The Flying Carpet Festival is a 12-day vibrant, volunteer-led mobile arts event/artist residency dedicated to bringing joy and healing to vulnerable children, particularly refugees living near the Turkish-Syrian border. The festival gathers and hosts around 40-50 composers, performers, circus artists, dancers, multidisciplinary artists and designers in order to create the most magical experience possible through a two-week residency in the city of Mardin. The collective performs in cities and remote villages in southeast Turkey, where cultural and educational opportunities for children are scarce.
Eligibility
- No age or nationality restrictions
- Visual & media artists, dancers, music composers and performers, circus performers, storytellers, theatre makers, workshop leaders, designers… of any age, nationality, and background. Plus volunteers for logistics, production, kitchen, admin, media & hospitality.
Application Materials
- 2 work samples
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statements
Additional Info
Participation in the Flying Carpet Festival is a serious commitment. The festival covers travel costs for invited artists through donations, grants, and the collective generosity of supporters around the world. When an artist withdraws after tickets have been purchased, these funds cannot be recovered and the festival — and the children we serve — are directly affected.
To ensure fairness and responsibility, all artists receiving financial assistance are required to read and sign the pledge below. By signing, you confirm that you will:
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Commit to attending the festival for its full duration
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Inform the organization immediately if an emergency prevents you from attending
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Reimburse the festival for the full cost of purchased tickets if you cancel for any reason not caused by the festival
Your signature represents your professionalism, solidarity, and respect for the collective effort that makes this festival possible.