UN-HABITAT

Municipalidad de Dubai, E.A.U.

UN-HABITAT Municipality de Dubai, E.A.U.

Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment

SUBMISSION GUIDE AND REPORTING FORMAT 8th CYCLE - YEAR 2010

1. a) Name of the Best Practice: Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego

b) City: Ciudad de Buenos Aires c) Country: Argentina d) Region: Latin America,

2. Address of the Best Practice Name of the Organization: Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego, Nampelkan Asociacin Civil
Street: Zelaya 3006 City: Ciudad de Buenos Aires Postal Code: 1215 Country: Argentina Phone: 0054 11 48610258 Mail: info@teatrociego.com

3. Contact Person Type of Organisation: Organisation choose from the following: Non-Governmental

4. The Nominating Organisation (only if different from above).

a) Name of Organisation: Asociacin Civil Nampelkan, Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego b) Address of the Organisation: Street: Zelaya 3006 City: Ciudad de Buenos Aires Postal Code: 1215 Country: Argentina Phone: 0054 11 48610258 Mail: info@teatrociego.com c) Contact Person: Martn Bondone, Valentn Gomez 3178 PB B, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, 1190, Argentina, 0054 11 48610258, martin@teatrociego.com d) Tipo de organizacin:

Organizacin no gubernamental

5. The Partners Partner 1 a) Name of Organisation: Secretara de Inclusin Cultural, Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Copidis. b) Address of the Organisation Street: Av. Corrientes 1665 3 E City: Buenos Aires Postal code: 1215

State: Capital Federal Country: Argentina Phone: 54-11- 4371-4068 Contact Person: Jorge Covian Mail: jorgecovian@yahoo.com.ar Type of Organisation: Central Government Type of Support: Financial Support Partner 1 Name of Organisation: Pernod Ricard Argentina S.R.L Street: Jujuy 1197 City: Bella Vista POSTAL CODE: 1661 State: Buenos Aires Country: Argentina Telephone: (5411) 4469-8000 Contact Person: Mariana Tiscornia Mail: Mariana.Tiscornia@pernod-ricard-argentina.com Type of Organisation: Sector Privado Type of Support: Financial, Technical Partner 2 Name of Organisation: Instituto Nacional del Teatro Street: Av. Pueyrredn 768 4 Piso - Dto. A City: Bella Vista POSTAL CODE: 1191 State: Buenos Aires Country: Argentina Telephone: 0054 11 4962-8231/2392 Contact Person: Pablo Bont Mail: capital@inteatro.gov.ar Type of Organisation: Gobierno Type of Support : Financial, Poltico, Technical Partner 4 Name of Organisation: Proteatro, Buenos Aires. Street: Av. de Mayo 575, 4 piso, of. 400 City: Buenos Aires

POSTAL CODE: 1425 State: Capital Federal Country: Argentina Telephone: 54-11- 4323-9685 Contact Person: Juan Manuel Beati Mail: jbeati@buenosaires.gov.ar Type of Organisation: Gobierno Provincial Type of Support: Financial, Technical Partner 4 Name of Organisation: Secretara de Inclusin Cultural, Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Copidis. Street: Av. Corrientes 1665 3 E City: Buenos Aires POSTAL CODE: 1215 State: Capital Federal Country: Argentina Telephone: 54-11- 4371-4068 Contact Person: Jorge Covian Mail: jorgecovian@yahoo.com.ar Type of Organisation: Gobierno Provincial Type of Support: Financial

Partner 5 Name of Organisation: Asociacin de Teatro Independiente. Street: Colombres 35 City: Buenos Aires POSTAL CODE: 1177 State: Capital Federal Country: Argentina Telephone: 54-11- 4981-5167 Contact Person: Jorge Covian Mail: artei2@yahoo.com.ar Type of Organisation: ONG Type of Support: Poltico

