Happy Holidays From Our Almasi Family To Yours!
The stories and voices of African artists have long been denied their full breadth and global exposure. Since it's inception, Almasi has fought to challenge and abolish this inequity. Through hard work and the generosity of our valued collaborators and donors, Almasi has provided opportunities to African artists that never seemed possible previously. Every year, more deserving artists are discovered and trained through our many programs, their talent nurtured through mentorships, workshops, cultural exchanges and grant opportunities. As we reflect on this past year, we look upon our accomplishments with great pride but an even greater understanding that much work remains. 2016 has been a challenging year across the world. The circumstances we now face make it more important than ever that we nurture our personal global citizenship and engage in our own acts of inclusion and global participation. It is crucial we see to it that those who seem destined to be denied the full exploration of their potential are not left behind. Not on our watch. Learn how you can make a holiday gift to a loved one by empowering an African artist this holiday season. The details are in our newsletter below. Join me in kicking off the New Year by investing in the voices of talented artists on the African continent, whose time to shine can still be now.
Co- Founder and Executive Artistic Director
This Holiday season, you can become an Almasi supporter, and in so doing ensure that deserving African artists have the opportunity to chase their dreams.
“Actors struggle all over the world, but our kind of struggle is different" Almasi Fellow, Kudzai Sevenzo.
Against all odds, there are remarkably talented African artists working tirelessly to commit themselves to a life in the arts. However, with insufficient resources, limited infrastructure and a lack of access, making a living as a professional dramatic artist in Africa feels like but a dream. We at Almasi are working to make this dream a reality. Through our training workshops, mentorship programs, cultural exchanges, productions and grant opportunities, our team at Almasi, both in the U.S. and on-the-ground in Zimbabwe, are empowering African artists to tell their stories. We want to ensure that Africa’s underrepresented, and often misrepresented, voices are finally heard around the world.
Empower an inspiring African artist by donating to our programs!
The Cultural Exchange Program Facilitator Grant makes it possible for American artists to visit Zimbabwe to teach and mentor African artists.
The Almasi Walter Muparutsa Fellowship Artist of Excellence Grant allows exceptional African artists to take advantage of an educational opportunity abroad. Almasi’s 2016 Walter Muparutsa Fellow, Gideon is currently studying at the University of Southern California’s Dramatic Writing program. Almasi’s 2015 fellowship recipient, Tafbob Mutumbi, is currently pursuing his MFA at the Dell’Arte International School for Physical Theatre thanks to the grant.
The Cultural Exchange Program Artist Grant provides the opportunity for exceptional African Artists who have applied for assistance to come to the US for educational purposes in the Dramatic Arts.
The Artistic Training Exchange brings experts in various components of the dramatic arts from the United States to train, mentor and educate our African dramatic artists.
Almasi Staged Readings give African actors, playwrights and directors the opportunity to collaborate, expand their knowledge of dramatic literature, and hone their skills while rehearsing for a live performance of a world-renowned play. Artists receive compensation for their work, allowing them to envision a reality in which they can make a living doing what they love.
The Gift of Giving
Honor your family, friends and loved ones this holiday season by making a donation to Almasi in their name. If you would like to make a donation of someone's behalf, please email bjanka@almasiarts.org with your donation amount and the recipient's contact information and we will send them a personalized card letting them know about the generous gift.
Amazing opportunity this holiday season to make a difference in the lives of aspiring African artists
$250 Donation
Will help cover artists’ transportation and meals during participation in staged readings or workshops in Africa.
Will help fund Writer’s Dialogue Series which presents African playwrights in the process of developing their plays a platform to receive feedback on their works in progress.
$500 Donation
Will help fund Almasi’s high school outreach program, which allows younger generations of African students to be exposed to the possibility of a career in the arts through training and collaboration with Almasi fellows and artists.
$1,000 Donation
Will help fund an Almasi staged reading in Africa. Artists are able to collaborate and gain knowledge from community experts and receive compensation for their work, thus, professionalizing the African arts sector.
