Flying Carpet Festival Announces Open Call for Artists for the 2025 Edition

Watch our video promo: https://youtu.be/gtaM6rpjmsY

The Flying Carpet Festival is thrilled to announce its open call for artists, starting today, inviting creatives from all corners of the world to apply for an opportunity to be part of an extraordinary cultural exchange and celebration of the arts. Applications will remain open until February 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PST).

The festival, now in its 7th year, will take place from August 30 to September 9, 2025, in the vibrant city of Mardin, located in southeastern Turkey. Participants will arrive on August 29, with departures scheduled for September 10. Over the years, the festival has welcomed more than 190 artists, offering a unique platform to foster collaboration, inspire storytelling, and create unforgettable experiences for local and global audiences.

Who Should Apply
The Flying Carpet Festival is seeking musicians, composers, performers, dancers, circus artists, visual artists, theater artists, and workshop facilitators who are passionate about creativity, collaboration, and community impact. Selected artists will contribute to the creation of a multidisciplinary storytelling production and have the opportunity to perform across seven locations in Turkey. Musicians will also participate in special jam sessions, blending traditional and contemporary sounds with local artists.

Workshop facilitators are invited to share their talents by leading educational programs for children, fostering a love for the arts and hands-on learning.

Applicants may be of any age or nationality. For participants who require a visa to travel, all visa fees will be paid for by the festival.

What the Festival Offers
The Flying Carpet Festival covers housing, food, transportation, and logistics for all participants during the event. While we are unable to offer artist fees, we encourage applicants to assist with fundraising for their travel costs, as our resources are limited. Financial contributions will not influence the selection process.

This is a unique opportunity to:

  • Collaborate with artists from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds.
  • Participate in creating a large-scale storytelling production that combines music, dance, circus arts, puppetry, and visual projections.
  • Inspire local communities and promote the democratization of the arts.

Safety and Diversity
Despite being held in a region identified as a “red zone” by many governments, the Flying Carpet Festival has successfully hosted artists for seven years without incident. Safety is our top priority, and we take every precaution to ensure a secure and welcoming environment for all participants.

The festival values diversity and inclusivity, welcoming artists from all ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds. Our selection process focuses solely on artistic merit and potential.

How to Apply
Artists interested in applying can complete the application form by February 1, 2025. Please provide information about your work, experience, and vision for contributing to the festival. If you plan to lead a workshop, include details about the title, process, educational outcomes, materials, age range, and number of participants.

For inquiries, contact Cynthia at cynthia@flyingcarpetfestival.org.

About the Flying Carpet Festival
The Flying Carpet Festival is the first mobile festival for children living in conflict zone and a volunteer-based initiative dedicated to creating connections through the arts, fostering cultural exchange, and bringing joy and hope to vulnerable communities. It is a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the transformative power of artistic collaboration.

Join us in making the 2025 Flying Carpet Festival an unforgettable journey of artistic discovery and human connection.

Website: www.flyingcarpetfestival.org
Email: cynthia@flyingcarpetfestival.org

Further Information

  • The application form will remain open until February 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PST). Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews by March 1, 2025. Interviews will take place in March, and by early April, the final participants will be informed. Please refrain from contacting us before these dates.
  • The festival will be held from August 30 to September 9, 2025 in Mardin, a city in southeastern Turkey. Arrivals are scheduled for August 29, with departures on September 10. If you are traveling from distant regions, such as the Americas or Australia, you will need to depart on August 28 to arrive in Mardin on time.
  • We are a non-political, non-religious, and non-ideological collective. Discussions of these topics are strictly prohibited during the festival.
  • All flights will arrive at and depart from Mardin Airport (MQM). While most artists apply for financial aid, we are a small organization, and any assistance you can provide with fundraising for your airfare would be greatly appreciated. However, your ability to contribute financially will not affect the selection process. The festival will cover housing, food, transportation, and logistics, but please note that we are a volunteer-based collective and do not offer artist fees.
  • We strongly believe in the democratization of the arts and strive to include artists from diverse backgrounds. Factors such as your location, ethnicity, or gender are not part of our decision-making criteria. We value artistic excellence and believe that exceptional talent can be found in every community. Diversity is an inherent outcome of our process, and we do not impose quotas or artificial considerations.
  • Please note that Mardin is considered a “red zone” by many governments. However, we guarantee your safety, and over the past seven years, we have successfully hosted 193 artists without any incidents.
  • As a performer, you will participate in creating a storytelling production involving live music, dance, circus arts, puppetry, visual projections, lighting, and costume design. You will collaborate with various artists throughout the year in online meetings. The entire production will be finalized in just two days and then performed at seven different locations. Musicians will also take part in two additional JAM sessions, featuring both improvised and composed music with local artists.
  • If you are interested in conducting workshops, please include detailed descriptions in your application form. This should include the title, process, educational outcomes, required materials, the number of children who can participate at a time, and the age range you wish to work with.