Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) is inviting proposals for our 2021 festival. The festival will be held Friday 16 – Sunday 25 July, 2021.

Information about this opportunity is available in three different formats:

Download the TEXT IN ARABIC
Download the large print LAAF 2021 Call for Proposals
Read the TEXT below

The devastating impact of climate change is being felt across the world. Global warming is fuelling extreme weather events, rising sea levels, intense heat, natural disasters, environmental degradation, food and water insecurity, mass migration, and conflict.
 
These consequences are already daily experiences for many within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
 
Our 2021 festival will respond to how climate change is impacting MENA communities who are already experiencing the destruction of their environments and land due to conflict and colonialism.
 
PROPOSALS
 
We welcome proposals from artists from or based in the MENA region, or artists across the globe with MENA or Arab heritage, that responds directly to, or are influenced by, issues related to climate change.
 
Examples include:
 
  • The climate and environmental crisis within the Arab world
  • Local and global issues related to conflict, colonialism or climate justice
  • Works/ideas that increase awareness and encourage a global exchange of new ideas
  • Works that imagine a more sustainable future
Proposals can be in any art form, including: dance, theatre, music, visual art, spoken word, or literature.
 
Outputs can include: live performances, events, artworks, exhibitions, workshops, public realm works, talks, panel discussions, young people’s activities, or digital activities.
 
We are strongly committed to promoting the inclusion of womxn, queer, Black Arab, and Deaf or disabled artists in our work.
 
We ask applicants to consider how they can minimise their environmental impact at every stage of their proposal.
 
The deadline for applications is 23:59 (GMT) on Friday 4 December 2020.
 
If you have any questions, please email admin@arabicartsfestival.co.uk
 
COVID-19
 
We ask you to consider the possibility of COVID-19 restrictions in your application. This could include socially distanced performances with reduced capacity, or outlining alternative plans if restrictions are implemented. The LAAF team will discuss these options at length with any selected proposals.
 
RESOURCES
 
ARTISTS | IDEAS | NOW – Conflict, Colonialism and the Climate Crisis

We recommend watching ARTISTS | IDEAS | NOW – Conflict, Colonialism and the Climate Crisis. The panel event was held at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2020 and launched the 2021 festival theme of climate crisis. It highlighted key issues that we will be exploring throughout the festival. The event featured Faisal Abu Alhayjaa, Samah Hijawi, Doreen Toutikian and Sabrina Mahfouz.

Conflict, Colonialism and the Climate Crisis was chaired by LAAF’s Lead Programmer Anahid Kassabian and co-produced with Creative Destruction.