About MAP
Our Story
MAP’s three founders have been friends for forty years. Claire Messud and Sylvia Brownrigg are writers, and Itamar Kubovy is a producer of theater and dance. In recent years, as artists and educators, we’ve found that ever fewer spaces allow free and open conversation in an atmosphere of trust.
At a time of global crisis and acute polarization, in the US and elsewhere, we felt the urgent need to respond by creating a program to foster engaged, in-person exchanges across a wide range of perspectives and practices. We believe in the transformative possibilities that arise when people meet in person to discuss art and ideas.
When we found a location in the south of France, a region with a rich history both of refuge for artists and exiles, and of complex cross-pollination of different cultures, we felt we could make our vision a reality by hosting a series of gatherings. Seeking to facilitate greater mutual understanding in a tenor of delight and curiosity, we were inspired to launch the Mediterranean Artists Project in 2025.
Every person we have so far invited—writer or intern, filmmaker or scholar—has helped us expand the vision of our project. We have already been excited to watch the effects of our work rippling out and multiplying across disciplines and geographies.
Mission Statement
MAP is a distinctively envisioned artistic institution, with a mission to facilitate open, respectful and meaningful exchange about art and ideas across multiple generations, cultural perspectives and disciplines, over the course of 10 years. This is achieved through conferences, workshops, residencies and publications. We strongly believe that these creative expressions and dialogues will serve as a catalyst for our participants and, through them, the broader community, to challenge perspectives, expand knowledge, and promote collaboration and understanding across differences.
Values Statement
As the Mediterranean Artists Project, we believe that art and culture are essential platforms for exploring and articulating complex emotions, sharing diverse perspectives and fostering empathy in times of crisis.
We are committed to creating a space where artists and community members can express without fear their experiences and thoughts about injustice and violence — including about the genocide in Gaza and beyond. We recognize the profound human suffering experienced by all affected communities.
We seek to understand the historical context and lived experiences that have shaped current conflicts, and we encourage open dialogue that moves beyond simplistic narratives.
We recognize the power of art to bear witness, to document stories of resilience, and to envision pathways toward a more just and peaceful future.
We stand against all forms of hate speech, discrimination, and aggression and we are dedicated to fostering a community built on mutual respect and understanding.
We believe that creative expression, in all its forms, can serve as a catalyst for critical thinking and can inspire meaningful action.
We are committed to amplifying the voices of those who have been marginalized, attacked or silenced.
We invite our community to engage with art that challenges our perspectives, expands our knowledge, and deepens our capacity for compassion.
We hold a firm belief that through open conversation, creative collaboration and shared humanity, we can contribute to a world where such conflicts are no longer inevitable.