Cross Cultural Collaboration

Ellie Schimelman, USA, started the Cross Cultural Collaborative, (CCC) Inc in 2001.  CCC is a non-profit educational organization that promotes cultural exchange and understanding. Their programs emphasize multi-generational and multicultural collaborations encouraging participants to find rewards in different forms of creativity. They bring artists from different cultures together in a supportive environment where they can get to know each other through the language of art. At the core of CCC program is the belief that interaction between African and non-African artists enriches the creativity of both groups.

CCC is a research center and meeting place for exhibits, community based art workshops, performances, conferences, classes and other venues that relate to cultural awareness and appreciation. In the true spirit of creativity CCC, Inc. is an evolving group of people excited about new ways of thinking about world heritage and culture.  The 2016 program is from July 17 – August 20.

HAF: how many years have the Cross Cultural Collaborative Ghana project been in existence?

Ellie: I have been in Ghana about 35 years teaching, studying and researching. I made it official in 2001 by registering CCC as a non-profit.

HAF: what countries have been represented?

Ellie: We have had people from the US, Britain, France, Venezuela, Israel, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, and probably a few places I have forgotten about.

HAF: Is the education curriculum different each year? What is on the agenda for 2016?

Ellie: We are flexible and facilitate whatever people want to do in Ghana. We have hosted photographers, teachers, artists, and college students. For 2016 we have: a group of Israeli potters that I will take on a tour to northern Ghana – a traditional African textile workshop and a traditional African ceramics workshop to be held at our cultural center. I have a professor who teaches fashion design who is coming to set up a program to bring students to us; there is a writer coming to do a creative writing and illustrating workshop with “my kids”; an expressive art therapist is bringing a group and we are still signing people up for various things they want to do in Ghana.

HAF: what criteria do you use in selecting participants?

Ellie: We are all inclusive (except in rare cases where we are looking for specific skills). It is our mission to put people of all ages,races and skills levels together. We only ask that participants are open to cultural exchange and understanding.

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