Last call for the Palestine cultural festival

Tuesday to Thursday this week sees the cultural festival arranged by Hastings Palestine Solidarity Campaign, as Rachel Lever wishes to remind us.

We’re all set for an exciting mini-festival of events for Palestine this week, our posters are up all over the town and we’re ready to welcome a few fresh-faced students too.

Art sale: Tree by Adrienne Hunter

It kicks off on Tuesday 2 September from 7pm with a great night about the Freedom Theatre of Jenin. The centrepiece is Arna’s Children, a moving and thoughtful documentary about coming of age during the First Intifada and featuring the kids that were involved in Jenin refugee camp’s first theatre project. The Theatre’s assistant director Zoe Lafferty will be there to talk us through it.

On the following evening, Wednesday 3 September, at 7.30pm, we get a chance to see the award-winning Palestinian feature film Omar, a love story caught up in the intrigues of occupation. A modern-day Casablanca?

The last day, Thursday 4 September, will be jam-packed with interest, including a second round of the Art Sale for Gaza. There are 130-odd pieces of art donated by Hastings painters, printmakers and collectors, images that will keep you company for life, for the price of a night out.

Art sale: portrait by David Newham

First, from 4–6pm, it’s the Browse and Buy section with some 70 pieces to choose from, followed by the high drama of an auction – more of a ‘cheque-book’ event but still featuring fantastic bargains ranging in style from austere to flamboyant. And what could be better than knowing your cash is going straight to Gaza to help the injured get back on their feet?

And to round it all off, an evening of music, poetry, food and dancing.

Throughout the three days you can also see a fine exhibition of photographs taken by the children of Bil’in in the West Bank, Silent Voices.

There is more information on the Facebook Event Page.

Also in: Arts News