participants should have a track record of active involvement in the creative sector for a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 8 years. Typically, they will be early - mid career practitioners who have recently assumed a leadership position or are clearly demonstrating leadership potential.
- Age: 25 – 35 years old.
- Geographic Diversity: Residents in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and Erbil areas.
- Equality: To promote diversity and inclusion, we aim to have a minimum of 50% female participants.
Participants must also confirm availability to travel to Erbil for the 4-day bootcamp (20 hours total) in November – December 2023. The training will be followed by a mentoring phase that will help participants strengthen their creative initiatives and creative businesses and enable them to develop proposals for securing future investment. This includes the opportunity to apply for British Council seed funding after the training.
Application Process:
Applicants need to submit the following to ce.bootcamp.iq@britishcouncil.org by Tuesday, 31 October 2023, 11:59 pm Iraq time:
A. Expression of interest (2 pages maximum) highlighting your motivation, aspirations and goals for participating in the bootcamp.
B. CV (2 pages maximum) outlining your experience as a cultural and creative practitioner/entrepreneur, including any relevant examples from an educational, professional and/or voluntary perspective.
C. Short briefing paper (2 pages maximum) on the creative and cultural initiative/enterprise that you are leading. Please outline its objective(s), desired impact (for example, the problem it is trying to solve or the issue it is responding to) and your vision for further developing it.
Notes:
- The applications can be submitted in English, Arabic or Kurdish.
- Only successful applicants will be notified.
Selection process:
All received submissions will be reviewed against the following:
- Eligibility – Does the application meet all the essential criteria?
- Feasibility – Is the expression of interest and brief on creative initiative clear and well-developed?
- Purpose – does the initiative/enterprise respond creatively to a challenge or an issue? Does it contribute to the growth of the creative sector and/or support other creatives and entrepreneurs?
- Location – a minimum of 2 applicants to be selected from each of the four locations (Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Erbil).
Application Timeline:
- Open Call launched on 4 October 2023
- Application deadline: 31 October 2023, 11:95 PM. Any applications sent after this date will not be considered.
- Anyone seeking further information or queries need to email us at Nabaa.Algaber@britishcouncil.org by 15 October 2023
- Successful applicants to be notified by within 10 days of the deadline for applications.
Overview of the British Council
We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
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We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
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We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.