Àsìkò 2025

Cairo Egypt

Àsìkò 2025

Cairo Egypt

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Director – Oyindamola Faithful
Programme Manager – Ama Ofeibea Tetteh
Project Assistant – Mary Omoregie

Programme Dates:

27 April – 25 May 2025

Theme: Holding Memory

Àsìkò Art School

In 2010, CCA Lagos initiated a unique program aimed at addressing the educational gap in Nigeria and many African countries, which tended to ignore the critical methodologies and histories that underpin artistic practice.

Using the format of part art workshop, part residency and part art academy, the art school programme focuses on critical thinking and the application of conceptual ideas alongside the techniques and methodologies of art creation.

Designed for individuals interested in exploring the conception, development and implementation of creative work, the program is mainly suited for artists, curators, and cultural practitioners who are curious and want to experiment with modes of practice and thought outside of the traditional modes of working but not to its total exclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

Cairo 2025

Honouring the plans originally initiated by Bisi Silva and its seven-year legacy in Lagos, Accra, Dakar, Maputo, and Addis Ababa between 2010 and 2017, Àsìkò Art School was reinstated in Praia, Cape Verde in 2022. After the successful relaunch of this new phase, the 2025 edition will take place in Cairo, Egypt.

Cairo has a long history spanning millennia. It has been a crucible for artistic expression. Its artistic heritage, deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian civilisation, has evolved through various historical periods, reflecting the cultural, political, and social changes that have shaped the city. Renowned for its sophisticated and intricate art, which served both religious and secular purposes, Cairo’s artistic legacy is evident in numerous preserved temples, tombs, and artefacts found in museums worldwide.

From Islamic art to Coptic Christian art to Ottoman architecture, today, through the establishment of art schools and museums that provide opportunities for artists to develop, Cairo continues to be a vibrant centre of Egypt’s artistic expression. The city’s numerous galleries, art festivals, and cultural institutions offer a platform for both local and international artists to exhibit their work.

This rich history of artistic practice in Cairo reflects the city’s long, diverse, and complex role as a fertile ground for creativity and innovation. Asiko’s goal in 2025 is to engage with how its contemporary culture is shaping its art scene while forging relations and dialogues with the global art landscape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theme: Holding Memory

The Àsìkò pedagogy places great emphasis on immersing in the rich history and culture of the locations of each hosting edition. The 2025 Asiko edition aims to delve into the intersection of art, curation, and the intricate relationship between memory and preservation within the context of Cairo, Egypt.

Under the theme of Holding Memory, Àsìkò opens a space for the exploration of the visualisation of memory, in the sense of thinking about Hieroglyphics of Memory, memory loss, forms of remembering, forgetting, excavations of memory, engaging the past, archives and history, cartography, and mapping.

These concepts invite exploration of Egypt’s unique position as both African and Middle Eastern, its important role in historical conceptions of Africa yet highlighting its disconnection with the rest of Africa and the world. The focus is on exploring the potential for shared histories and ancestral lineages. The 2025 Asiko edition potentiates a delve into the complex relationship between memory, preservation, and the geographic segregation of Africa’s rich culture and history.

Keywords; remembering, forgetting, excavating, holding, archiving, history cartography, mapping

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workshop Rationale

In most African Countries, the Visual Arts Sector is predominantly conservative with many artists working in the traditional media of painting and sculpture. There is often minimal knowledge and interest in artistic practices that use new media or digital technology or that are experimental in nature or even research based.

In order to encourage and support artists interested in exploring different conceptual and material possibilities (especially in the area of lens-based media and other experimental modes of working), the structure of Àsìkò is rooted in the convergence of different artistic processes—be it painting, sculpture, performance, installation, photography, video, internet, etc.—whilst striving to provide an alternative to the traditional residency format.

Workshop Benefits Include:

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Access to experienced local and international artists and curators.

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Individual portfolio reviews and personal feedback.

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Extended critique sessions.

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Developing writing skills for artists and curators.

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Encouraging and developing new contemporary practices on the African continent.

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Sharing knowledge through curatorial lectures, artists’ presentations and critical debate.

