Applications call for OneBeat Sahara Fellowship 2020

OneBeat Sahara Fellowship will convene 25 musicians from seven countries in the Saharan Region and the U.S. to collaboratively create original work and to develop a global network of civically engaged music initiatives. During this 3-week program, which includes a residency in Béchar and tour to Taghit and Algiers, OneBeat Sahara Fellows will explore black diasporic musical traditions that traveled from Africa to the Americas, and back to Africa again. This program will focus particularly on the elements of these artistic traditions and their links to North African music both ancient and contemporary which create a cultural power based in resilience, creativity, and mutual support.

Costs

All costs will be covered for OneBeat Sahara Fellowship, including travel and accommodations. Fellows will also receive a per diem and a modest honorarium.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be between 19-35 years during the dates of the program (the program is expected to run in February 2021).
• Musicians from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with or without formal musical training.
• They welcome music of all genres, including but not limited to: traditional/folk, hip hop, experimental, electronic, jazz, classical, sound design, beat-making, multimedia art, or any combination of these styles.
• In addition to full-time professional musicians, they also invite adventurous musicians who double as community organizers, instrument builders, writers, videographers, musicologists, educators, storytellers, dancers, shadow-puppeteers, and more.

Eligible Countries and Territories

Albania, Algeria, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greenland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Applications should plan to write about their musical background and interests as well as future projects and goals. Applications will be asked to submit 3-5 samples of their solo and collaborative work (both audio and video are accepted).

Selection Criteria 

• Musical Excellence: A high level of performance, composition, improvisational, production, and/or technological skill. Ideally, OneBeat musicians will be innovating stylistically, lyrically, or technologically within their musical worlds.
• Collaboration: Applicants’ willingness to reach across cultural and musical divides in creating original music or re-interpreting traditional music, while respecting the essence of each tradition. Applicants should be prepared to try new things musically.
• Social Engagement: Musicians who have used music to serve their communities or greater societies. This might consist of guiding young people in music education, addressing social or political issues through musical content, reviving dying musical traditions, and more.
• Age: Applicants must be between 19-35 years old.
• English Proficiency: Applicants should be able to converse in and understand basic English, as it will be the common language of the OneBeat program.
• Country or Territory of Origin: OneBeat Fellows must currently live full-time in one of the 44 eligible countries and territories. They also seek applicants who have not traveled extensively to the U.S. or have rarely performed in the U.S.
• Internet Proficiency: Whenever possible, OneBeat Fellows should actively use email and be able to connect to the internet to participate in OneBeat website-based activities.

For more information about the program, click here.