In 2008, Lajee Center implemented its first UK Arts and Culture Tour which attracted around 3,000 people to a range of public and participatory events including Dabka performances, photographic exhibitions, film screening, and workshops with British children. This project showed the true potential of Palestinian arts and culture, initiated by Palestine's new generations, as forms of communication, self-expression, and resistance.

 

Following on from this success, 2010 will see the 2nd UK tour which will again feature young refugees performing Dabka (Palestinian folk dancing), exhibiting their widely acclaimed photographic exhibitions, and screening new films made by members of Lajee Arts and Media Unit.

 

The 2010 tour will begin with collaborative dance workshops with UK schoolchildren leading to a performance at the Halifax-Palestine Cultural festival in Yorkshire which will also include Lajee photographic exhibitions. The tour will then head south stopping in various cities for Dabka shows and exhibitions, before arriving in London for the finale which will include a photographic exhibitions, and a Dabka show in London theatre.

 

The tour group will be mixed gender and include 16 young dancers and artists aged between 11-17 years old, and 4 Lajee staff members. The tour duration will be 2 weeks through the 2nd and 3rd week of July 2010.

    

 

SPONSOR AN ARTIST

 

To facilitate the 2010 UK Arts and Culture tour, Lajee Center still needs to raise a substantial amount of money. Various people across the UK and elsewhere are already helping, but there is a long way to go.

 

In an attempt to raise some of these costs, Lajee Center is launching a "Sponsor an Artist" fundraising project. Sponsorship can be made by individuals, organizations, companies, or any other collective. The list below give an idea of sponsorship costs per participant for particular aspects of the project, although donations of any size are greatly appreciated.

 

60 Pounds – UK Visa.

160 Pounds – overland transport from Aida Camp to Amman return + Visa.

450 Pounds – Flight (Amman-London return).

900 Pounds – Total Tour Costs (per participant).

 

If you would like to "Sponsor an artist" to take part in this project please contact:

 

Lajee Center                                    info@lajee.org

 

 

Rich Wiles (Project Coordinator)    richimages02@hotmail.com  

Your friendship and solidarity are greatly appreciated.