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Liverpool Arab Arts Festival returns this July for an international celebration of Art and Culture
THE Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) is the longest running festival of Arab arts and culture in the UK. This year, in july it will return for its 22nd year. LAAF exists to support and champion creatives from across the Arab Region and its diaspora, in the belief that art and creativity have the power to express a shared humanity.
The festival will celebrate Liverpool's unique identity, a City with a global community and brimming with artistry, that looks outwards across the world. Highlighting the importance of this shared humanity:- 'Port Cities' is a brand new visual arts project in partnership with British Council; 'MENA' will premiere newly commissioned artwork by 4 internationally renowned Arab artists exploring the:- social, historical and cultural links between:- Liverpool and the Arab Region. The 1st staged performance of Chambers of the Heart will explore the stories of 3 women as they confront love, desire and memory in stories spanning from:- East to West. Arabs Are Not Funny, widely acknowledged as 1 of the hottest comedy nights among the Arab community and beyond, will return to the festival for another hilarious night of laughter. Closing out the festival's musical offerings:- 'The Ayoub Sisters' is an award winning instrumental duo who are returning to the festival, and will be presenting an evening of live music including songs from their acclaimed album:- 'Arabesque' at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room. In difficult times, art and culture serve as beacons of hope and resilience. These powerful forces of creativity provide a platform for voices to be heard, stories to be told, and for other perspectives to be understood. Creativity is a shared language that transcends borders and barriers. Afrah Qassim, LAAF Chair said in a press release:- "We welcome to Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2024. I want to begin by acknowledging and recognising the devastating situation across our Arab world due to war and violence. This year’s festival is dedicated to the memory of the countless lives lost to relentless conflict, which includes many artists, creatives and communities. We stand in solidarity with those who continue to endure pain and loss. As the longest running annual festival of Arab arts and culture, LAAF is one of the few prominent platforms in the UK for Arab artists to present their artistic works to mainstream audiences. Our mission is to keep Arab arts, heritage and culture alive, creating, supporting and championing creatives from across the Arab region and its diaspora. We believe that art and creativity has the power to express our shared humanity, and that artists play a vital role in documenting their lived experiences. This year;s festival features work by Palestinian, Yemeni and Sudanese artists, amongst many others, that expresses creativity, hope and resilience. Art can give a voice to the unheard, tell untold stories and offer new perspectives. Creativity is a universal language that transcends all borders and barriers. I extend heartfelt thanks to our artists for sharing their art and experiences, to our volunteers for their unwavering dedication, and to our funders, partners, and supporters, who are essential to our success. Your support is more crucial now than ever. I also wish to thank our dedicated staff and my fellow board members for their leadership and commitment." The festival lineup so far is as follows:-
With more festival events to be announced soon...
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