IF YOU are ever in the market to travel while learning and implementing something great, the ESIROM (Encouraging Social Influence, Redefining Online Marketing) Bali internship is the right place for you. Dubbed the ‘Jamaica-Indonesia Residency Programme For Emerging Artists’, the programme provides opportunities for young Jamaican creatives to expand their horizons through a cultural stay in Indonesia.
Ayundari Gunansyach, communications manager for the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, and ESIROM Bali resident during the 2019 festival.
Though a self-directed programme, the awardee has the opportunity to design his or her own programme and make artistic contacts in Bali, which will lead them to develop, extend, and experiment in their creative practice. Residents are selected competitively from emerging talent, in the fields of dance, music, the visual arts, new media, and the literary arts.
LIFELONG CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS
“It was really envisaged that residents on the programme will build and maintain lifelong cultural relationships with Southeast Asia,” said Alex Morrissey, director of ESIROM.
In previous years, residents have been popular creatives such as vlogger/photographer iShango (@ishangotv), choreographer and artistic director Michael Holgate (@mwaholgate), and recording artiste Conkarah (@conkarah).
“Interestingly, Michael Holgate actually wrote his first book while in Indonesia and we’re extremely happy to have played a part in the vision of that,” Morrissey said.
The figures are all part of the Balinese Cremation Ceremony that offers the last circle of life respect to the departed.
The first resident of 2019, Carlyle Grant is a 25-year-old who holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The University of the West Indies (UWI). Reflecting on his journey, Grant indicated that he has not seen anyone locally offering such an opportunity, and believes that many Jamaicans would benefit from such an experience.
“The best education you’ll ever get is travelling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences. For us (Jamaicans), to grow and become our best selves we need exposure like this to shift the mindset of our generation and those to come so that way we move forward in the right direction to develop,” Grant said.
“I am a firm believer in travelling to get exposure and coming back to improve my country and ESIROM was the avenue for me,’’ he added.
While on his internship in Bali, Grant was able to visit and make connections in Lombok, Qatar, Jakarta and Singapore, that is considered a global financial centre.
“I recall talking to Carlyle after he came back, and he said that his brain came alive after this experience and, basically, it’s the same thing that happened to me 10 years ago when I first went to Indonesia. I have been going back every year since for inspiration,” Morrissey said.
“For ESIROM, the overall goal is to be a leading digital provider, in addition to providing support to other creatives and the emerging industry in Jamaica,” he added.