$2,500 Donation
Will help fund part of the Almasi Walter Muparutsa Artist of Excellence Fellowship awarded to exceptional Zimbabwean artists to help them develop their craft in the dramatic arts. The fellowship allows African artists who have a financial need to take advantage of an educational opportunity in the United States. This year, the fellowship made it possible for ZIM artist Gideon Wabvuta to attend the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts in pursuit of his MFA in Dramatic Writing.
$5,000 Donation
Will help fund a Cultural Exchange Program Facilitator Grant, which is awarded to American artists traveling to Africa to conduct educational artistic exchanges. African artists have the chance to network and connect with dramatic arts leaders from different communities.
Almasi Conducted the Capacity Building of Dramatic Artists Project
During this project, young African artists got the chance to attend playwriting workshops and writer's dialogue sessions to develop their playwriting skills, as well as work on physical theatre basics with a group of experts. Some of the workshops were conducted in collaboration with the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe.
Almasi Fellow, Kudzai Sevenzo Awarded Cultural Exchange Program Artist Grant
During her participation in Almasi’s capacity building workshops, Kudzai Sevenzo, a Zimbabwean actress and playwright, was identified by Almasi’s selection committee as a standout artist and was awarded a Cultural Exchange Program Artist Grant, which enabled her to travel for three months to the United States, where she had the chance to audition for acting programs. Kudzai later received seven place offers from esteemed conservatories.
Almasi Fellow, Gideon Wabvuta Awarded Walter Muparutsa Artist of Excellence Fellowship
Almasi awarded the Walter Muparutsa Artist of Excellence Fellowship to Zimbabwean artist, Gideon Wabvuta. Under the guidance of Robert Egan, organizer and facilitator of the Almasi African Playwrights Festival, Gideon had the opportunity to develop one of his original works, resulting in an invitation to the Ojai Playwrights Conference, where he was once again supported in the development of a successful one-man show, Mbare Dreams. The transformative experience inspired Gideon to soon after apply for grad school. Thanks to the fellowship, Gideon was able to take advantage of his opportunity to attend the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts, where he is now pursuing his MFA in Dramatic Writing!
Adam Immerwahr 2016 Cultural Exchange Facilitator Grant Recipient
In July of this year, Almasi partnered again with respected Theatre J Artistic Director, Adam Immerwahr, sending him to Zimbabwe to help institutionalize Almasi operations, working with our on-the-ground personnel to develop a system of operations which ensures we serve our constituents more effectively. During his time in Zimbabwe, Adam also facilitated a management workshop for art professionals working in ZIM. This was Adam's second trip to Zimbabwe; during his first visit in 2013, Adam directed The Convert, training and mentoring Zimbabwean directors, actors, designers and stage managers throughout the process.
Almasi Fellow Kudzai Sevenzo Invited to Ojai Playwrights Festival
As a result of her collaboration with Robert Egan during her time as an Almasi fellow, playwright and actress Kudzai Sevenzo was invited to participate in the Ojai Playwrights Conference this summer. In Ojai, Kudzai had the chance to develop her skills as a playwright, workshopping her play in staged readings, rehearsals and a final performance of her first completed work, Under the Rubble.
Almasi Walter Muparutsa Fellow, Gideon’s Awarded Internship at the Prestigious Public Theatre in NYC
Gideon attended the TCG conference and subsequently undertook an internship at the Public Theatre under Almasi Board Member and Associate Artistic Director of the Public Theatre, Mandy Hackett, and the theater's Literary department.
RECENT ALMASI EVENTS
Staged Reading of Anowa by Ama Ata Aidoo, directed by Zimbabwean actress, Sandra Chidawanyika Goliath
Staged Reading of The Good Woman of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Almasi Associate Artistic Director, Elizabeth Zaza Muchemwa
Staged Reading of Ruined by Lynn Nottage, directed by Almasi Fellow, Kudzai Sevenzo
Staged Reading of The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, directed by Sandra Chidawanyika-Goliath
Staged Reading of Fences by August Wilson
Churchill High School Playwriting Workshop, facilitated by Almasi Walter Muparutsa Fellow, Gideon Wabvuta. Collaboration between Almasi and the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe.
Tumaini, a physical theater performance led by Almasi participant, Lloyd Nyikadzino
