Journeys Festival International Leicester 2017

Mohamad Khayata – Stitching My Syria Back

LEICESTER EVENT PROGRAMME 05 – 28 AUGUST 2016 THE CONTAINER PROJECT // COFFEE SHOP CONVERSATIONS LOOK UP // POP UP THEATRE // CORE FESTIVAL WORLD PREMIERE – BELARUS FREE THEATRE’S BURNING DOORS

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05 – 28 AUGUST

BI XÊR HATÎ வரவேற்பு WELCOME I MIRËPRITUR BIENVENUE ДАБРО ЗАПРАШАЕМ ARTREACH TEAM DAVID HILL DIRECTOR NICOLA MIDDLER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER EMILY ANN HARRIS MARKETING AND

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER CHARLOTTE MOUNTFORD PRODUCER HANNAH PILLAI YOUNG PRODUCER GINA MOLLET PROJECT MANAGER HOLLY GOODFELLOW PROJECT MANAGER HELEN CHAMBERLAIN EVENT MANAGER

SUPPORTED BY

#JOURNEYSFEST LEICESTER IS A MONTH OF SENSATIONAL EVENTS, CELEBRATING THE ARTISTIC TALENT AND INCREDIBLE STORIES OF EXCEPTIONAL REFUGEE ARTISTS – CREATING A POSITIVE INTERFACE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH GREAT ART AND CULTURE. #JourneysFest will be extending its work into the cities of Manchester and Portsmouth (with Leicester continuing to be the pivotal driving force for Journeys Festival International activity) with support from Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence fund.

MANCHESTER 01 – 12 OCTOBER 2016

LEICESTER PARTNERS

PORTSMOUTH 10 – 22 OCTOBER 2016 “ Welcome to Journeys Festival International, Leicester 2016! This August we are delighted to welcome an exciting host of diverse artists to Leicester – exploring innovative new projects, such as The Container Project and Look Up, as well as putting on a Core Festival weekend in Jubilee Square. From the World Premiere of Belarus Free Theatre’s new show Burning Doors, to a jam-packed live music programme and hands-on kite making workshops, there’s something for everyone! “ Nicola Middler Executive Producer

JOURNEYSFESTIVAL.COM

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05 – 28 AUGUST

THE CONTAINER PROJECT // ORTON SQUARE Symbolic of export and transference, Journeys Festival International has transformed a shipping container into an innovative project space. Across the month we will host a variety of projects and exhibitions including:

YOUTH CULTURES – SHARED PERSPECTIVES SAT 13 – TUES 16 AUGUST

GRAFFITI PROJECT FRI 5 – SUN 12 AUGUST Local urban artist N4T4 will kick start The Container Project and adorn the façade of the space with a mural focussing on the theme of WELCOME. Pop along on Sat 6 or Sun 7 August to watch him work!

An exploration of cultural identity between young people from Soft Touch Arts (born in Leicester) and After18 (young refugees) resulting in the production of an exciting new collaborative installation, featuring print and sound, within The Container Project.

Supported by:

Supported by:

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05 – 28 AUGUST

THE CONTAINER PROJECT

EXHIBITIONS TUES 23 – SAT 28 AUGUST

WELCOME POSTER PROJECT WED 17 – MON 22 AUGUST Artist Sumiko Eadon from Leicester Print Workshop will work in collaboration with refugee artists from Leicester City of Sanctuary to explore the theme of WELCOME and produce a collaborative poster design. The Container will become a pop up printmaking studio where you can screenprint and take away your own copy of the poster!

The Container Project will become an informative exhibition space for the final part of this project.

Volunteers from national refugee support charity City of Sanctuary will be on hand to talk about the reality of the refugee crisis and debunk myths.

Forming the backdrop for these discussions will be the Zimbabwean Association’s exhibition ‘12 years’, detailing stories and oral histories of Zimbabwean asylum seekers in the UK. Alongside this, a selection of documentary photographs from Belarus Free Theatre will be on show - as we welcome the World Premiere of their new production Burning Doors to the Curve theatre.

SANCTUARY RADIO THURS 18 AUGUST – SUN 18 SEPTEMBER Working in collaboration with After18 (a charity for unaccompanied young people in Leicester), Journeys Festival International is supporting the production of, and providing exciting content for, a pop up internetbased radio station, programmed and produced by local refugees and asylum seekers. Sanctuary Radio will broadcast online and will focus on sharing diverse arts and culture from across the globe.

