On Wednesday 6 November, we had the London Syrian Ensemble (the best Syrian band in the UK!) to perform some classical and some new Syrian and oriental music with a huge emotional range and depth. The London Syrian Ensemble is a collective of some of the Damascus Conservatoire’s finest musicians, now based in the UK.
On Wednesday 6 November, we had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful art of Arabic calligraphy, as part of the Celebrating Syria: A Festival of Arts and Culture 2019. Syrian calligraphist Abdullah Al-Anezi led a workshop on the art of Arabic calligraphy at Longsight Library.
On Tuesday 5 November 2019, we had the 1st screening of the award-winning film: The Day I lost My Shadow at Home Cinema in Manchester. The film highlights the story of a Syrian mother (Sana) whose dream was to find a cooking gas to prepare a meal for her son. She takes a day off from her job to search for a gas cylinder.
Full house on the evening of Monday 4 November 2019 at Manchester Central Library to hear from the brilliant Saad Hajo on "What it's Like to be a Cartoonist from the Middle East". It was an amazing event .So much food for though!
On Monday 4 November 2019 we had our first cooking workshop as part of Celebrating Syria Festival 2019. At this hands-on workshop, attendees learnt how to make a platter of mixed mezze so they can impress their guest. It was homely, calm & relaxed atmosphere and participants truly enjoyed this fantastic experience.
On Sunday 3 November, we had our first film-screening: Still Recording as part of Celebrating Syria Festival 2019 at NIAMOS Manchester. The screening highlights the experience of Saeed, who teaches young people the rules of filmmaking amidst reality that is far too harsh to respect any rule.
On Sunday 3 November 2019 we had a mapathon with Maps for Syria at our centre in Longisght Manchester. The event offered participants the opportunity to see the house they left behind in Syria & document their right to it.
On Sunday 3 November 2019 we held a fascinating & highly informative discussion on destruction and reconstruction in the Syrian context at our centre. The event explored the multi-dimensional nature of Syria’s built environment from a community perspective and attempted to re-frame or re-construct the urban sphere as a cultural phenomenon.
On Sunday 3 November 2019, the Centre for International Women Artists (CIWA) hosted the workshop entitled: “In your Own Image: Play with Clay” as part of Celebrating Syria Festival 2019. People were truly entertained as they get their hand dirty and joined experts to make a 3D self-portrait and other sculptures from clay.
A truly unique evening and the perfect opening to our Celebrating Syria Festival 2019 took place at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on Saturday 2 November 2019. Fawaz Baker Ensemble took us to a special place as they performed Arabic, Syriac, Armenian Turkish and Kurdish tunes that have been passed from one generation to the next.