APR 22-25, 2018_Rabat, Morocco.

More than thirty Arab active and enthusiastic young people from eight South Mediterranean countries were gathered in Rabat, to participate in the first edition of the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme, in the framework of the EU-funded Med Culture programme. This meeting aims to enrich their skills, strengthen their abilities and develop new creative approaches for their trainings across different sectors within their respective countries.

“This four day programme is about shifting our thinking about trainers and facilitators and the interrelationship between the two; shaping fun and effective learning experiences; and sharing best practices to better support cultural education, policy and management in the Southern Mediterranean region,” confirmed the trainer and coordinator of this training Sue Kay, who has over thirty years’ experience in arts management and cultural administration.

Fanny Bouquerel, Capacity Development Expert of the Med Culture programme highlighted that “this programme aims at taking the first steps in creating a cohesive and effective community of trainers for the future, involving cultural operators, as well as trainers and academics working in related fields such as human rights, sustainable development and public policy making.”

The Training-of-Trainers covered cross-cutting themes, such as cultural entrepreneurship, intercultural dialogue, support to artists and to youth, media and journalism, architecture and urbanism as well as sustainable community development. In the first two days, consecutive interactive workshop sessions were offered in which participants also shared their experiences and main challenges. On the third day, participants were divided into three groups each tailored to answer their specific needs and concerns. And on the last day, an Open Space session took place in which the results of the work during the workshops were discussed, and where participants gave their suggestions and recommendations for the next edition of the Training-of-Trainers which is planned to take place in the second half of the year 2017. Field visits to artistic centres and meetings with actors in the cultural field were also included in the programme, such as to Dabateatr, Appartement 22, Kulte Gallery and the Museum of Mohammed VI for Modern and Contemporary Art, giving the participants an overview of some important cultural operators in Rabat and how they manage to reach out through education, artistic performances and awareness campaigns.