Marilyn Douala-Bell
Marilyn Douala-Bell was born in Cameroon in 1957. Having studied the Economy of the Development, where she begins her professional life. When she meets her husband, Didier Schaub who is an Art Historian, they decide to come back in Cameroon in 1986. In 1991, together with a group of friends, they founded Doual’Art, a Cameroonian contemporary art centre defining itself as an Ars & Urbis research laboratory on urban issues. Its fundamental concern is to explore how art practises can play a role in the ordering of the territory, participating in a community adaptation of the public space and bearing an influence on urban society. In 2007, Doual'art organised the first SUD Triennale (Salon Urbain de Douala), for which 12 art events addressing urban issues were produced. The second edition of SUD, to be held in 2010, will revolve around the theme of water.
Doual’Art Residency Program
Douala, Cameroon
Doual'Art is a non-profit organisation founded in 1991 in Douala, Cameroon. It sees itself as an experimental laboratory for new urban practices of African cities. It addresses freedom of expression and social cohesion through cultural and artistic productions. Doual'Art introduces a participatory approach in cultural practice, discussing and negotiating with local communities, NGOs and authorities their needs and aspirations and involving artists as facilitators of the development processes.
In 1991, Doual'Art started an outdoor programme with public art, urban interventions and social engineering projects implemented in several neighbourhoods of the city Douala. ‘Espace Doual'Art’ - the exhibition space of Doual'Art - was created in 1995. It hosts exhibitions, performing art events, conferences, seminars and a residency programme.
The two elements of artistic quality and social impact have always been considered by Doual'Art as central and essential to their work: art projects have been chosen for their artistic quality and the location, function, priority and theme have always been discussed with communities involved and selected to have a social impact.