Flicker: A visual intervention in the cityscape of Damascus

Artists: Haluk Akakçe, Tacita Dean, Willie Doherty, Susan Hiller, Rachel Lowe, Christina Mackie, Rosalind Nashashibi, Thomson & Craighead, Wood & Harrison. Appearing in unexpected places, Flicker offers an opportunity for audiences to experience contemporary artists' film and video, hoping to surprise and inspire. 12 artists’ works from the British Council Collection have been selected for exhibition. They will be shown in a variety of venues, ranging from the Faculty of Arts of Damascus University, Mustafa Ali Gallery, to the exterior wall of a building. Each venue will offer a unique context for the reading of the work. Over a period of three weeks from late March 2009, the works will be launched one by one on consecutive days accompanied by a brief introduction by a local artist, critic or curator, giving insight into the work and encouraging discussion. Alongside the exhibition, an intensive educational wrap-around programme will include: a short course on digital film-making, an artists’ lecture and an introduction to film-making workshop for students and young people. Books and further resources for filmmakers will be held at British Council Damascus and an open submission competition organised locally will aim to encourage aspiring film-makers to make their own short film or video work. www.britishcouncil.org/syri