ArtsEkta was recently invited to Tunisia as part of an international cultural visit aimed at developing a long-term cultural exchange partnership between Northern Ireland and Tunisia. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships, explore shared priorities, and identify new areas for collaboration across the arts, culture, and creative industries.

During the visit, a delegation from ArtsEkta met with a range of senior government representatives, cultural leaders, and institutional partners organised by the Tunisian Embassy in London. These meetings focused on building sustainable connections that support artists and cultural practitioners through meaningful international collaboration.

The programme included discussions with the Ministry of Culture, national cultural agencies, media organisations, and festival representatives. These conversations explored opportunities for artistic exchange, co-creation, artist mobility, and joint festival programming. Particular emphasis was placed on supporting emerging artists and creating platforms that encourage intercultural dialogue, innovation, and shared learning.

In addition to official meetings, the delegation experienced Tunisia’s rich cultural heritage first-hand. Visits to cultural sites, creative spaces, and artistic communities highlighted the country’s vibrant contemporary arts scene alongside its deep historical and cultural traditions. The visit was highlighted on Télévision Tunisienne, Tunisia’s national state-owned public service television broadcaster. These experiences reinforced the importance of cultural exchange in fostering mutual understanding and building long-term partnerships.

Reflecting on the visit, Dr Nisha Tandon OBE, Chief Executive of ArtsEkta, said:

“This visit to Tunisia has been both inspiring and energising. We were deeply impressed by the creativity, openness, and commitment to cultural collaboration demonstrated by our Tunisian partners. There is a strong shared vision between Northern Ireland and Tunisia to support artists and communities through meaningful cultural exchange. We look forward to building a sustainable, long-term partnership that creates opportunities for co-creation, dialogue, and innovation across both countries.”

Sabeh Cyndi, a Tunisian national now living in Northern Ireland who played a key role in facilitating the visit and building connections between partners, added:

“It has been incredibly rewarding to bring together colleagues and institutions from Tunisia and Northern Ireland. Having experienced both cultures, I see first-hand the value of creating spaces for artists and communities to learn from each other. This partnership represents an important opportunity to build lasting cultural bridges, celebrate diversity, and strengthen relationships between our two countries for future generations.

ArtsEkta is now working with Tunisian partners to develop concrete proposals for artistic exchange programmes. These will include collaborative projects, festival partnerships, and opportunities for artists from both countries to work, learn, and create together. The initiative also aims to strengthen links between communities in Northern Ireland and Tunisia, promoting diversity, inclusion, and cultural dialogue.

This visit marks an important step in ArtsEkta’s international programme and its commitment to building global cultural connections. The organisation looks forward to welcoming Tunisian partners to Northern Ireland in the near future and to developing a sustainable, impactful partnership that benefits artists, audiences, and communities in both countries.

Further updates and opportunities to engage with this work will be shared in the coming months