The Foundation for Culture and Civil Society (FCCS) was launched on 7 June 2003 with a display of art and performances which could never have occurred just two years before. The audience of over 500 Afghans and foreigners represented the main cultural, social and international institutions currently operating in Kabul. Since then the FCCS Cultural Centre has become a place of reference for contemporary Afghan art and artists. It has hosted over 40 Afghan artists and exhibitions of over 220 art works in painting, sculpture, miniatures, calligraphy, woodwork and photography; the premiere of the artistic movie ‘Erada’ by Radmanesh; and poetry readings by Afghan women.

Its mandate is to provide an open and neutral space where activities can take place that promote contemporary Afghan culture and the strengthening of civil society. The Foundation’s goal is to promote cultural diversity while strengthening a sense of national identity.

Once outlawed, music has now found a home and concerts of classical music and religious-inspired poetry, as well as a musical evening sponsored by the Embassy of France, have drawn large crowds of appreciative listeners. One evening was dedicated to vanishing Afghan musical traditions and featured demonstrations of seven instruments which are no longer taught professionally. Another concert was dedicated to the musicians of Kharabat, an area of Kabul that was once the home of musical creativity and training. In fact Kharabat was levelled by rocket attacks during the fighting in the mid 1990s, scattering the musicians and forcing many to leave the country.

In order to support quality cultural productions, the Foundation will first seek out and perform the Ustaads or masters. Since many of them live in rural areas it will start supporting cultural events in other cities and towns. In order to identify talented musicians the Foundation will organise competitions among youth, students, women, minorities and the general public. It plans to give Afghan culture mass coverage, to provide training opportunities, give prizes and publish or perform new works. By spending most of its budget on artists’ fees and their expenses, the Foundation’s Cultural Centre will provide often destitute artists and their families with much-needed resources.

The Foundation now plans to open a cafeteria that will be open to its members and invited guests only. This is intended to become a social gathering point, not only for artists and amateurs of the arts but also for members of the public who are interested in the Foundation’s other activities. One evening a week will be reserved for women and another for a literary café, with other thematic evenings also being planned. An activities centre is also planned which could host music courses, an editing room for independent movie makers, chess championships, a rehearsal space for theatre, a ceramics workshop with a kiln, Internet access for Foundation members and other temporary activities.

The lack of infrastructure has thus far curtailed some efforts to work outside Kabul but the needs in the countryside are indeed huge. The snows during the Winter and Spring of 2003 have encouraged many to return to their homes and relief efforts are slowly giving way to rebuilding shattered towns and villages. The Foundation has started assessing ‘cultural capacity’ in the provinces, including platforms for the performing or fine arts, artists, cultural institutions or organisations and current levels of activity. Provincial centres are beginning to organise cultural events with the assistance of the Foundation. Provincial Boards will be set up to spread information about small grants programmes for cultural and civil society-building activities, identify projects and monitor their implementation and eventually open cultural centres in the major cities.

Contacting artists in a country that has few informational Internet websites and poor telecommunications is difficult to say the least. For scholars, researchers and artists, the Foundation will help with and encourage the exchange and the performance of Afghan artists abroad and foreign artists visiting Afghanistan. Visiting researchers will be assisted and will be encouraged to work with local counterparts and share their research in lectures and publications. If required, the Foundation will undertake translation and publishing of research papers, magazines, books CD-ROMs and websites. In the field of research a pilot project has been launched for a nationwide oral history project. The first project in Kabul focuses on local history and should result in a publication on the identity of Kabul’s neighbourhoods. This oral history project will provide useful data for the study of recent history, demographic trends, minority cultures, gender studies, human rights research and an understanding of social trends in Afghanistan.

The most urgent priority for the Foundation is to set up a website where news about Afghan arts and social issues will be posted alongside information about Foundation projects.