About

Aim of the project

By establishing Oromo theater center and by providing exposure and opportunities for young people to receive training in all aspects of the performing arts together with the opportunity to participate in the theatre making process the Finfinne theater and art training center aims to stimulate growth and participation in Oromo theatre and to encourage local youth to consider a career in theatre and preparing the Oromo theater show access in Addis Ababa. In addition, creating an opportunity to any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics art development by accessing using them this center service at a fair price.

Introduction​

Ethiopia‟s tourism sector is growing from a low base of a minimal 1 percent share of Africa‟s tourism market, but it continues to underperform despite its potential. With 427,286 total tourist arrivals in 2009, Ethiopia‟s share of the African tourism market is a minimal 1 percent. Despite economic imbalances, such as the highest double-digit inflation in Africa and limited access to financing for the private sector, Ethiopia‟s tourism sector has been showing a positive trend and steady growth in tourism arrivals and receipts. For this reason culture based tourism development (like theater and different arts that deeply explore the countries goodwill) is basic in economic development of one nation. The Government has set ambitious growth targets for the tourism sector for 2015 that will shape sector strategies in the coming years. Ethiopia‟s National Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) 2010-2015 has set ambitious targets for the tourism sector, such as a two-fold increase in tourism arrivals from about 500,000 currently to 1 million, and a twelve-fold increase in tourists‟ expenditures, from US$250 million in 2010 to US$3 billion by 2015.
In our country the multi-cultural development scenario has a short history in in Ethiopian politics. It known that the Ethiopian economy has been growing in double digits for the past ten years. The growth in the economy has also resulted in the ambition to develop indigenous cultures especially which has been marginalized in different past regimes. In Ethiopia the cultural tourism has not get focus as it boost the wide multi culture of the country because there is less theater and art training and practicing centers is there in the country. Today almost all nations in the country have the right to develop their cultures through conducive environment created by government. Even though there are some national theater centers in Addis Ababa there is gap in developing the multi culture art and theater center developments. As Addis Ababa is the center of Oromia region and capital city there is no enough Oromo art and theater development centers that‟s why this project aim to participate in establishing the Oromo Theater and art development center in Addis Ababa which focused on theater hall, training center, art library and different youth recreation facilities by motivated Ethiopian diaspora international Oromo culture developing institute by cooperating with Oromo Film and Theater Association of Ethiopia. The major objectives and detail project establishment plan has discussed in this documents.

Finfinne Theater Association​

The Finfinne Theater Association is the new association of art in oromia region. It was established, first at the association level, in 2013 with 293 members from some of professional theater houses and TV stations (ETV Afan Oromo program) in Addis Ababa. Since then, the association has produced a significant number of professionals with different training of Arts. These professionals trainer has been employed a various governmental, non- governmental and private organization not only as Oromo Art experts but also as a performer, public relation officers, information and communication agents, journalists, and coordinator of enter educate/entertainment education /program s, to mention but few. The association has also produce different Theater and Film Art works and problem solving research program in Theater and Film. It has to be remembered that the Finfinne Theater Association had lounged different Oromo Film and Theater activity successfully aimed at contributing to the development and promotion of all forms of Oromo Arts. Besides, the above informal activity recognized different Oromo men of arts with their outstanding literary and art legacies.​
Objectives

✔️ Giving access to Oromo and any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics theaters by accommodating facilities;
✔️ Improving script writing skills of Oromo and any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics youth;
✔️ Improving production management, directing and production design skills;
✔️ Improving performance and technical theatre making skills;
✔️Increasing youth participation in theatre making;
✔️ Improving media and marketing related to Oromo and any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics theatre productions;
✔️ Increasing awareness and attendance of Oromo and any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics theatre in the Addis Ababa area
✔️ Increasing understanding of the theatre making process from script through to performance;
✔️ Facilitating art library to users;
✔️Facilitating recreational place to users.

Goal

✔️ Preparing Oromo and any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics theater showing/displaying area with full facility;
✔️ Allowing young peoples with an interest in any aspect of Oromo and any marginalized Ethiopian Ethics theatre, the opportunity to receive training from experienced theatre practitioners in each aspect of theatre-making and then to apply this training to the staging of a production.
✔️ Participants in the project could have some experience gained from working on school productions and with local amateur companies or may have an interest in theatre but no prior opportunity to learn about the different functions and how they come together to put on a show.

Location and Premises

✔️The envisioned project is planned to be located in Addis Ababa City capital of Ethiopia. The main justifications behind the selection of this location are:
✔️Strategically located to the central and largest economic center of the nation (Addis Ababa)
✔️Accessibility to all target population of the project

Promoters Profile

This project will be implemented by cooperation both Finfinne Theater Association (FTA) and International Oromo Cultural Institute (IOCI) as both have the same objectives. Both promoters backgrounds has discussed below;
International Oromo Cultural Institute. International Oromo Cultural Institute (IOCI) is a nonprofit Organization governed by Section 501 (c) (3) of the USA IRS code and a tax exempt, service giving humanitarian organization, aimed at building solidarity and friendship with the American and other communities through various activities of common interest, especially in the areas of vocational training, social and cultural activities, and capacity building and leadership development training with the following purposes;
The Oromo Cultural Institution aim to collect, preserve, explore, present and promotes the cultural and historical heritage of Oromo People in Ethiopia and to offer their services to all and regardless of age, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability. Indeed, not only their collections, but also their history and buildings, are a cultural asset that are enriching local communities. Understanding how crucial their work is to society and cultural sustainability as well as how the unique value to Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia. • To provide young Oromo intellectuals with capacity building and leadership development training. • To provide recreational service for youth (sports, cultural shows, games, etc.) educate them to reduce juvenile crimes.
The Cultural Development and Economic Significance of the Project No society could attain development fully without insuring the intervention of arts that could bring about sustainable mental as well and infrastructure development. Promotion arts will give artists to use their art as a tool to shape the lives of their communities. By engaging arts and promoting the research culture of the subject area, would undoubtedly lead the country‟s development to the highest level of effectiveness and sustainability.
The envisaged project deemed to contribute to the Oromo culture development through promoting and upgrading the Oromo art level. The promoters have team which has a vision and a deep understanding of Oromo culture and have coordinated management team. Specifically, the project will have the following benefits; • The project will provide quality Oromo Theater and art development field that will benefits the Oromo art developers better access that creates a space of excellence in the area of art, brings different talents and mind together that can shape the development of Oromo Theater and Film, the art of environment in broad. • Upgrade the Oromo art level in the country; • Promote Oromo cultural values to the world; • Generate revenue to the government; • Create employment opportunity; • Trainee and promote the young Oromo artists; • Stimulate the Local and National Socio-Economy
Our Vision

