“For us, contemporary dance is the most innovative of art forms,” says Convoi Exceptionnel's founder Philippe Chameau. “Paradoxically, it receives very little support, but is perhaps the best placed of all the arts to achieve a positive impact in African society.”
Convoi Exceptionnel collects technical equipment and documentary resources for local creative arts centres in Africa. The association also helps local teams to establish sustainable partnerships with public cultural institutions in Europe. A series of specially commissioned documentaries follows the progress of the arts projects supported by the association. Convoi Exceptionnel further supports a programme of training bursaries, and the building or refurbishment of arts resource centres and creative venues in Africa.
With support from the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, the association's first convoy travelled to Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) for the third edition of the city's Makinu Bantu dance festival in October 2009, before moving on to Kisangani (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Studios Kabako, to work with dancer and choreographer, Faustin Lyniekula.
In January 2010, a third convoy travelled to Morocco for the Festival On marche, in Marrakech.
