Application Deadline: 25 July 2023
To promote wider ownership of the AU Agenda of Silencing the Guns in the Continent and as a contribution to the theme of the Year 2021: « Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want », the Commission organized in Accra, Ghana, from 14 to 16 December 2021, a seminar under the theme: « Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Levers for Silencing the Guns in Africa ». The Seminar, which involved young artists from the five regions of the Continent provided an opportunity to enhance the understanding of the AU peace and security mechanisms and efforts, as well as to build their capacities to promote the STG initiative in their respective countries and communities.
As a follow-up to the December 2021 Accra Seminar, the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, (PAPS) through the Silencing the Guns (STGs) Unit, in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will, from 14 to 18 August 2023, hold the first series of virtual trainings for African artists on ‘leveraging Arts for Peace’, guided by the outcomes of the Accra meeting; and grounded in the belief that Art helps prevent conflict in communities by raising awareness and inspiring tolerance around societal differences.
The training will cover topics on the role of artists in advancing peace advocacy through arts, introduction to silencing the guns, including AU’s work in advancing peace and security, conflict prevention; and support to post-conflict reconstruction, as well as principles for effective advocacy and outreach, among others.
Requirements
An African Artist with demonstrated commitment and significant contribution to the promotion of sustainable peace and security. Applications from established artists, including young women artists, displaced persons and persons with disabilities who meet the following selection criteria are particularly encouraged:
- Be a citizen of an AU member state
- Have at least secondary school qualifications
- Be an established artist;
- Have experience in promoting, advancing and supporting peace processes, especially, community engagement experience through art
- Have a strong track record with the local community/area where he/she works
- Be proficient in either French or English languages
- Preferably able to attend from a computer for the duration of the training
- Availability and willingness to take part in the online training (5 days and 2 and half hours of training per day and 2 hours of homework daily).
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