The Heinrich Boell Foundation's Southeast Asia Regional Office promotes Arts, Culture and Tradition of Myanmar/Burma by supporting contemporary Myanmar artists and writers in their creative work both inside and outside of Myanmar. We make information on arts and literature available and accessible for an international audience. We facilitate networking between arts practitioners and support related programmes, exhibitions and events.

Cooperating with the non-profit organization Networking and Initiative in Cultures and Arts (NICA), we support the development of the Artstream Myanmar website. This Website does not only make information on art and literature easily accessible, but also forges an international network between Myanmar artists and their counterparts abroad. It further offers an overview of contemporary Myanmar artists and writers and their works, as well as an introduction to Art Galleries and Cultural Organizations inside the country.

http://www.artstreammyanmar.net/

Moreover, building on the success of the first-ever “Art of Documentary Filmmaking Workshop” in Yangon in 2005, the HBF Regional Office co-organised with filmmaker Lindsey Merrison a documentary film competition for young talented artists in Yangon. International experts invited by HBF trained Myanmar participants in documentary film making who, as a result, produced short documentaries focusing on daily life in Myanmar. They have subsequently come to be known as the Yangon Film School Group (YFS Group).

These projects serve are a clear reminder to the outside world that the realm of Myanmar artists and writers is lively, exciting and full of potentials in spite of the difficult circumstances.