We have just completed a residency in Delhi, India. The residency took place at Sarai: the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. The residency resulted in nine video works about HIV/Aids in India.
 

We (Louisa Dawson and myself) ran a collaborative workshop with a marginalised community in Delhi, India. The collaboration facilitated the production of the participants own short experimental documetaries, between three and five minutes each.


The project was funded by the Ian Potter Cultural Foundation and Sarai: the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies


We located a group that would greatly benefit from a skills exchange.
This group consists of men and women directly or indirectly affected by HIV/Aids in New Delhi.

The project ran from late September 2007 to early December 2007.

The workshops taught basic techniques in video, including treatments, cameras, tripods, production and limited post-production. The project finished in Delhi with a screenings night, a 16 page catalogue and flyer distribution to promote awareness of the issues surrounding HIV/Aids in India.
 

The promotion of the evening disseminated information related to the stigma and mis-information surrounding HIV/Aids in India. The platform was educational and informative. The screenings gave voice and confidence to a community that is too often left unheard.

Approximately 5.7 million people were living with HIV in 2005. The bulk of HIV infections in India are occurring during unprotected heterosexual intercourse. Consequently, women account for a growing proportion of people living with HIV (some 38% in 2005), particularly in rural areas. (source: www.unaids.com)

The project has garnered strong interest from Kon Gouriotis the director of the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney and Lisa Havilah, the director of Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney.