By Imane El Waqqassi | Breaking Walls Artist/Leadership Apprentice
To prepare for our 2026 in-person Summit in Istanbul, we gathered as a virtual creative community.
Being part of the two-day virtual Summit this year brought me back to what first drew me to Breaking Walls in 2019: the mix of honesty, discipline, and shared purpose that pushes every participant, artist, and mentor to show up fully.
Even though the Summit was online, the energy was very real. You could feel the anticipation from Day 1: cameras turning on, people adjusting to the space, everyone trying to understand the group’s tone and rhythm. That early tension was the natural pressure that comes when young artists enter a space where they know they’ll be asked to think deeply and express themselves openly.
What stood out to me most was the balance between structure and freedom.
The ensemble-building exercises bridged the gap created by the screen. The writing prompt pushed everyone to clarify their thoughts. The breakout rooms fostered honest, focused work. And throughout it all, the mentors kept a strong, steady presence, helping the artists bring out their best without taking over their process.
For me, the experience felt like reconnecting with a part of my Breaking Walls journey. I remembered what it felt like to be the young artist trying to understand my own voice. Now, returning as someone who has grown within this community for 7 years, I can see the transformation, not just in myself but in the way Breaking Walls continues to evolve.
Over both days, what I valued most was the environment: open, challenging in the right ways, supportive without overdoing it, and honest enough to allow real conversations. The tension between artists and mentors was productive, leading to better work, clearer thoughts, and stronger relationships.
This experience reminded me why I continue to choose art as a language: it forces me to stay honest. It pulls me into conversations I didn’t know I needed. It connects me to people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
And keeps me believing that art continually builds something human, truthful, and necessary.
We are all eager to join together in person in Istanbul this July!
Imane, Tangier Delegation
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