To listen, tune in at www.sanctuaryradio.co.uk for live performances from the Festival, interviews, music and much more!

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10 – 24 AUGUST

Hosted by some of the best independent coffee houses in Leicester, our Coffee Shop Conversations are an opportunity to discuss and exchange views with refugee and asylum seeker artists over the domestic ritual of coffee and cake. We want to encourage greater understanding, tolerance and ultimately greater community cohesion through these events and take a small step towards tackling the issues of isolation, misconception and alienation.

Come along to listen, discuss and share experiences... as well as enjoy delicious complimentary tea, coffee and cake.

ART & ACTIVISM WED 17 AUGUST 10:30AM – 12NOON ST. MARTIN’S TEA & COFFEE 2–6 ST MARTINS WALK, ST MARTIN’S SQUARE, LEICESTER LE1 5DG

CULTURAL FABRIC WED 10 AUGUST 10:30AM – 12NOON NEW WALK MUSEUM CAFÉ 53 NEW WALK, LEICESTER LE1 7EA What significance do textiles hold to different cultures around the world? Cultural Fabric will focus on Syrian artist Mohamad Khayata’s photographic series ‘Stitching My Syria Back,’ which features a traditional ‘Madeh’ patchwork quilt, and the ‘Connecting Cultures’ project by award winning photographer Kajal Nisha Patel, who will lead the conversation.

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How can we use art to challenge misconceptions of refugees and asylum seekers? Bojana Jankovic of performance company There There, a 50% Romanian and 50% Serbian performance company, will discuss their work - exploring themes of immigration, media representations and stereotypical identities.

YOUTH CULTURES WED 24 AUGUST 10:30AM – 12NOON PHOENIX CAFÉ 4 MIDLAND ST, LEICESTER LE1 1TG How can we support the development of refugee and asylum seeking young people in Leicester? We invite influential Afghan refugee Gulwali Passarlay to share his experiences and achievements as a Youth Ambassador, TEDx speaker, and published author of ‘The Lightless Sky’.

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17 – 27 AUGUST

LOOK UP // MOHAMAD KHAYATA

Mohamad Khayata: Stitching My Syria Back

High impact, large scale outdoor visual arts exhibition on the exteriors of iconic buildings across Leicester’s cityscape.

Born in Syria, but forced to flee to Lebanon in 2013, Mohamad Khayata has witnessed his nation’s landscape and communities torn apart.

His poignant photographic series documents Syrian individuals photographed in Damascus, Lebanon and Tunisia, reuniting them with a traditional “Madeh” patchwork quilt, which was created with fond memories of his mother. The series represents the artist’s desire to reunite and ‘stitch’ Syria back together, with hopes of one day being able to return home.

ART WALKS FRI 19 – SUN 21 AUGUST 11AM – 12NOON EACH DAY MEET AT THE CONTAINER PROJECT ORTON SQUARE Join ArtReach’s Gina Mollett for a series of informative Art Walks, sharing the compelling stories and inspiration behind a selection of the Look Up artworks by Mohamad Khayata.

10 of these artworks are dispersed across Leicester, follow the map and Look Up to discover them!

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LOOK UP

17 – 27 AUGUST

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PHOENIX 4 MIDLAND ST, LE1 1TG CURVE 60 RUTLAND ST, LE1 1SB LEICESTER PRINT WORKSHOP 50 ST. GEORGE ST, LE1 1QG RAMADA ENCORE (CULTURAL QUARTER PROJECTOR) 90 CHARLES ST, LE1 1GE HIGHCROSS SHOPPING CENTRE CARLUCCIO’S, ST PETER’S SQUARE, LE1 4SA BBC RADIO LEICESTER JUBILEE SQUARE GREYFRIARS 1–3 POCKLINGTON WALK, LE1 6BT DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY, CLEPHAN BUILDING BONNERS LANE, LE1 5XY SOFT TOUCH ARTS 50 NEW WALK, LE1 6TF ATTENBOROUGH ARTS CENTRE LANCASTER RD, LE1 7HA

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20 – 21 AUGUST

CORE FESTIVAL // JUBILEE SQUARE SAT 20 – SUN 21 AUGUST // 11AM – 4PM Across the Core Festival weekend, Journeys Festival International will host an array of free activities and events including performance, live music, moving image, hands-on workshops and visual arts.

