JERUSALEM – Archyde.com: The activities of the new edition of the “Jerusalem Festival”, organized by the Yabous Cultural Center this year, will be launched on August 12 under the slogan “Rise up, Jerusalem”, with the participation of local and foreign singing and music groups.
The festival, which was established in 1995, aims to “revitalize the cultural and commercial movement in the city of Jerusalem, contribute to the support and development of economic and social life, raise the level of knowledge of different arts, and deepen interactive dialogue and cooperation between groups of Palestinian groups and artists, intellectuals and international artists,” according to a statement from the festival administration.
The events are held in the halls of the Yabous Center, which are hundreds of meters from the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, as well as in Haifa and Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem.
The festival’s organizers say that “this year, it addresses through its artistic program the restrictions imposed on us and the restrictions on public space, cultural institutions and individuals, and addresses socio-political issues using art as a tool for expression.”
The opening ceremony comes with the Arab Orchestra (National Conservatory of Music) led by Palestinian musician Suhail Khoury.
The program, which extends until August 18, includes the participation of musical and theater groups and stand-up comedy shows.
(47 Sol) will perform its concert on August 13, while the play (The Fig Tree) by Palestinian actress Raeda Taha will be shown the next day. On August 15, the festival’s audience will meet with South African singer Nomsibo Zikodi and her performance group.
On August 16, artist Nidal Badarneh presents a stand-up comedy show, and the Palestinian Elia Youth Troupe will participate in its show (Searching for Zarif – Palestine).
The festival concludes with an evening by the Palestinian artist Dalal Abu Amna, who is known for her artistic projects derived from the conscience and heritage of the Palestinian and Arab people.
Parallel to the festival, an art exhibition (Serb) will be held with the participation of artists, including Bashir Qanqour and Bayan Abu Nahla.
The activities of the Jerusalem Festival were held at the archaeological site of the tombs of the sultans in the city of Jerusalem during the past years, before the opening of the Yabous Cultural Center, which includes halls dedicated to musical and cultural performances.
The organizers of the festival this year announced the launch of the (Rim Banna Prize for Music Production), saying that its aim is to “encourage the production of new songs that emulate the Palestinian cause and global humanitarian issues that affect Arab and international public opinion and invite it to pay attention to the just cause in Palestine and issues of political and social justice around the world.”
Rim Banna, a Palestinian singer and composer from Nazareth, died in 2018.
