Online events at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Writing the Palestinian City at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival

13 July 2020

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Spoken word performer Lisa Luxx.
Spoken word performer Lisa Luxx.
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Founded in 1998, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival is the UK’s longest running annual festival of Arab arts and culture, and this year it takes its wares online from 9 to 18 July. Various art forms are covered (see the LAAF website for full programme details and links to Eventbrite sign-up pages), but here on the Literature Desk, we’re most interested in the panel discussion Writing The Palestinian City, in association with Comma Press, and an evening featuring spoken word artist and performer, and LAAF’s artist-in-residence for 2020, Lisa Luxx.

First up, on Saturday 11 July (9-10pm), Lisa Luxx – spotted IRL recently at Liverpool’s A Lovely Word and Manchester’s That’s What She* Said – joins forces with her friend and fellow LGBT+ poet of Arab heritage Dayna Ash for an exclusive evening entitled Grinding Saffron; a night of poetic lesbian sisterhood, when the two artists will be sharing their own poems on queerness, identity and longing, with nods to the history of Arab lesbian culture. Dayna Ash is a cultural and social activist, playwright, performance poet and the Founder & Executive Director of the non-profit arts organisation Haven For Artists based in Beirut, Lebanon, while Lisa Luxx is a Saboteur Award-winning queer writer, performer, essayist and activist of British Syrian heritage. Lisa will also be in conversation on Tuesday 14 July (6-7pm), discussing with Anahid Kassabian, Mishaal Omar and Diyan Zora the new theatre work they were due to present at this year’s festival – Eating The Copper Apple will now premiere in Liverpool at a later point.

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival is the UK’s longest running annual festival of Arab arts and culture, and this year it takes its wares online from 9 to 18 July

On Monday 13 July (6-7pm) listen in on Writing The Palestinian City, when three writers from Palestine will explore their work and stories about Gaza, Ramallah and East Jerusalem. Taking as a starting point Comma’s best-selling anthology Palestine + 100, guest authors Talal Abu Shawish, Maya Abu Al-Hayat and Mazen Maalouf will discuss the challenge of writing, in fiction as well as nonfiction, about Palestine with its added layer of friction. As the blurb explains: “Palestine is a physical place, but one with a global identity, which changes whether you are ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ … How do you decide where to set your story, how do you build a ‘nameless’ city? How does Palestine’s vast diaspora impact on this writing?” Chaired by Ra Page from Manchester’s Comma Press, we’re told you can “expect a passionate and reflective discussion exploring the fundamental partnership between identity and the written word”.

Events at LAAF 2020 are free, but donations are welcomed, going to the artists and commissioning new work for 2021.

Writing the Palestinian City at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
Writing the Palestinian City at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival

Where to go near Online events at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival

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Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
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Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
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The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
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Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

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