Introduction to 2017 Festival
A fortnight of exhibitions, film, theatre, live music, talks by writers, panel discussions and interactive art workshops exploring Syrian arts and culture before and after 2011.
The 2011 revolution marked a turning point in Syria’s history that has resulted in unprecedented changes to Syrian society and to Syrians’ cultural identity. These shifts are, in turn, having a great impact on the arts and on culture both in Syria and amongst Syrian artists in exile.
Much of the art that will be featured at the festival reflects the changes in Syrian arts and culture since 2011 and has been created by Syrians who have fled the country as a result of the war.
The news from Syria and the sadness, death, and misery that continues to pour out from the unrest must be juxtaposed against another vision of Syria – one that is filled with beauty, creativity and rebirth.
This festival is a celebration of this hopeful, inspiring and imaginative face of Syria and the Syrian people and their rich contribution to the collective history of human expression.
Festival events take place in a range of venues across Manchester, and we welcome all ages. While there is a small fee for entry to events, admission is free for refugees and asylum seekers of all nationalities.
Trailer for 2017 festival
Trailer for 2017 festival
News on 2017 festival’s activities
KHALED KHALIFA TALKS FROM DAMASCUS
As our final 'Celebrating Syria' event on Sunday 23rd July 2017 we [...]
MAKE MATÉ, NOT WAR: A TASTE OF SYRIA
The perfect finish of our two-week long festival! We had the [...]
LONDON SYRIAN ENSEMBLE
Out of the detritus of war, a thing of beauty was [...]
The Art of Lettering
AN AFTERNOON OF CALLIGRAPHY WITH THE TALENTED ABDULLAH AL-ANEZI We hosted [...]
Diana Darke: My House in Damascus
An Inside View of the Syrian Crisis On Friday 21st July, [...]
DOES ART CREATE CHANGE OR REACT TO IT?
Four creatives with experience on both sides of this, discussed their [...]
AYMAN JARJOUR: A SYRIAN GUITAR CONCERT
World renowned guitarist Ayman Jarjour played music of Spanish, Latin American, [...]
TADMOR
On Tuesday 18th July 2017, we had a film screening of [...]
DAMASCUS STORIES
AN EVENING OF MAGICAL STORYTELLING AND MUSIC We had an amazing [...]
LA DOLCE SIRIA: A SHORT FILM TRILOGY
FILM SCREENING AND Q&A WITH DIRECTOR AMMAR AL-BEIK VIA SKYPE FROM [...]
NOMA OMRAN: SYRIAN NOTES CONCERT
On the evening of Saturday 15th July 2017, we had Noma [...]
TIME FOR CREATIVITY
A SCULPTURING AND DRAWING WORKSHOP On Saturday 15th July 2017 we [...]
SILVERED WATER: SYRIA SELF-PORTRAIT
“For the regime, a camera is a weapon” Wiam Bedirxan We [...]
MY FILMS, MY FREEDOM, MY HUMANITY: INDEPENDENT CINEMA UNDER DICTATORSHIP.
An Evening with Ossama Mohammed We were pleased to have Ossama [...]
DANCING IN DAMASCUS
CREATIVITY, RESILIENCE AND THE SYRIAN REVOLUTION While the world has turned [...]
SYRIA’S ARTS AND CULTURE BEFORE AND AFTER 2011
INSIGHTS FROM CONTRIBUTORS TO SYRIA SPEAKS On Tuesday 11th July we [...]
PARALLEL REPUBLIC EXHIBITION
The Centrepiece of Celebrating Syria Festival 2017 On 10th July 2017, [...]
Duo Zamaan
A CONCERT WITH RIHAB AZAR (OUD) & JAMAL ALSAKKA (PERCUSSION) The [...]
LIST OF BOOKS ON SALE AT CELEBRATING SYRIA FESTIVAL 2017
Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline (2014) [...]
