Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet
PROGRAM INFORMATION
PROGRAM VISION AND GOALS
Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet is a new cultural engagement program launched by
Arts Midwest on behalf of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations with support from the Doris
Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. This groundbreaking initiative intends to open and expand the
dialogue between American communities and contemporary Muslim societies using the arts as a
point of entry.
Caravanserai envisions new pathways for Americans to experience the diverse artistic
expressions and cultures of Muslim societies through a series of community-based, cross-sector
cultural engagement programs that feature art and artists from the world’s Muslim diverse
Muslim cultures. The goals of the program are to:
Introduce to American audiences to some of the most exciting and dynamic artists from
the Muslim world.
Enhance Americans’ knowledge of the diverse cultures present in today’s Muslim
societies.
Advance mutual understanding among all program participants and audiences.
Build communities’ capacity to expand partnerships that will sustain programming to
achieve these goals.
PILOT PHASE PROGRAMMING
YEAR #1: 2011/2012 programming season (September 2011-June 2012). Exact dates TBD
depending on community and artist availability. Four (4) communities from across the United
States will be selected to host a series of deeply contextualized performing arts and film
residency-tours arranged by Caravanserai featuring artists from Pakistan (as well as U.S.-based
Pakistani artists). Communities selected to participate in the pilot year of programming will:
Host two (2) week-long music residencies which will include educational workshops,
community outreach events and public performances. One residency will feature a highquality musical ensemble from Pakistan and one residency will feature a high-quality
musical ensemble featuring a U.S. based Pakistani artist.
Host one, three-day film program supported by presentations from an international
Muslim film scholar or filmmaker.
MUSIC RESIDENCIES: Over the course of a music residency week, each community will receive:
8-12 informal educational workshops (approximately 1 hour in length)
Fully staged school performance(s) (approximately 1 hour in length)
Several additional community events (welcome receptions, rotary club meetings,
meetings with local travel clubs, etc.)
1 full-scale public concert (approximately 90 minutes with a break)
FILM RESIDENCIES: Over the course of a film residency week, each community will receive:
1 visit from an international filmmaker or scholar from Pakistan who will provide
background, contextualization, and cultural insight
Screening(s) of one/two films introduced by visiting filmmaker/scholar
Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Post-screening audience Q+A session with visiting filmmaker/scholar
Presentations to local film clubs, rotary clubs, etc
In addition to film screenings and formal presentations, Caravanserai will encourage
organizational partners to engage with the visiting filmmaker/scholar through
community-hosted events, dinners, and local tours (similar to the ensemble engagement).
PROGRAM SUPPORT: In addition to music and film residencies, Caravanserai will provide:
A series of professionally developed contextual resources and activities for teachers to
integrate into existing curriculum.
A suggested book acquisition list to distribute to local libraries with titles for promotion
among partners and local book clubs
Access to a network of field experts, scholars, speakers and communications specialists
assembled by Caravanserai to support and advise programming in pilot communities
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM ORIENTATION AND EVALUATION
In addition to presenting Caravanserai’s core programming elements, organizations selected for
participation in the pilot phase will be required to participate in a comprehensive program
orientation and evaluation process designed to enrich the participation experience for all
participants.
COMMUNITY PROGRAM ORIENTATION
A two-day program orientation attended by a team of three representatives from selected
organizations and their key local community partners.
Currently scheduled for the week of April 11-15, 2011 in Minneapolis, MN.
All orientation travel, lodging and participation costs for each attendee will be paid for by
Caravanserai.
Caravanserai community orientation will include program overview and vision, tools for
welcoming and engaging participating artists, communications and media planning
sessions, and a thorough introduction to the program’s evaluation mechanisms and
expectations.
COMMUNITY PROGRAM EVALUATION: Communities will be expected to engage in professional
information sharing to improve program delivery and contextual resources; and will participate
in pre- and post-program evaluation. Key components will include:
Caravanserai will hire an independent evaluation consultant to develop survey
instruments, conduct qualitative and quantitative assessments, and provide analysis.
Selected organizations will identify an on-site liaison to lead documentation and
evaluation processes and will be asked to participate in:
 Assessment of program deliverables and metrics
 Pre- and post-program surveys distributed among program cohorts (partnering
organizations, audiences, teachers, students, and residents) to assess knowledge
gained about Muslim cultures through program activities and community
interaction.
 Focus groups facilitated among program cohorts.
Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet
PROGRAM INFORMATION

Gathering of anecdotal responses from program cohorts and audience members
during and after programming to capture qualitative feedback on impact and
effectiveness.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Caravanserai will absorb major program expenses, including:
Fees and out of pocket per diem for all artists
Road management costs
Artist visas
International travel costs
Contextual and educational materials
Media relations templates (press releases, frequently asked questions, web resources, etc.)
as well as marketing materials to complement media strategy and marketing plan
Community participation in orientation costs
Evaluation consultant and materials costs
Communities will be responsible for local expenses including:
Venue rental including technical, box office and front of house costs
Local marketing expenses
Busing/local transportation
Artist lodging
Artist hospitality (eg. welcome reception, etc.)
Local coordinating costs
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Organizations selected for the pilot programming year have a unique opportunity to enhance
their community leadership profile by:
Celebrating cultural diversity and enhancing your community’s understanding of Muslim
societies and culture while presenting high-quality art experiences.
Creating and expanding global and local business, educational and civic partnerships in
the field and in your community
Broadening audience demographics while developing new paths of entry and engagement
for your core constituents.
Joining a network of communications, artistic and civic leaders across the U.S. and the
Muslim world that will provide communications, media outreach, educational and
logistics support through every phase of the program.
Expanding the artistic vision of your programming while adding to your community’s
cultural legacy.
Please contact Adam Perry ([email protected] or 612/238-8013) or Kat Duvic ([email protected] or
612/238-8016) with any questions about Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet.