Points of Departure was an exploration of international exchange and its impact on artistic practice through ground-breaking commissions in visual art, film and documentary.
Points of Departure (POD) aimed to encourage collaboration between Palestinian and UK-based cultural practitioners. It consisted of two curatorial residencies and six artist residencies to facilitate research, public engagement and the production of new groundbreaking artworks that was exhibited in both Palestine and the UK in 2013.
Six artists were selected from an open call to take part in the residency component of the project:
From the UK to ArtSchool Palestine:
Jeremy Hutchison
Olivia Plender
From Palestine to Delfina Foundation:
Jumana Emil Abboud
Bisan Abu Eisheh
Bashar Hroub
The outcomes of the residencies were presented in Ramallah at Al Mahatta Gallery (15/01/13 – 07/02/13).
A group exhibition that builds on the central themes of the project ran at the Institute of Contemporary Arts from 26 June to 21 July 2013, as one of the highlights of the Shubbak festival. The exhibition was curated by Rebecca Heald with support from Mirna Bamieh who both undertook residencies as part of the project.
The exhibition at the ICA was also supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.