What is Jubilee Arts?

Jubilee Arts is a new international programme to be established in the Diamond Jubilee year that endeavours to celebrate the Jamat’s vast artistic skills and cultural traditions and aims to encourage a deeper appreciation for the arts within the Jamat. Jubilee Arts provides opportunities for aspiring Ismaili artists from around the world to showcase and further develop their talents both during and beyond the Diamond Jubilee year.

What is the International Arts Festival?

The International Arts Festival is the inaugural event of Jubilee Arts where Ismaili artists from around the world will come together to celebrate talent in one of three anchor events: a Talent Showcase; a Film Festival; and an Art Gallery. The International Arts Festival is a unique opportunity for the global Jamat to experience our rich cultural traditions and plurality through artistic expression.

What is the goal of Jubilee Arts?

Jubilee Arts is the first platform of its kind to bring together established and aspiring Ismaili artists on a global stage, and to showcase their special talents and abilities to the entire Jamat. The introduction of Jubilee Arts establishes a new platform to celebrate and reinforce this strong and storied heritage of our Jamat. It will create a legacy for the arts to endure beyond the Diamond Jubilee year.

What events will be included in Jubilee Arts?

The International Arts Festival will take place over the course of multiple days. Participants will experience dynamic shows across three anchor events: an International Talent Showcase, an International Art Gallery, and an International Film Festival.

Is there a minimum age for an artist to be able to participate in Jubilee Arts?

While there is no age limit to participate in the regional or national art festivals, travel and legal restrictions may apply to artists attending the International Arts Festival in person. These considerations are currently under review. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Who can participate in the International Arts Festival?

Only eligible artists can participate in the International Arts Festival. Eligible artists include Ismailis and their interfaith spouses and children. For the International Art Gallery and the Film Festival, eligible artists must be the primary submitter and a significant contributor to the work or performance. These entries are permitted to have non-eligible artists as supporting or contributing members. Supporting artists must be given proper credit with the submission.

Will Jubilee Arts be an annual programme?

Jubilee Arts is a Diamond Jubilee International Programme and a legacy platform that is anticipated to continue beyond 2018.

How do I participate in Jubilee Arts?

Participation can be as an artist, volunteer, or spectator. National Councils will advance artists/performers to the International Arts Festival. Festival requirements will be announced by your National Council.

Details for volunteering at the International Arts Festival and attending as a spectator will be announced at a later stage.

What is the maximum number of events I can register for at the International Arts Festival?

At the International Arts Festival, artists will be limited to participating in one category at one event.

Is registration eligibility based by citizenship or residence?

An artist can only represent one National Council jurisdiction at Jubilee Arts, typically the country where the artist currently resides. However, an artist who has relocated to another country for less than six months prior to the start date of the event, but within the time allocated to participate in the regional festival, may choose to represent their current country of residence or the National Council jurisdiction from where they have relocated.

An artist who is a student attending school or university, or is working on a temporary assignment outside of their home country may choose to represent the National Council jurisdiction where they regularly reside  or the National Council jurisdiction where they currently study or work.

Can an artist’s work be submitted for the International Arts Festival if she/he is unable to attend?

All artists are strongly encouraged to attend the International Arts Festival and represent their work. There will be many opportunities for artists to network, participate in panel discussions and share their creative process.

It should be noted that the Talent Showcase will require the artist’s physical presence as it is a live performance.

Does an artist’s submission to the International Arts Festival need to be the same as their National Festival submission?

Yes. There can be no changes to the submission. What is submitted to the National Festival must be same submission presented at the International Art Festival.

How should an artist use the creative prompts?

A creative prompt is a word, phrase, or idea that evokes and inspires creative or critical thought from an artist. Each submission should incorporate one of the four creative prompts: Time, Legacy, Aspiration, and Devotion. These prompts are broad ideas and can be interpreted by the artists freely. As part of the application process, each artist will be asked to describe how their submission connects to one of the creative prompts.

For the creative prompt - Devotion, what are the criteria?

Art submissions that include content relating to the practice of the faith, religious ceremonies, or rituals that are performed within the Jamatkhanas will not be permitted at the National and International Arts Festivals.  This includes but is not limited to recitations of dua, farmans, ginans, qasidas, madohs, nade ali and zikr. 

Can an artist perform in a language other than English?

Yes. If submissions are made in other languages, translation to English must be provided with the submission. For example, all films must have English subtitles. The lyrics of all songs, poems, and other written works to be performed must be submitted both in the artist’s local language and translated into English. All artist biographies must be submitted in both the artist’s local language and English.

Do vocalists need to sing their own original works?

Performers do not need to be the original authors, composers, singers, choreographers, or musicians for the musical, vocal, dance, or creative art piece to be performed. Performers must obtain all required permissions to perform the music, song, written word, or script that they are performing, as well as for any accompanying visual or musical pieces. Performers must also attribute the song, music, written word, and/or script to the original artist.

Who is responsible for obtaining the licenses and necessary copyright allowances?

Artists are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary licenses, rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their artistic pieces, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. Artists must retain written documentation of all licenses obtained and may be asked to produce such documentation.

Who can artists contact if they have questions?

Each National Council jurisdiction has an appointed National Arts Coordinator who can answer further questions. The email address for this individual is listed on the Contact Us section of the Jubilee Arts microsite.