Partner 6 Name of Organisation: Cultura Abasto Asociacin Civil Street: Jean Jaures 676 City: Buenos Aires POSTAL CODE: 1215 State: Capital Federal Country: Argentina Telephone: 54-11- 6379-8596 Contact Person: Mara Suarez Mail: msuarez123@googlemail.com Type of Organisation: ONG Type of Support: Poltico

6. Financial Profile Partner Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego Partner 1: Pernod Ricard Argentina Partner 2: Instituto Nacional del Teatro Partner 3: Proteatro De Buenos Aires Partner 4: Copidis Total US$ Year 1 75% 0% 0% 0% 25% U$S 27.500 Year 2 57% 8% 16% 9% 10% U$S 54.500 Year 3 58% 7% 17% 10% 8% U$S 65.800 Year 4 60% 8% 16% 7% 9% U$S 78.000

Category of the Best Practice: Poverty Reduction Income generation Vocational training Equal access to jobs, credit and training

Job creation Access to credit

Economic Development Local / metropolitan economic development Industrial development Enterprise development (formal & informal Investment development sectors) Capital formation and entrepreneurship Training Co-operative opportunities Micro-credit

Equal access to economic resources Recreation Public safety Justice system reform Vulnerable groups including women

Social Services Education Health and welfare Crime reduction and prevention Equal access to social services (especially by women)

7. Level of Activity

Select one of the following that best describes the usual level of activity: Global Regional (international) Provincial/S Metropolitan tate Neighbourh Village ood National City/Town Internationa l

8. Eco-System
Select the eco-system in which your initiative usually operates: Arid/Semi Coastal Contine Arid ntal High Island Mountai Plateau n River Basin Tropical/SubTropical 11. Summary The Argentine Center for Blind Theater has successfully become the only theater in the world that works with a darkened theater technique that prevents stereotyping and allows the professional development as well as the inclusion of blind and visually impaired actors. Moreover, the center includes a school of artistic formation, with more than 60 students, workshops in perfume training, a radio show and 5 theater and musical shows comprised of blind and visually impaired actors. 12. Important dates: July 4, 2008: Inauguration of the space that is now the theater. September 2008: The first workshop at The Argentine Center for Blind Theater. November 2009: National award from the important Association of theater critics for the "Supportive action and efficiency in fighting against prejudices" that carried out the project. March 2010: Incorporation of the first graduates from the school as professional actors

13. Narrative: SITUATION BEFORE THE INITIATIVE Before the initiative, no place existed in Argentina where visually impaired artists could develop their skills and acting capabilities with dignity as working actors. Thanks to the development of this project, it has generated a space of social inclusion and permitted professional growth for blind and visually impaired artists. ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES Number the priorities of the initiative, how will it be established and who will be involved. Please specify the specific leadership roles and people where it's appropriate. The priorities of the initiative are based on 2 fields of action: 1) That the theatrical shows that are put on by the organization be of quality. In addition, to ensure that the shows captivate the audience with their artistic attractiveness, independent of the physical conditions of the actors in the shows. By doing this, we are able to generate empathy and break from the prejudices that exist towards blindness and visual impairment. 2) Generate dignified jobs for blind and visually impaired artists that allow them to work in a equal and professional setting. The democratic style of work means that every member of the group is able to achieve their own work goal. The actions carried out by the organization are destined to generate a large degree of professional compromise for each member of the project and to achieve a feeling of permanence for each individual within the project. FORMULATION OF OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES Elaborate the objectives and principal strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom. Please specify what type of objective and strategy by person. Describe politics and strategies adopted by the city where it applies. The principal objective of the project was brought to life by a group of professional artists, men and women, that came together to form the group, The Argentine Center for Blind Theater. Later came the legal structure, in where they founded the bases of the project (the same idea was conceived by a non governmental organization without profit).

The Objectives that were outlined: Promote societal awarness about the possibilities of growth that each individual possesses, independent of their physical conditions and in which context they will be met. Generate a democratic open space that encourages the growth of blind and visually impaired artists. Expand the technique of the dark theater within the country and internationally.

MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES The majority of the resources were provided by the founding members of the project. Through means of a loan contributed by a private bank the project went forward and started up. This was all made possible thanks to the ongoing support from the thousands of people that visit the theater monthly. The resources generated by the support of the individuals that coincide with the Argentine Center of Blind Theater, are also administrators for Nampelkan, a non profit organization. Now we work in an organization made up of 30 people, the majority being blind and visually impaired artists. PROCESS The first problem we tackled, was finding sufficient funds to launch the project. Given the characteristics of the business, it was necessary to gather a sum of money to be able to even begin to function. The initial capital was put together by the founders of the project through means of a loan granted by a private bank. Nowadays the project is self sustainable as long as an average of 4,000 visitors attend one of our shows that our theater puts on. Another initial difficulty we encountered was ensuring that we generate in the distinct groups an ability to integrate within the project a proactive spirit and to ensure that work is done cooperatively in a manner that every member of the group feels that he/she is the owner of their own destiny without having to wait for another person to order them to do something. Currently all the groups that work within the structure of the theater are satisfied in their actor cooperative and all the decisions are made made in a democratic form between the members of the project. Each individual has a voice and vote in every one of our initiatives and actions put forward for the organization. The main problem that the organization has and in which it survives is with relying on sufficient financing as we are able to fund new projects that are generated and proposed by the members that participate in the project. If the project functions well it guarantees a flow of money coming from the

daily shows. At times it is not enough to cover the costs of new projects and the training and formation that goes on within the theater. The decision making is made in two parts, on one side exists a direction team and institutional representation whose mandate is delegated by an assembly. This said team is who makes the daily decisions with the administration of the project and who represents the institution. The rest of the affairs are handled democratically at the assembly, where the majority of the members of the project participate. RESULTS ACHIEVED Explain up to what point the objectives were formulated before being achieved, how do you quantivatively and qualitatively measur the results and who has benefited form them. Explain how the iniciative has turned out in an example: The project has had notable public reception and has caught the attention of different sectors of the society, the campaigns have generated a notable degree of awareness. The majority of the organizations that work with disabled people have been in contact with us. 30 blind and visually impaired artists have benefited directly by finding work with the project. The project is directly beneficial for the community of blind and visually impaired and have already generated a better integration with the community. The stage has been converted into a meeting and integration place between blind and seeing artists. The form of work and the democratic organization of the project made it possible that the theater is transformed in an environment of professional exchange and personal growth of the actors that participate. The thousands of people that come monthly to see the various productions take away with them the reality of the blind and visually impaired people. This generates a better comprehension in understanding the daily reality of these people. The organization has found a more solid structure then in the beginning and has reached out politically, making this a national project and influencing other organizations to follow our lead. Recently the project has caught the attention of the legislators for the city of Buenos Aires and a project exists to declare our theater space a place of social and cultural interest for all the activities we carry out.

SUSTAINABILITY This project has been converted in a sustainable project in all relevant aspects. Exists a harmony in relation to the internal and institutional organization and in relation to the environment. In regards to the punctual