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Developing new ways of creative thinking through the implementation of non-traditional elements (including performance, digital and sound)

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International networking opportunities.

Structure of Àsìkò

Àsìkò is an intensive programme with compulsory scheduled activity five days per week. In keeping with local context, this edition will run Sunday to Thursday. This edition is loosely divided into 3 segments, each led by a lead artist/curator, each with their own style, working methods, and perspectives. Each segment will be complemented by 1-3 visiting guest speakers (4-5 days); curators, artists, historians, filmmakers and writers, amongst others. This gives participants a broad range of processes and insight to consider for their own development, offering stimulating opportunities for discussion, thought, and reflection. The key to each segment will be critical theory as well as various non-traditional art-making and curatorial approaches, all with the goal of helping participants realise and achieve their unique visions. The group (artists and curators) will work together towards the production and presentation of a collaborative project to be shared during the final week of the programme.

Curatorial Segment

In 2012, Àsìkò introduced a curatorial segment to the programme to respond to the urgent need to develop curatorial training on the continent. Over 10 participants from 9 different countries have taken advantage of this to develop their skills and knowledge of curatorial approaches, trends, and strategies in the fields of modern and contemporary art. During the course, curatorial participants will be encouraged to develop their research methodologies, hone their proposal development and critical writing skills, engage closely with artists and experienced professionals from across the continent and beyond. The curators will be challenged to develop and engage new curatorial formats and strategies for the final programme under experienced supervision

Participating artists and curators are required to present their work each week to their colleagues and the facilitators through seminars, talks, presentations and one to one portfolio reviews held over the course of the programme.

Who Can Apply?

Àsìkò is primarily targeted at Artists and curators from Africa and the African Diaspora. Priority will be given to African artists working on the continent who may not have had access to the education or professional opportunities that this programme offers.

Visual Artists can be working in any media – painting, sculpture, installation, textile, ceramics, photography, video, film, performance art and social practice. Applications are open to all artists (with or without formal art education) who have been professionally active for at least 3 years. Curators and writers from across Africa with at least 2 years experience and who would benefit from the close interaction with artists as well as other professionals. Artists and curators who have participated more than once are not eligible to apply.

Conditions of Acceptance:

All Participants must be available for the full programme in Cairo (April 27th – May 25th, 2025) and the four virtual programme activities pre and post the immersive programme in Cairo.

  • Àsìkò 2025 will be conducted primarily in English. All Participants must have at least a conversational level of spoken English and grasp written English for Academic texts. A Video interview will be held.
  • Applicants with any accessibility needs should indicate such on the application to ensure appropriate support and assistance can be provided.

Key Dates

Open Call:
27 November 2024 – 15 January 2025

Pre-Programme Sessions (Remote):
Session 1 – Thursday 3rd April 2025
Session 2 – Thursday 17th April 2025

Asiko Art School Programme:
27 April – 25 May 2025
Sun – Thur, 9.00am – 6.00pm.
Cairo, Egypt

Post-Programme Session (Remote):
Session 1 – June 25th 2025
Session 2 – November 25th 2025

Programme Costs

Participation fee is $850 USD for non local participants and $450 USD for local (resident in Egypt) participants

All participants must pay the participation fee, which goes towards running the programme, a modest production budget, and the final project. Non-resident participants are expected to bear their travel costs to and from Cairo as well as their living costs for the duration of the programme. Accommodation will be covered for non-resident participants.

Please note the total cost of the programme has been substantially subsidised by the CCA, Lagos. All fees must be fully paid by March 31st, 2025, in order to be accepted on the programme.

Participants are encouraged to apply for funding from their home countries or other sources to support their fees, travel and living costs. Several possible resources for funding for African applicants are as follows:

 

NOTE: We advise you to apply for travel funding whether or not your participation in the programme has been confirmed so as to not miss the application deadlines.

How Do I Apply?

Please complete the application form fully here: xxx

Successful applicants will receive a support letter in order to submit visa applications where necessary.

For additional information please contact: asikoartschool@gmail.com
IG @asiko_artschool

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