Apply now for Local Gatherings Program 2024

The aims of this program are to expand the community of people engaged with the Meeting Point platform, and to give practitioners micro-grants to organise events in their local communities.

A Local Gathering can be an activity such as a talk, workshop, seminar or creative action which engages people in connection and exchange in relation to the theme of the 2024 Meeting Point, Perspectives from the Grassroots. It can be a short event (e.g. half a day) or happen over 2-3 days. It can be for a big group or a small group, depending on the topics you want to engage on and the format of your gathering.

By creating a network of multiple local gatherings happening in parallel, MCH aims to generate collective energy to feed into the Meeting Point and to create a sense of connection and solidarity between communities.

Benefits

• By participating in this program Hosts will benefit from:
  • Micro-grant of up to $1,500 USD to support organising an event
  • Growing your networks in Asia by meeting and exchanging with the other Hosts
  • Getting new insights into local contexts across Asia through exchanging with the other Hosts
  • Personal and professional development through peer exchange at the monthly workshops, as well as implementing your event
  • Being supported to attend the in-person Meeting Point program in Hanoi, with all logistics and costs supported by MCH.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for this program you must be:
  • A citizen of Asia
  • Organizing a gathering that will be in person, in Asia, clearly connected to the theme Perspectives from the Grassroots: A Meeting Point on Art & Social Action in Asia
  • Willing to organize your gathering between March 8th and March 16th 2024
    • You do not have to give them an exact date of your gathering when you apply but you do have to commit that you will organize it within this date range
  • Demonstrate openness to sharing your practice and experience of hosting your gathering, both during the preparation process and after the event, in order to enrich dialogues and connections between cultural practitioners in Asia
  • Able to commit to all key program dates, particularly the monthly online exchanges and the travel dates for the workshop and the Meeting Point in Hanoi
• They welcome applications both from people who have hosted Local Gatherings previously, as well as first time applicants.
• Local Gathering Hosts could be from various professional profiles including but not limited to producers, managers, artists, and community organisers.

Selection Criteria

• The criteria that they will use to select participants for this program include:
  • Adherence to the eligibility criteria
  • Evidence of interest and enthusiasm to take part, including commitment to sharing and learning with fellow Hosts
  • Having a diverse range of experiences and perspectives among the group (considering factors such as countries, artistic disciplines, professional practice, years of experience)
  • Potential for connection and collaboration between clusters of hosts, e.g. common interests and concerns, or shared challenges.

For more information, visit MCH.