The Global Arts In Medicine Fellowship (GAIMF) has introduced a four-tracks-based fellowship in the year 2024.
Founder and Executive Director, Kunle Adewale announced the recent development at the virtual Opening Ceremony for the 2023/2024 Global Cohort 6 applicants on February 11.
An international, intergenerational and interdisciplinary programme, GAIMF is focused on the training of diverse stakeholders interested in arts intervention in the field of medicine, through the building of a global network inspired through interdisciplinary collaborations to deliver arts-based interventions for the well-being of communities.
Founded by Kunle Adewale in 2017, GAIMF was officially launched in 2018, in Lagos, Nigeria, with the support of the US Mission Nigeria, and the US Department of State, Washington DC.
Initially an exchange programme which saw founding members and team receive trainings within and outside of Nigeria, it gradually grew from hosting 100 applicants each in 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Cohorts within Nigeria, to become a regional (PAN-African) fellowship in 2020/2021 Cohort, with about 160 applicants. By the next Cohort (2021/2022) it became an international fellowship hosting 250 applicants from 28 countries, to 600 applicants from 36 countries in the 2022 Global Cohort.
Today, the fellowship kicks off its 2023/2024 Cohort 4,5 & 6, with 1500 applicants from 39 countries. To “ensure fellows get the best of the out of the 13 weeks period of training, and to help them in their variant professional journeys, we have introduced the four-tracks-based programme – which include – Civic Engagements & Creative Practice Track, Research and Education Track, Business and Entrepreneurship Track, and Leadership and Management Track. Prior to this time, the fellowship has been a generalized one,” said Adewale.
The 13 weeks, intensive and hybrid programme will be facilitated by the fellowship’s highly professional board members, faculty and leadership team via recorded zoom sessions, YouTube videos and community engagement projects. Fellows will be immersed in cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural learning experiences, including a 2 weeks of community projects focused on cross-tracks co-design, and cross-tracks co-production.
“For the next 13 weeks, we will be together on Saturdays and Sundays. Some tracks will have their sessions on Saturdays, others on Sundays. The sessions are recorded for those who miss classes to catch up,” said Adewale.
Addressing Cohort 6 fellows, GAIMF Director Special Arts Project and Director at CCA Lagos, Oyindamola P, urged that they view themselves as co-developers of the fellowship, which owing to its iterative nature allows GAIMF to address in real-time challenges encountered by fellows on-field.
“Do your best to be committed, as we have done our best ensure the content is hard-hitting. Try to do the programmes exercises every week, so as not to fall behind. I hope that you see each other as co-organizers, co-directors, co-fellows, who will taking this programme and experiencing global opportunities that will have lasting impact on people you work with.”
Emphasizing the role of collaboration in GAIMF, particularly amongst fellows in achieving results and impacting communities, Theatre artist and educator, Sibahle Mabaso said, “once we realize that what we do is not for ourselves (our glory or fame) but for others, we will realize that with collaboration we can make things happen.
While noting the need for access and support to provide art intervention in hinter areas (of Free State, SA) and across the globe, Mabaso said with collaboration, much can be achieved through tapping into what already exists and the strengths and network of each collaborator in any project, to get results.
“I’ve discovered if I want to do art for the people, collaboration is key. So, don’t worry about ‘putting food on the table’ it will come with time,” she advised fellow fellows of GAIMF Cohort 6.
On the benefits and success of the fellowship, alumni had these to say:
“I appreciate how visual and performing arts are incorporated and used as a mode for healing for both physical and mental ailments,” said Botswanan, Maatla Pauline.
“I saw health as it was in art within me, without me, and with me,” said Ghanaian, Dr Nana Pobee.
“Art in Medicine is where I am called to live out my life’s purpose. I am convinced and forever grateful for this fellowship,” said Drama therapist and Mental Health Planner, Karline Brathwaite.
GAIMF Cohort 6 kicked off February 11, 2024, with the online training beginning in earnest February 17, to May 2024.
