The US Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal Communitere jointly launched the American Arts Incubator (AAI)—Nepal program on April 5 with an “artist talk” where American artist Jennifer Berry will talk about her previous work and creative practice, and share with us her approach to the incubator.
American Arts Incubator (AAI) is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in partnership with ZERO1 that sends U.S. artists abroad to collaborate with local communities for a month-long incubator. The creative collaborations transfer skills in art, technology, and entrepreneurship. Through the digital and new media art workshops, the artists facilitate dialogue and explorations of the social challenge.
In Kathmandu, through Berry’s workshops, 17 participants selected through an open call, learned the basics of digital fabrication and 3D printing to create innovative and participatory projects that engage the public around the theme of opportunity for women. The AAI program was hosted at Nepal Communitere, a community-based innovation hub that works with diverse change-makers to convert their ideas into reality.
The participants also received small grants to work on their project ideas. The month-long program closed with a panel review and open house to the public at Nepal Communitere from April 25-27.
