In 2012 the following recipients benefitted from grants from The Arab British Centre:
Firefly International/Reel Iraq 2013
Reel Iraq 2013 is a celebration of Iraqi Film, Literature & Music to be held at venues across the UK in March 2013. Marking 10 years since the invasion of Iraq, Reel Iraq 2013 will shine a light on the conflict by celebrating the resilience and diversity of the art and culture of Iraq. It will explore the contribution of art, culture and creativity to Iraqi life in conflict – encouraging debate and discussion of what has, and hasn’t, happened over the last decade. The festival works with a number of partners across the UK including Human Film in Leeds, Rich Mix in London, Filmhouse in Edinburgh, and Star and Shadow in Newcastle.
Britain in Palestine, Brunei Gallery, SOAS
Britain in Palestine was a major research and exhibition project on British rule in Palestine 1917 – 1948. The exhibition ran at the Brunei Gallery at SOAS from October to December 2012 and was the culmination of four years of dedicated research and consultation.
The exhibition displayed the beauty, diversity and vigour of Palestinian culture and society, in which the majority Arab population lived alongside long-established Jewish communities and Armenians. Alongside these displays the exhibition portrayed the dramatic events and key turning points of the Mandate era using original documents, photographs and film. Rare and previously unseen Arab political documents demonstrated the articulate, forceful and constructive Arab opposition to British policy.
Shatila Theatre Trust, Shatila Street Art Project 2012
The Shatila Theatre Trust encourages cultural exchanges between artists of the North-East of England the people of Shatila Refugee Camp in Lebanon. In July 2012, the Trust welcomed 10 children and 5 students from the Shatila Camp to North Tyneside for the Shatila Street Art Project. The students participated in sketching sessions, learned spray painting techniques, and contributed to the international graffiti wall at the Sage, Gateshead.