Intercontinental mobility of art, culture and its actors between Europe and Africa is on the rise but still at a low level. The various barriers are too high, above all the visa problem.  

Shaping Crossroads is a programme within the Deconfining project with which the ITI, together with representatives of cultural organisations from African and European countries, aims to develop new ways and solutions to improve the conditions for mobility. Re-Thinking Mobility is the approach used to identify new topics and rethink existing ones, such as legal frameworks, sustainability aspects, ideas on ‘care’ and 'hospitality', funding issues and questions on ‘cultural gatekeeping’.  

Shaping Crossroads (critically) examines approaches to overcoming Eurocentric perspectives and colonial continuities in intercontinental collaboration. The programme aims to foster appreciative and (both ecologically and interpersonally) sustainable cultural networks by addressing the challenges artists and cultural practitioners face when working across continental borders. Participants will explore how to change the traditionally one-way focus of mobility and seek to identify structures, measures and support systems needed for a more balanced and inclusive exchange. In this way, the programme aims to formulate viable (cultural) policy recommendations and stimulate a new vision for intercontinental cooperation.

Programme

The Shaping Crossroads working group consists of program staff members Lilian Hipolyte (Nafasi Arts Space), Milena Gehrt (ITI), and Felix Sodemann (ITI), as well as five fellows selected through an open call: Thobile Maphanga (African Festivals Network) and Joshua Alabi (African Festivals Network), Emma Beverley (Helsinki International Artist Programme), Beatrice Waruinge (Connect for Culture Africa), and Wabwire Joseph Ian (KQ Hub Africa). Affiliation with an institution was a decisive criterion for the selection of fellows.
> FELLOWS / PROGRAMME TEAM

Following online work phases in July and September, the programme team will meet in February 2026 at the Nafasi Art Space in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for exchange, joint work, and the presentation of initial results. Further events will follow in 2026.