Over a six-week period leading up to the application deadline, the Afghanistan Cultural Fund received a diverse array of over 500 project ideas from countries ranging from Australia and Afghanistan to Canada. After an intensive selection process, the jurors have endorsed 42 projects: 15 in the Music funding line and 27 in the Storytelling funding line, with a total budget exceeding 300,000 euros.

Selecting only 42 projects was a challenge given the significantly higher number of high-quality and important submissions. We extend our sincere gratitude to all applicants and hope that if your project was not selected this time, you will continue to contribute your ideas in the future.

We are particularly pleased that approximately half of the projects involve at least one participant based in Afghanistan or have their production site there. Furthermore, 27 projects feature majority participation by women or are led by women. For security reasons, the names and details of those located in Afghanistan will not be disclosed. Twelve projects with applicants and activities based in Afghanistan encompass visual and performing arts, music, and literature, including educational programs.

The list of grantees is continuously updated and may continue to be updated until around January 2024.

Music

Below, we present the grant recipients for Music in alphabetical order, along with the titles of their projects:

Project Leads: Bikaraan, Shahrokh
Project Name/Description: Plectrum Fusion
Locations: Europe & USA

Project Leads: Ghorjani, Fanus & Momand, Zara at bee4change
Project Name/Description: Mehmani
Locations: Germany

Project Leads: Hamed, Samay
Project Name/Description: Hybrid Program for Children and Teenagers
Locations: Germany

Project Leads: Mahboub, Silsila at Refugee Advisory Board Association
Project Name/Description: Voices of the World
Locations: Bulgaria

Project Leads: Mohammadi, Ebrahim
Project Name/Description: Roshanak
Locations: Portugal

Project Leads: Mosadeq, Shekib at Afghanisches Kommunikations- und Kulturzentrum
Project Name/Description: Afghanistan Female Choir
Locations: Germany

Project Leads: Nawshad, Mohammad Qambar at Instrumentalverein Dortmund
Project Name/Description: A Concert in Celebration of German-Afghan Solidarity
Locations: Germany

Project Leads: Sarkhosh, Mohammed Murad
Project Name/Description: Musician from the Roof of the World
Locations: Portugal

Project Leads: Soroor, Elaha
Project Name/Description: Online Music Education for Young Afghans
Locations: United Kingdom

Project Leads: Wassa, Babrak at Afghan Musicians Association
Project Name/Description: Mixed Orchestra of approximately Forty-Two Musicians from Afghanistan and the World
Locations: Europe

Two additional project sites and their respective leads are based in Afghanistan.

Storytelling

Below, we present the recipients of storytelling support, listed alphabetically alongside the titles of their projects:

Project Leads: Akbari, Razia at Center for Contemporary Arts of Afghanistan in Exile
Project Name/Description: Art and Contemporary Narrative
Locations: Afghanistan & Germany

Project Leads: Askarzai, Ahmad Wali
Project Name/Description: Painting Classes for Chidren in Refugee Camps
Locations: Germany

Project Leads: Azad, Abdul Ghafar
Project Name/Description: We Have Gotten Used to Leaving
Locations: Afghanistan, Germany & France

Project Leads: Hamidi, Hila
Project Name/Description: Attan: The Heartbeat of Afghan Culture
Locations: Afghanistan & USA

Project Leads: Hossaini, Said Mohsen
Project Name/Description: Border (Short Animation)
Locations: Norway

Project Leads: Khpalwak, Shafiqa
Project Name/Description: Laar
Locations: Canada

Project Leads: Khademi, Kubra at Latitudes Contemporaines
Project Name/Description: Inside Kaboul
Locations: France

Project Leads: Mohammadi, Mohammad Musa
Project Name/Description: Memories writing of Afghans on the prison walls in Indonesia
Locations: Indonesia

Project Leads: Mojadidi, Amanullah
Project Name/Description: The Diaspora Dialogues
Locations: Germany & France

Project Leads: Morawej, Hadi
Project Name/Description: Face of Silence
Locations: Afghanistan, Europe & Canada

Project Leads: Mousavi, Leila
Project Name/Description: The Lost Goddesses: Reviving the Forgotten Identity of Afghan Women
Locations: Germany & France

Project Leads: Najibullah, Moska
Project Name/Description: روزیها و یادها (Roozihaa wa Yaadha) - Days and Memories
Locations: India & United Kingdom

Project Leads: Pashtoonyar, Salar
Project Name/Description: Kabul Nights
Locations: Afghanistan

Project Leads: Taheri, Armeghan & Fazli, Shiraz
Project Name/Description: Mullah Nasruddin and the Messenger
Locations: Germany & USA

Ten additional project sites and their respective leads are based in Afghanistan.