The A. M. Qattan Foundation (AMQF) participated in the Palestinian-Flemish Cultural Week, organised in the Belgian city of Ghent between 16 and 24 February 2018. The AMQF was represented by Mahmoud Abu Hashhash, Director of the Culture and Arts Programme (CAP) and Nisreen Naffa’, Head of CAP Arts and Literature Unit. Some events of the festival were also observed in other Belgian cities.
According to Abu Hashhash, the idea of the Palestinian-Flemish Cultural Week was mainly initiated by the Mission of Palestine in Europe, Belgium, and Luxemburg. The initiative was an entry point to building political relations between Palestine and the County of Flanders, a large and significant part of the Kingdom of Belgium. The event was jointly organised by Connexion VZW (Brussels) and AMQF (Palestine).
Abu Hashhash stated that the festival “was based on the theme of collaboration. Most events of the main artistic programme involved collaboration between artists from Palestine, the Country of Flanders, and other areas, presenting the cultural relation, which dates back to many years ago. At the heart of this relation is the longstanding and productive collaboration between the AMQF and two of the most significant Flemish performing arts organisations, namely the Royal Flemish Theatre KVC (Brussels) and les ballets C de la B company (Ghent), since 2006. Collaboration has also been maintained with Connexion VZW, covering key programmes, such as the Summer School for Performing Arts, Shared Spaces, and One Space. Combined, these created a variety of art projects, which laid the foundation for the artistic programme of the Palestinian-Flemish Cultural Week. The event presented a vibrant, fresh and different image of the Palestinian art and culture scene. Initiated by young artists, that image is immune to all stereotypical representations and clichés, which might be visible in the context of other cultural weeks. Key Flemish culture and art institutions hosted these different events.
The Palestinian-Flemish Cultural Week was inaugurated in the presence of Abd Al-Rahim Al-Farra, Palestinian Ambassador to Belgium, and Hassan Balawi, Senior Advisor to the Palestine Embassy in Belgium. Balawi initiated the idea of the cultural week. Both Al-Farra and Balawi said they were pleased with the festival programme and structure. It shed light on the existing links between the Palestinian and Flemish cultures, presenting both at the height of their collaboration, not as strange entities. The festival had a wonderful and positive impression on the audience.
“I have learned from our partners in Connexion VZW that officials from the Government of Flanders were also pleased with the festival and were eager for more. We hope that a number of these Flemish officials as well as art and culture actors visit the festival, which is scheduled to be organised in Palestine between 5 and 12 May 2018.” Abu Hashhash commented.
According to Abu Hashhash, many culture and art institutions were curious about the Palestinian art scene. They were eager to organise more collaborative projects. Hence, one day of the festival was dedicated to this end and involved a number of Palestinian artists. “We also made a presentation about the AMQF and its various programmes,” Abu Hashhash said.
“After we returned to Palestine, we received letters from different Belgian institutions, showing interest in further collaboration. We are now in touch with Vorat Mathieu Guerre, the largest and most famous theatre in Ghent city, which expressed willingness to visit Palestine in company with the AMQF coordinators to have a closer look at the Foundation’s experience and at the Palestinian art scene.” Abu Hashhash added.
“There is a lot we can learn from this institution in particular. It is a relatively large institution, which houses many exhibition spaces and employs almost 85 staff members. Its annual budget is approximately EUR 9 million. While half of the budget is earmarked by the government, the other half is generated by the institution’s own revenues.” Abu Hashhash concluded.
In parallel to this event, a number of art institutions in Ghent city organised culture and art programmes and hosted Palestinian artists, artist collectives, or events that revolved around Palestine, reinforcing the momentum of Palestine’s cultural visibility during this period.