Yesterday, I applied to be an artist in the American Arts Incubator program. It is a partnership between ZERO1 and U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). This incredible opportunity chooses artists to travel to Laos, Mongolia, the Philippines or Papua New Guinea to collaborate on an art project with locals. The community-driven project address a local issue culminating in a digital or mural art project. The selected artists will work with underserved youth in the communities through workshops and projects. I hope to be a part of this life-changing program. I have been dreaming of participating in an international community art project and this would be the perfect opportunity to fulfill it.
The project asks artists to state a preference or tie to Laos, Mongolia, the Philippines or Papua New Guinea. My tie to Papua New Guinea is through my grandfather. He lived there for six months after he met my grandmother in Australia. He wrote her letters, courting her from PNG. I would love to the opportunity to travel to the place he loved so much and work with people to creatively educate the community.
