Remote Closeness| Collective and Projects Brief

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REMOTE CLOSENESS Art collective Since 2020

Remote Closeness is an Amman-based art collective that has been active since 2020. The collective joins a team of interdisciplinary cultural actors from Jordan who share a love for cultural management and curating thought-provoking events in and around the country. The collective is made up of five members, including Sama Shahrouri.

The collective was first formed as part of Factory’s Public Art Program by the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, the Goethe-Institut in Jordan and the Institut Français de Jordanie with funds from the Franco-German Cultural Fund.

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REMOTE CLOSENESS Art collective Since 2020

The first program curated by the collective took place in three different phases around Jordan. Remote Closeness ran from October 2020 - December 2021.

Throughout Remote Closeness, more than 50 local, regional and international artists and cultural practitioners showcased their works publically.

The program included an online exhibition, a physical exhibition, a street tour, multiple online talks, workshops, panel discussions as well as a full residency program.

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REMOTE CLOSENESS Exhibition July 2021

Remote Closeness the exhibition concentrated on the theme of connectivity, during a time in which the boundaries of our screens and the outside world have become blurred. It developed new approaches to remotely connect with the public, featuring 17 projects created by more than 20 creatives from various disciplines and backgrounds, with artworks that address the concepts of physical and emotional proximity. The Remote Closeness event was made up of a physical exhibition, 15 art trails spread across Jordan and a public program with workshops, talks and performances.

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REMOTE CLOSENESS Public Program July 2021

The public program included street tours around a Remote Closeness art trail in the capital, a series of online workshops called Sharing Sessions as well as a number of online talks and live performances.

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REMOTE CLOSENESS Residency November 2021

The final phase of Remote Closeness took shape as a residency program.

The residency invited creatives from various artistic backgrounds to explore the future of art practices, specifically in the Jordanian context under the mentorship of artist Raed Ibrahim.

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REMOTE CLOSENESS Upcoming February - December 2022

The collective’s second program looks into cultural productions, materials and sustainability. The project promotes a circular way of using materials and resources in the cultural sector of Jordan and beyond by engaging cultural practitioners, artists and designers as agents of change.

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CONTACT: remotecloseness.com remotecloseness@gmail.com @remotecloseness