Radio Atheer

Atheer Audio Studio/Laboratory is a facility for producing, recording, and broadcasting live audio and recordings of shows and music sessions, episodes, interviews, stories, reviews of cultural events and readings. The studio functions as an audio hub for audio reporters, broadcasters, artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners and a space for experimentation and cultural critique as an online radio. Due to the extremely limited number of fully equipped studios in Ramallah, the studio provides an extraordinary community space open for musicians, artists and others, as well as constituting an important step in improving the cultural infrastructure in Palestine. Artists, musicians, critics, individuals, engaged in literature, visual arts, photography, design, music, film, theatre, and dance are able to reserve and/or book a slot in the audio studio to record performances, interviews, reviews, readings, and features. Audio content produced in the studio is edited/reviewed and moderated and then uploaded, broadcasted, and streamed through the project’s online audio platforms.  Cultural audio segments produced through Atheer may also be promoted through our social media platforms, and radio stations of partner organizations.

Radio Atheer introduces an innovative approach to mobile production, recording, and live broadcasting of audio content through the deployment of a fully equipped mobile recording station, referred to as the 'studio bus'. This initiative facilitates regular engagement with marginalized communities both within and beyond the project's scope, with a particular focus on young women who face barriers to accessing traditional audio studios and equipment. The studio bus endeavors to capture cultural audio content by engaging with young independent individuals, artists, musicians, intellectuals, poets, writers, and other cultural practitioners across Palestine. Additionally, it traverses the West Bank and Jerusalem to document sounds, mix recordings, capture live performances, cover festivals, facilitate educational shows, and host discussions.

Production grants are awarded throughout the project’s years to Palestinian independent artists, practitioners, cultural producers, informal art groups, and grassroots institutions, among others, to produce cultural audio content for Radio Atheer’s online audio platforms. Grants are awarded to individuals or groups with audio production experience. Atheer encourages new and limited cultural audio producers, mainly youth and women, to apply in order to explore and create new approaches in the field of critical cultural audio content. Atheer mainly targets youth from the age group between 18 to 35 years.

Radio Atheer's online audio platform serves as a vital hub for critical and cultural discourse, catering primarily to Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and beyond, including the diaspora. Through www.radioatheer.com, the platform amplifies the voices of 'non-traditional' audio content producers such as women, small artist collectives, emerging artists, and young musicians from marginalized communities. By offering free and open access to a wide audience, Radio Atheer provides a platform for these creators to freely share their narratives and perspectives, enabling them to connect with a larger listener base and effectively communicate their stories.

European audio professionals and experts are being invited to participate in a unique initiative that involves residing in remote areas of Palestine. Through partnerships with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), these professionals collaborate to produce high-quality audio content intended for broadcast on the online platform. This initiative aims to foster cross-cultural exchange and collaboration, leveraging the expertise of European professionals to enhance the diversity and quality of content available on the platform. By working closely with local CSOs, the initiative ensures that the produced content accurately reflects the cultural context and addresses the interests and needs of the Palestinian audience. Through this collaboration, both European experts and local communities can benefit from the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences in audio production and storytelling.
 

The comprehensive training courses aim to enrich participants' theoretical knowledge and refine their practical skills in various aspects of audio content creation, spanning broadcasting, podcasting, streaming, and production. Local Palestinian experts and trainers will impart their expertise, sharing valuable practices, skills, and insights in audio programming with the course attendees. Upon successfully finishing the course, participants are awarded a training certificate jointly issued by the Goethe-Institut and its implementing partners.

Young Palestinian audio practitioners are offered the opportunity to participate in a concentrated five-day development program in Germany. The program entails visiting European radio stations and platforms, fostering connections, and building bridges for shadowing and on-site learning experiences. To date, Radio Atheer has provided the chance for eight audio practitioners to embark on this journey, which has proven to be immensely valuable. These practitioners have had the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning experiences, shadowing professionals at various European radio stations and platforms. Through this immersive experience, they have gained valuable insights, honed their skills, and established meaningful connections within the European audio industry.