Project Justification

It  has  long  been  conventional  wisdom  that  art  is  a  reflection  of  the  life  and times of a people. All serve as platforms to illustrate cultural values, emotions and viewpoints within the economic,  political,  and  social environment from  which  they  spring. it has become part of political struggle  in the richest sense of that term. The Theatre became a site for Ideological battle once again.

Theatre and film center, works at the very foundations of the formation of consciousness. Theatre and film center is that public space with a unique purpose: the public airing of secrets. Other public institutions (churches, political forums, and the media) are dedicated primarily to something else: the celebration and perpetuation of ideology, the programming of a mass audience with the beliefs, ideas, and feelings they need to internalize so that Theatre and film center will secure its grand function in the creation within subjects of the conditions that make it impossible for them to understand their historical situation.
According to Wilmer, Theatre and film center was developed into a political weapon that made didactic comments about current events in an attempt to clarify the self-image of the colonies. Theatre and film practice has often served as a touchstone for moments of political change or national definition and as a way of exploring cultural and ethnic identity. In is book, Wilmer selects key historical moments in American history and examines how the Theatre and film center, in formal and informal settings, responded to these events.
The Oromo people are the native inhabitants of Eastern Africa. Their population is estimated to be over 50 million, which makes it the largest ethnic group in Eastern Africa. There are thousands of Oromo people living in diaspora, largely residing in are United States of America, Australia, Canada, Norway, England and Sweden as well as the rest of Africa too. The Oromo are one of the Cushitic-speaking groups of people with variations in color and physical characteristics ranging from Hamitic to Nilotic. A brief look at the early history of some of the peoples who occupied north-eastern Africa sheds some light on the ethnic origin of Oromo. The Cushitic speakers have inhabited north-eastern and eastern Africa for as long as recorded history. The land of Cush, Nubia or the ancient Ethiopia in middle and lower Nile is the home of the Cushitic speakers. It was most probably from there that they subsequently dispersed and became differentiated into separate linguistic and cultural groups. The various Cushitic nations inhabiting north-east and east Africa today are the result of this dispersion and differentiation. The Oromo form one of those groups which spread southwards, and then east and west occupying large part of the Horn of Africa. Their physical features, culture, language and other evidences unequivocally point to the fact that they are indigenous to this part of Africa. Although, the Oromo are the largest population in terms of population size and geographical location in Ethiopia, and the language, Afaan Oromoo, is one of the most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia and Africa, yet, Afaan Oromoo not only remains one of the least studied languages, but also lacks a developed Literature and has less printed materials than any language with a comparable number of speakers” anywhere in the world.
When come to history of Oromo Theatre, frankly speaking, it is difficult to trace the history and its survival. Because the Oromo people had been controlled under different dictatorial governmental system and the literature on Oromo people, directly or indirectly do not describe the Oromo life philosophy sufficiently.
In conceptualizing and planning the Oromo Theater, promoter team recognized the importance of not just teaching theatre makers but giving them an opportunity to put their learning into practice guided by experienced theatre practitioners. You probably have many writers, actors, directors and technicians that contribute to your professional and amateur theatre scene. However, the major challenge in Ethiopia is there are few Oromo professional performing arts practitioners in tend to work in isolation on self-funded, small scale projects, and due to these limited opportunities tend to have to work on a part-time basis. The direct impact of these factors is that the Addis Ababa area does not have regular Oromo theatre productions and therefore does not provide exposure or opportunities for those interested in working in the performing arts to develop their skills in a professional theatre environment.

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Success Stories of international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations ​

In spite of fact that international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations project held by associations, it showed a vivid success in creating Film and Theater buzz can address at the country level at large. One can easily count and remember stunning moments and its triumph about the past year projects. More specifically, the associations can enumerate the following points has major accomplishment from the past year projects. 

✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations created a venue for an academic debate especially in the area of Theater and Film, culture, literature and related arts. The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations were able to promote academic research and debates in the field of Theater and Film.

✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations were able to create major media hype for different time using electronics, print media and social networks.
✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations were able to organize successful Theater, culture, literature and Film buzz.

✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations presented different types of Theater, culture, literature and Film production including historical, musical, indigenous, and experimental art works.

✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations celebrated, commemorated and gave recognition for different notable Oromo art personalities.
✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations were able to show the potential in the availability of art of work both inside and outside (at the public, at large) the associations.

✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations created plat form experience sharing among association members and experienced Theater, culture, literature and Film practitioners and institutions like to Ambo University.

✔️ The international Oromo cultural institute and Oromo Film and Theater Associations were able to show the vibrant role of Theater, culture, literature and Film in the process of achieving sustainable development. In addition to this project involve in: social service delivery to continuous the art of theater,literature and film festival develop.