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 broke the distance of the screen. The writing prompt pushed everyone into clarity. The breakout rooms created honest, focused work. And throughout it all, the mentors maintained a strong, steady presence, bringing out the best in the artists without taking over their process.
For me personally, the experience felt like reconnecting with a part of my own 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.
Across both days, what I appreciated most was the environment: Open, demanding in the right ways, supportive without being exaggerated, and honest enough to let real conversations happen. The tension between artists and mentors was productive, the kind that leads to better work, clearer thinking, 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.
Imane, Tangier Delegation