aspects like the social, economic, environmental, institutional and cultural and is possible to say that: Financer: We were lent money for the start up of the company and have been paying in time and form, and there doesn't exist greater inconveniences than paying the money owed to run the organization. Social and economic: This is one of the points in where major success has been the project has already given the characteristics of the same integration within a sector of the population, that of the blind and visually impaired, that are able to be incorporated into the full labor market with the professional development of the technical aspects of teatro ciego. This permits a social and economic upward mobility and a feeling of pertenence to the project. Cultural: The project is seen by the community as a new form of artistic expression giving originality and quality while at the same time it's an important cultural element within Buenos Aires. Environmental: The technical characteristics of theaters for the blind, they practically don't use any resources which makes them 100% eco friendly. Institutional: The Argentine Center of Theater for the Blind is part of the Argentine Association of Independent Theaters, together we have implemented a new law for theaters that they include these types of activities. On the other hand, in 2009 Argentina created a new law about audio visual methods in that the organization participates and supports their vision for bettering the quality of the law. Nowadays, the project is being replicated in various places throughout the country as well as a project that is starting up outside of Argentina. LESSONS LEARNED The most important lesson learned is that the best way to work is in a team, where each individual contributes their own abilities and points of view. Additionally, it is was was very important to make work a form of equality and respect where blind and visually impaired people and work in conjunction with those that aren't. This form of work produces an interesting cultural exchange and an advance in rupturing the prejudices related with the physical condition of some of the workers, in this case their lack of sight. The activities carried out in our stage give everyone the opportunity to integrate within a new social group, not only for the physically handicapped people but also for those that who are not. Now the groups of artists that have moved forward with distinct projects possess a degree of compromise within the project much greater than when they had started. In relation to to the actions that we should modify or do in a different manner, they have to deal precisely with the fact to learn how to delegate certain activities at a time. It is always better to be able to tackle a problem or project with a team of workers previously formed to ensure that only one person is made in charge of managing the group.

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To conclude, the cultural and social activities that we provide at our center have the characteristic that for your full understanding it is necessary to work together. In saying this, it's always preferable to do things using the inherent capabilities of each individual working together in a team. TRANSFERS a) Transferability: One of the characteristics of the project is its transferability. There are no extraordinary technical knowledge or technological investments or important need of money. This type of activity can be replicated by whatever human group. The theatrical activities have the particularity that they are a type of artistic manifistation presented in all societies and their execution is strongly linked to each culture. The theater for blinds is a type of scenic representation that has the particularity to appeal to other emotions and is innovation in proposing new artistic techniques but also because it's representation implies the inclusion of artists with visual handicaps that are able to grow independently from their physical condition. Now the project encounters a process of transference from the practice within the national territory utilized by other organizations already in existence that are able to replicate the experience used by the Argentine Center for Blind Theater.

RELATED POLICY/IES OR LEGISLATION In 2009 The Argentine Center of Blind Theater was recognized by the legislature of the city of Buenos Aires as a cultural interest. The Theater was also granted a national award " for it's supportive and efficient action countering prejudices." For the 2010 year the law is projecting to declare the center a place of cultural and social interest. In relation to the political changes, this new practice has brought it to the attention of the commission for the integration of people with handicaps and people that take into account institutions and how they relate politically with cultural integration that was carried out during 2009 and 2010. 9. References

Fecha: 01.04.2009 El imperio de los sentidos Diario Clarn El imperio de los sentidos. Un fenmeno de la cartelera portea: en la oscuridad y potencian el resto de los sentidos. http: //www.clarin.com/diario/2009/04/01/espectaculos/c-00611.htm

Fecha: 08.10.2008

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La experiencia de disfrutar del Teatro Ciego en Buenos Aires Cada domingo en el Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego se presenta el show "A ciegas con Luz", un espectculo musical - gourmet; lanacion.com dialog con los protagonistas y con el pblico sobre esta presentacin en completa oscuridad. Diario La Nacin: http: //www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1057156Octubre 2008 Fecha: 26.07.2008 ADN Clutura La Nacin Una historia para ver a oscuras El Grupo Ojcuro, formado por actores no videntes, inaugur un centro cultural en el Abasto con sala propia donde se dictan talleres de formacin artstica. All reestrenaron la obra de Roberto Arlt, adaptada bajo la tcnica del teatro ciego http: //adncultura.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1032596 Fecha: 26.07.2008 Crtica Digital Ciegos y no ciegos que hacen teatro en las tinieblas Suben a escena con La isla desierta, uno de los dos espectculos de este tipo en todo el mundo y el nico made in Argentina http: //www2.criticadigital.com.ar/index.php?secc=nota&nid=10328

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Supporting Materials

Premio ACE 2009 al Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeFsCPoOVcQ

Centro Argentino de Teatro Ciego http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJJjLZAUcqk TV Interviu

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http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Xo8BUyFgQ

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