Photomarathon for Peace

Good Practice: Making waves across the Mediterranean

Category: Video, Photography.

Description: In September RECREATURA_arts&culture organized a series of events under the motto Making waves across the Mediterranean. Their objective with this project was to foster a culture of co-existence and peace between the countries in the Mediterranean.

On Saturday, 5 September they organised a Photomarathon on the Mediterranean combined with a public breakfast. The event took place in front of the MuVIM (Museu Valencià de la Illustració i de la Modernitat, entering calle Quevedo), starting at 10am with a public breakfast during which the rules of participation and the topic of the Marathon were announced. The official start of the Marathon was at 11am – the participants had time from then until 5pm to take pictures corresponding to the announced topic. In parallel, between 10am – and 5pm, a Peace Fair was held in cooperation with such renowned NGOs such as Intermon Oxfam, Amnesty International and Entreiguales Valencia.

A jury made up of various Photography and Mediterranean experts including José Manuel Gironés, Director of the UNESCO Centre in Valencia; Willy Domeque, photographer and illumination expert; Mercedes Acitores, Mediterranean expert, as well as Mateo Gamón, photographer, selected the winners. The best photographers received attractive prizes such as cameras, framed photos or a dinner for two in Valencia.

The 20 best photos were shown from 14 – 21 September in the Institut Français in Valencia and the opportunity was given to select an “Audience Award”. All the final winners were eventually announced during a closing ceremony in the evening of September 21st, International Peace Day. Moreover, the Euro-Med Young Artist Network (EMYAN) will make a part of the photo exhibition available during the second edition of their online arts festival taking place between 20 – 30 October 2009 (www.emyan.org).

The actions are all part of the regional initiative Restore trust, rebuild bridges launched by the Anna-Lindh-Foundadtion for the Dialogue between Cultures and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. They were generated with the financial support of the Anna-Lindh-Foundation.

Used Tools: Picasa, YouTube, Blogger, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Language: English, Spanish.