INTERNATIONAL KITE PROJECT

FLOATING LIBRARY

BBC RADIO LEICESTER, THE FORUM (FORMER BBC SHOP), JUBILEE SQUARE Using innovative digital technologies, you are invited to design and fly virtual kites over breathtaking landscapes, including Afghanistan, India and Syria. In partnership with Inspirate.

COMMUNITY KITE PROJECT

A broad selection of literature, suspended from the ceiling of our Floating Library, telling stories from and about the refugee experience. From beautifully illustrated children’s tales to hard-hitting novels, there’s something to suit all ages…and heights!

Titles include: The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce and We Are All Born Free, a collection of 30 articles simplified for children by Amnesty International.

Community Kite Project

For hundreds of years kites have been central to childhood (and adult) games and pursuits. Kite flying across the globe is synonymous with freedom, the outdoors, imagination and possibilities. Join expert kite makers from Community Kite Project to learn how to make your own kite based on designs from India and Afghanistan.

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CORE FESTIVAL

20 – 21 AUGUST

been dancing with refugees in ‘The Jungle’ camp in Calais and they created duets to perform with people in England. As they are unable to cross the border, if you accept Rita’s invitation you will (through her and the exchanged gift of dance), perform a duet with one of those refugees. Dance with a stranger and complete the connection.

Faceless Arts

There There

INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE // JUBILEE SQUARE

THERE THERE: EASTERN EUROPEANS FOR DUMMIES SAT 20 – SUN 21 AUGUST 11AM – 4PM There There is a 50% Romanian, 50% Serbian performance company, conjured up in London

by Dana Olărescu and Bojana Janković. Come along at any time to this interactive performance event and meet two “authentic Eastern Europeans” sharing insider knowledge of their customs and tactics. Try your hand at a whole collection of traditional fete games that stimulate thinking about integration, alienation and…immigration!

FACELESS ARTS: DRIFTWOOD SUN 21 AUGUST 11AM – 4PM A driftwood boat with driftwood puppets sets sail through a city and seeks a place to dock...

SAT 20 AUGUST 11AM – 4PM

The Driftwood performance comprises a striking visual non-verbal performance using skilled and sensitive puppeteers, set to an original pre-recorded soundtrack and live score created by world music composer Maria Jardardottir.

A woman on the street with outstretched arms and a t-shirt that says ‘Dance With Me’. Will you accept her invitation?

The performance will be preceded by a hands-on workshop from 12 noon to create flags to ‘welcome’ the puppets to the city.

Rita Marcalo is going to ask you to dance. She’s

Performance will meander through the city from 2pm

DANCING WITH STRANGERS: FROM CALAIS TO ENGLAND

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20 – 21 AUGUST

CORE FESTIVAL

Orchestra of Samples

LIVE MUSIC STAGE // JUBILEE SQUARE SAT 20 AUGUST: STAGE LINE-UP 11AM DIDIER KISALA The founding member of Congolese group The Redeemed creates a beautiful and soulful performance effortlessly initiating the weekend’s programme

SUN 21 AUGUST: STAGE LINE-UP

12PM MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL ROOTS ORCHESTRA (MIRO) This unique ensemble, with roots from across the world, skilfully fuses diverse musical influences, from across Eastern Europe to South Asia, embracing rap, hip-hop, classical music and jazz along the way

12PM YASMIN KADI Urban Afro-beat singer songwriter, whose debut EP ‘Earthquake’ charted at #1 on iTunes Ireland. This exceptional Sierra Leone born artist of African and Lebanese descent has performed alongside Paloma Faith and Roots Manuva

1PM NAMVULA Fusing the folk and urban traditions of her Zambian homeland and her Scottish roots, Namvula blends African sounds and rhythms with Latin, jazz and folk into uplifting and emotive songs

1PM OP SA! BALKAN Bringing their own passionate brand of Balkan music, influenced by the roots of the Serbian Kolo and the Turkish čoček, OP SA! perform an addictive blend of wild beats, gypsy flair and modern sound

