P r o j e c t   s u m m a r y BOUGHAZ Management 1 Project name Boughaz. 2 Contact Siegfried Janzing, Director of the Hollands Midden Regional Archives: e-mail s.janzing@sahm.nl, tel. +31 (0)182-521821; Ali Chouli, Moroccan Platform of Gouda: tel. +31 (0)182-536041; Cor Snijders, Municipal Authority of Gouda: e-mail csnijders@inburgering.com. 3 Partner organisation The Moroccan Platform of Gouda was a joint initiator of the project. The Platform was entrusted with recruiting and selecting the interviewees and creating a broad support base. Artist Eddy Seesing was a joint initiator and organiser of the project. 4 Funding Additional funding was obtained by incorporating the project into the Kleurrijke wijken ('Colourful Neighbourhoods') project, for which the Municipal Authority of Gouda submitted an application to the Provincial Authorities. Medium - Video / film Eddy Seesing's video art played a central role in the project. Types of heritage: documentary, the recording of the target group's history of migration. - An exhibition of sea containers that formed a path through the city, alluding to the history of migration of Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands. Every container featured video portraits of a particular generation of Moroccan inhabitants of Gouda. Many symbolic references were used in the medium itself (the visual background was different for each generation) and in the overall project. Project 1 Aims / objectives The aim of the project was to document the cultural heritage of Dutch citizens of Moroccan descent, since an account of this population group's history was completely lacking at the Regional Archives [Streekarchief]. The project represents a first step towards 'unlocking the history of Moroccan immigrants in the Dutch town of Gouda for current and future generations by means of a documented and illustrated 'memory', housed in the region's various archives'. A secondary objective was to narrow the psychological gap between the archives and Goudas Moroccan inhabitants. Another secondary objective was to counter the negative publicity received by the Moroccan community in the town. 2 Who it was for Inhabitants of Gouda with Moroccan roots, born either in Morocco or in the Netherlands. Inhabitants of Gouda, pupils enrolled in their last two years of primary school or in their first year of secondary education, and students of Dutch as a second language. 3 What learning was involved Social, psychological and spatial. 4 Which methodologies used (if applicable) The approach used mainly involved narrative; videotaped accounts were seen and heard. In view of the project design, a somewhat experimental approach was also adopted. 5 Where it was At three different locations in Gouda: the Nour Mosque (de Raam), the city centre and the Regional Archives. 6 When it was From 24 May 2003 to 21 June 2003 7 Planning / preliminary work The initial ideas were developed separately by the artist and the Archives Department. The Municipal Authority of Gouda took the first step by approaching Meander, a regional institute for intercultural development, as it sought contact with self-help organisations. Brainstorming sessions brought the various parties together. 8 Any follow-up / longer-term contact with the target group Boughaz is part of Eddy Seesing'' s Digital Identities art project. The Boughaz Foundation, which continues to document the Moroccan history of Gouda through various projects, was also established. 9 Involvement of other partner organisation The Moroccan Platform [Het Marokkaans Platform] played an important role by approaching inhabitants of Gouda of Moroccan descent. During this process, the target group became increasingly involved, all the more so because they were the subjects of the interviews. The Moroccan participants themselves decided which topics would be discussed during the video interviews. Additionally, they, along with a number of representatives, were involved in the project from its inception. 10 Key words to reflect the concept of the project 'It takes time to get to know each other. That time has to be taken.' Type of project Hearing and seeing were combined in an unconventional way through videotaped interviews and projections in the background. Visitors were also physically active, walking to the various locations. www.boughaz.nl Roughly how many people were involved? As direct participants The handout was downloaded 2,500 times in a single month. Former native-Dutch workers from the city of Groningen and the province of Drenthe and post-war migrant workers from Turkey, Italy, Spain, Morocco and the Molucca Islands, as well as former managers, members of the Management Board and union representatives from the canning factory, and members of the public. Disadvantage due to social or economic factors, discrimination or disability 1 Economic disadvantage The project participants were mainly from working-class backgrounds. 2 Social disadvantage The disadvantage generally suffered by inhabitants of Gouda of Moroccan descent was one of the main reasons for countering the negative image. 3 Belonging to an ethnic minority All participants were first- or second-generation Moroccan immigrants or had been born to Moroccan parents in the Netherlands. 4 Migration / Immigration issues The target-group participants were all of Moroccan descent. 5 Learning difficulties Illiteracy among first-generation Moroccans was one of the reasons that the project was developed and that the medium of video was chosen. Participants' needs In-depth consultations were held with the Moroccan Platform of Gouda from the beginning of the project onward. In the initial stages, it became clear that, in the event of a possible collaboration, there could be no political conflict of interest. The participants' need to learn corresponded to the main objective of the project, i.e. preserving the immigrants accounts. It should be borne in mind that the target group of participants was represented by only three men from the Moroccan Platform and that the Platform did not represent the entire Moroccan community of Gouda. Outcomes and lessons learned 1 Evaluation process: The project was evaluated. An information booklet about the project containing tips and descriptions is available from the Hollands Midden Regional Archives (e-mail: info@sahm.nl; tel. +31 (0)182-512821). 2 Overall learning points: - Collaboration between organisations: The Regional Archives and the Moroccan Platform will continue to collaborate by establishing a foundation with a name connected to Boughaz. The Municipal Authority also wishes to intensify its collaboration with the Platform in the future. - The project was developed in accordance with a non-hierarchical and dynamic process, which allowed for many opinions and a high degree of chaos. Making, and consistently upholding, clear agreements on contact points and the division of duties proved vital. Furthermore, the involvement of many parties also entailed a great deal of consultation. An external project manager could have reduced much of the clamour, although this would also have diminished the level of mutual cooperation. Consequently, it was deemed best not to appoint an external project manager. Additionally, it was essential to have a highly mixed steering and production group. This took up more time (of which there was often a shortage), making it more difficult to ensure that all parties were duly represented. > Download pdf 'Boughaz' > Project summary