Podcast - Meditations On (Season 3)

Season 3 of Meditations On is generously sponsored by

In this episode, we host Reem Allam, the new Associate Director of Artistic Planning at the Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and former Executive Manager and Artistic Programmer of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival in Egypt. Reem passionately advocates for the transformative potential of festivals in fostering collective consciousness, cultural shifts, and economic growth and firmly believes in the role of the arts and creativity as political instruments to safeguard artists' freedom of expression. Furthermore, Reem discusses the challenges and dynamics of the arts sector in Egypt, particularly the lack of local support structures. Finally, she touches on her new role at NYU Abu Dhabi and how she aims to leverage the larger resources there to continue supporting and connecting the artistic community.

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In this episode, we explore the innovative approach of London's South Bank Center's classical music head, and the UK's youngest senior curator, Toks Dada. The conversation centers on attracting younger audiences to classical music through strategic program curation, similar to fashion and technology. Leadership and fresh perspectives are stressed. Curating with intention, considering audience preferences, and using partnerships to grow and diversify are key themes. The episode shows how digital channels complement physical experiences to introduce classical music to new audiences. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of effective communication and rethinking physical venues.

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In this episode, our guest is Rita Ezenwa-Okoro, a creative culturist, performance activist, communications expert, and founder of the Street Project Foundation. Based in Nigeria, she believes in the creative arts' ability to foster self-esteem, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding through play and performance. Rita is also the new Executive Director of the Global Play Brigade, an international movement using play and performance to bridge divides across the globe. She discusses global issues and advocates for the performing arts to lead development. She encourages listeners to use the performing arts for social change and human development and to join her in creating global centers for artistic activism and intercultural dialogue.

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The Afghanistan National Institute of Music has been a source of national pride and a symbol of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's renewed dedication to arts, culture and education. But what has the return of the Taliban meant for ANIM and music education in Afghanistan as a whole? How did the organization navigate the chaotic and rapid fall of the previous government? And what are its plans for the future? In December of 2021, Meditations On host Ilter Ibrahimof discussed these issues with ANIM founder and director Dr. Ahmad Sarmast at his and the school's new home of Lisbon, Portugal.

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Muriel Miguel of the Kuniyala and Rappahannock nations is the founder and Artistic Director of Spiderwoman Theatre, the longest running Indigenous feminist theater in the Americas. She facilitates Storyweaving Workshops - a signature Indigenous performance methodology that she pioneered - in universities and communities across the US, Canada and Europe.

A multi-talented actor, choreographer, playwright and visionary, Muriel’s remarkable journey and her landmark contributions to the contemporary feminist and Indigenous theatre serves as an inspiration to all generations of artists and arts leaders. Muriel and Meditations On host Ilter Ibrahim Muriel spoke in December of 2021 about the importance of story, what it means to really listen to one another, and what inclusion does and doesn’t look like.

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In this episode, hear from Berlin-based artist musician Nahum as he guides you into an unsettling journey and engages in a critical dialogue about the politics of existence, diversity, and space exploration. Navigating between the real and the imaginary, Nahum’s work focuses on creating unconventional perspectives of human experience by using outer space technology, illusionism, and hypnosis.

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Darren Walker is the visionary president of the Ford Foundation, an independent non-profit 13 billion dollar international social justice institution. A true catalyst for positive change, in this episode Walker sat down with us for a feature interview. He discussed his personal journey, the future of arts leadership, and how social justice, empathy, and radical thinking must guide the way.

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