2PM AFRO CLUSTER Afro Cluster blend authentic sounds and rhythms of afro-funk and hip-hop with impassioned, politically conscious lyrics atop bold melodies

2.15PM RAFIKI JAZZ Described as ‘Dance music without beats’ (Songlines) each performance with Rafiki Jazz is an invitation to visit a new global utopia where faiths, technologies and traditions meet

3:15PM ADDICTIVE TV – ORCHESTRA OF SAMPLES Sampling over 200 musicians worldwide to create a digital supergroup, audio/video duo Addictive TV perform their acclaimed “Orchestra of Samples” project, accompanied by Iranian percussionist Arian Sadr

3:30PM AAR MAANTA Described by young Somalis as “the voice of our generation”, Aar Maanta’s vocals fuse traditional Somalian music with house, hip hop and funk

MOVING IMAGE – STAGE SCREEN In between acts the on stage screen will showcase a variety of moving images shorts, from animation to factual films, all focussing on the refugee experience. Films include: Shabana – a music video/animation,

by Hello Psycallepo about Aleppo (Syria), Funfairs – portraying the life of a young Syrian boy in Beirut, by Nanda Al Dolani and Humans After All – men, women and children from the Calais ‘jungle’ sharing their stories but showing only their hands to express them, by Voices of Calais.

JOURNEYSFESTIVAL.COM

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18 – 23 AUGUST

POP UP THEATRE

Enter Edem

Free Pop Up theatre performances will be taking place in a variety of non-traditional theatre venues across the city. The Pop Up performances are inspired by the refugee and asylum seeker experience and will be presented by Leicester based practitioners from Scufflebox Theatre Company and Enter Edem, working with refugee community members.

SCUFFLEBOX THEATRE COMPANY Scufflebox Theatre Company will present a verbatim performance based on real life stories gathered from asylum seekers living in Leicester.

Each performance will consist of a series of short stories, presented by both experienced and first-time performers. To devise this new piece, Scufflebox practitioners worked closely with individuals from the refugee and asylum seeker community to gather content of the performance, which will comprise of both spoken word and physical theatre.

POP UP PERFORMANCES ENTER EDEM “ You are not a drop in the ocean; you are the entire ocean in a drop” Rumi No story is too small, every drop in the ocean makes the waves. Come join a water tribe as they tell tales of kindness and connection, of people and places from around the world, through puppetry, movement and magical visuals. This is the story of Golden and his journey as a refugee.

Enter Edem, a multi-arts theatre company, tell stories of the human experience, philosophy and the fantastically abstract through lively, astonishing, visual theatrics #JOURNEYSFEST/@JOURNEYSFEST

THURS 18 AUGUST SOFT TOUCH ARTS POP UP CAFE

1PM

SAT 20 AUGUST 1PM CATHEDRAL GARDENS, PEACOCK LANE SAT 20 AUGUST MUSEUM SQUARE, NEW WALK

7PM

TUES 23 AUGUST ATTENBOROUGH ARTS CENTRE

12.15PM

More Pop Up performances will appear around the city between 18–23 August – so keep an eye on our website and social media for updates!

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BELARUS FREE THEATRE

BURNING DOORS WORLD PREMIERE WITH MARIA ALYOKHINA FROM PUSSY RIOT 23 – 27 AUGUST 2016 7:30PM, CURVE BOOK TICKETS: CURVEONLINE.CO.UK 0116 242 3595 " ONE OF THE BRAVEST & MOST INSPIRED UNDERGROUND TROUPES ON THE PLANET " NEW YORK TIMES (2015)

TICKETS £15* PREVIEWS (23 – 24 AUG) £12* CONCESSIONS £12* * Transaction fee is £3 for all card payments. Excludes Curve Members, Groups 10+ and customers printing tickets at home.

POST SHOW TALKS: JOIN US AFTER EACH PERFORMANCE FOR A TALK WITH THE ARTISTS AND SPECIAL GUESTS

Created in partnership with ArtReach. Co-commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne.

Petr Pavlensky, image design by Michael Cranston

THIS BLAZINGLY CONTEMPORARY PRODUCTION TELLS THE STORIES OF PERSECUTED ARTISTS, LIVING UNDER DICTATORSHIP, WHO WILL NOT BE SILENCED.