Objectives

MASA was created in 1993 by the "Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie." It became an international program for the development of African performing arts in March 1993. Its main objective is to promote African artists and their works and incorporate them into international distribution channels in order to contribute to the economic and socio-cultural development of Africa.

MASA is the only Panafrican artistic project which combines business opportunities, a forum for professionals and a festival. It is held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, every other year, at the end of February each odd year. It brings to audiences more than a hundred theatrical, dance and musical troupes from all over Africa.

Its objectives are as follows:

• Make the best African theatrical, dance and musical productions and artists better known to professionals in the North and South and foster the circulation of these productions within Africa and throughout the world.
• Support, help and develop the creation and circulation of African theatrical, choreographic, and musical productions.
• Support and develop the establishment of networks of African professionals and distributors.
• Provide suitable opportunities for African composers, lyricists, playwrights, producers, distributors and technicians involved in African performing arts to improve their professional skills; and
• Contribute to the promotion of the status and rights of artists.

Management

As a non profit legal entity and international program with management autonomy, MASA is managed by its own organs comprising of the following:

• The Board of Directors, a decision-making body ;
• The International Artistic Committee, an expertise and advisory body;
• The General Management, a proposing, executing and following up body.

Financing

80% of MASA’s financing is provided by the "Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie" and Côte d’Ivoire. Some international organizations such as UNESCO and ADAMI also participate in this financing. Other organizations such as the European Commission, OAU, ISESCO, the Commonwealth, etc. are approached for their participation.

Financing is also sought with the private sector and sponsors.

Activities

The resources put at MASA’s disposal are used to finance the following activities:

• An information campaign aimed at promoting MASA in African national cultural administrations and governments, international distributors and professionals and artists residing and working in Africa, show forums and selling places and international festivals.
• The selection of the best African theatrical, choreographic and musical performances in every African country.

• The organization, during eight days in Abidjan, of a real market of performing arts with the artistic troupes selected, a popular festival and a forum of exchange for professionals. About 2,000 artists and professional performing arts distributors take part in these activities.

• Actions, such as support to the creation, circulation and distribution of artistic productions, support to and establishment of professionals and distributors’ channels, the organization of refresher courses for the professional improvement of players involved in African performing, aimed at developing African performing arts before and after the event itself. These actions are essential to the development of MASA as they provide the program with an integrated basis. They cannot be carried out without additional financial resources.

Selection of the Artistic Troupes

Method
In order to guarantee the independence and professionalism of the organization, an International Selection Committee comprising of at most four professionals in the fields of theater, dance and music takes care of the selection process.

Since MASA is held at the end of February every odd year, the period of the selection takes into account a two year artistic season running from August to July. For example, for MASA 2003, the selection period will run from August 2000 to July 2002.

That selection process will combine the permanent monitoring of national artistic creations, the shows organized during national, regional and international festivals, and selection missions in the countries when necessary.

The Criteria
Whether they are competing for the official MASA event or registering to participate in MASA-Festival, the artistic troupes will have to meet the following general criteria :

1. Artistic group residing in Africa
2. A new artistic creation, rather than one that has been seen or heard before   (theater and dance)
3. Originality in the creation, through the setting up of a new play or an original appropriation   of a play of the repertoire (theater and dance).
4. Research of a new artistic language regarding stage directions, dramatic arts, the scenography, choreography and musical composition.
5. A finished product rather than one that is being created.
6. An artistic group with relatively few members in order to facilitate the dissemination.
7. Scenerey and props must not be  bulky and weighty
8. The professionalism (command of the job) of the stage directors, choreographers, musicians, comedians, dancers, technicians (sound and lighting) and troupe directors.
9. Traditional dance and/or music groups which represent an interest for african heritage

1. Artistic troupes who have read the criteria and think they are eligible must sent the following to MASA’s General Management :

• audio tapes, CD and video clips or excerpts of shows for musical groups ;
• video tapes presenting entire shows for choreographic and drama troupes.

2. The audio-visual document must compulsorily include a complete file providing the following information on the artistic troupe and the show presented :

• the distribution file of the artistic troupe (list and number of people on tour, name and surname, date of birth and positions in the troupe, a photo of the troupe on stage) ;
• author, stage director or choreographer, date of creation, length and summary of the theatrical or choreographic work (20 lines maximum) ;
• presentation of the musical style played for musical groups (20 lines maximum) ;
• history of the group, stating the following :
  • date of creation
  • the creations and performances (theater and dance) for the last three years
  • the number and titles of the cassettes or CD produced (music)
  • the tours and number of tours and venues of concerts organized in the last three years (music)
• technical rider, stating  the following :
  • the size of stage desired ;
  • the lighting and sound needs for the show and the technical staff required ;
  • length of the mounting and dismantling of the stage ;
  • the weight and volume of the scenery and props.

3. The audio-visual documents sent shall remain MASA’s property. MASA shall not use them for commercial purposes.

Registration

All the registrations to MASA must be completed in the year before the event itself which is held every odd year.
The registration of the artistic troupes for qualification for the main MASA event must reach the MASA General Management in June at the latest.

The list of the troupes selected for the official MASA event will be published at the beginning of September.
The registration of the artistic troupes for qualification for MASA-Festival must reach the MASA General Management at the end of October at the latest, after the publication of the list of the selected troupes for the main event.

The list of the groups selected for MASA-Festival will be published in November.
The registration of the professionals of the international distribution must reach the MASA General Management at the end of December at the latest.