On the Festival Day, the art work which had been produced by Riverside Junior School, Hebden Bridge and Mount Pellon Junior School, Halifax was exhibited alongside samples from four new photographic exhibitions created by the young people of the Lajee Cultural Centre, Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem. The youngsters of Lajee were dancing at the Festival with new friends made in Calder High and Halifax High and the children of Riverside and Mount Pellon were singing with Reem Kelani, so it was wonderful to have a special room showing the artistic work of these different groups of young people.
The Children’s Art exhibition was entitled “This is Where I Live” and had pictures by children living in Gaza, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Halifax and Hebden Bridge. The pictures reward close scrutiny (rather like the Renaissance Drawings on show at the British Museum, you need to stand close to appreciate the intricate detail). And the detail is revealing: children, all with similar hopes and ambitions, but with such radically different experiences of life.
Alongside this, some stunning photos by young people of Lajee. The four photographers adopted different perspectives, as the titles of their work shows: Out of Focus; Cultural Education in Palestinian Refugee Camps; Reflections; Different Shades of Olive. The work is remarkably professional and accomplished and well as thought-provoking. The common thread is the shared sense not just of Palestinian identity, but the special articulation of that identity for Palestinian refugees. The work went on to be exhibited at the Amnesty International Centre, London where the Lajee dancers gave their final performance of the tour.
Miras Al-Azzeh of Aida Camp with his photographs which focus on the cultural education of young people in the refugee camp.
The Mayor of Calderdale, Anne McAllister, her consort (and me) admiring the work of Riverside School, Hebden Bridge.
One of the pictures from Al Rowwad, a cultural centre in Aida Camp, Bethlehem.
