Cultural resistance For the oppressed, the arts have always been a powerful tool against the oppressors. For us Palestinians, artistic expression is an integrated part of our struggle for freedom, justice and equality. We are subjected to apartheid, colonisation and military rule. This conditions and gives direction to our work at The Freedom Theatre. We are part of a movement, and our contribution to it is to create a platform for cultural resistance. Cultural resistance means different things to different people. Our own definition as The Freedom Theatre has grown out of our experiences during the past ten years and is rooted in our practical work, as well as in our analysis of the reality around us. In our perspective, cultural resistance is not a substitute for any other form of resistance; it is a complement. Various forms of resistance can be described as a large mosaic where each stone represents a different form. Cultural resistance is one of the stones - but not just any stone: it is the stone that gives the entire mosaic a pattern, meaning and direction. How The Freedom Theatre operates Membership TFT is a membership organisation. Members include current and former students, friends and partners as well as other residents of the Jenin area. TFT also has international members. Anyone above the age of 18 who has a basic understanding of TFT can become a member, but in order to vote at
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the general assembly or be elected to the Board, members must have a Palestinian ID. Membership is open all year except one month before the general assembly. In addition to the general assembly, members are invited to at least one member meeting every year. Members are also encouraged to volunteer in TFT, and they are updated on the operations through a regular digest, as well as frequent updates on social media. TFT aims for the members to be actively engaged and is committed to taking into consideration the members’ suggestions and ideas. The Board of Trustees The Freedom Theatre Board of Trustees is elected annually in a General Assembly that takes place in May. The board of trustees must have a minimum of 7 members and a maximum of 13 members, and must elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer according to the bylaws of The Freedom Theatre. The board members are not paid. They meet at least once every three months and are responsible for implementing the annual plan as approved by the general assembly within the framework of TFT’s bylaws. The general secretary provides the Board with quarterly reports (see below). The board is responsible for leading the organisation and implementing the mandate given to them by the General Assembly. Executive Committee The Executive Committee (EC) consists of the programme coordinators and senior managers of TFT as well as one ordinary and one substitute elected staff members.
The general secretary chairs the EC. The EC manages the ongoing operations of the organisation, concerning its policies and process manuals. The EC meets once a week. Half the EC members are elected by the general secretary and the other half by the staff members of The Freedom Theatre. General Secretary The general secretary is employed by the board and is responsible for overseeing the annual plan and that appropriate policies and procedures are followed. The general secretary is also responsible for the flow of information between the members, the board of trustees, the EC and staff and for compiling quarterly reports to the board, chairing the EC meetings and representing the EC at board meetings. Programme Coordinators The programme coordinators are responsible for implementing and overseeing the activities that fall under their particular programme, in addition to compiling reports to the general secretary so that progress can be monitored. The programme coordinators are also responsible for presenting future plans for their programmes, and need to make sure that programme targets are met. Quarterly reports Every three months, the programme coordinators and the accounting department report on their progress to the general secretary, and the general secretary reports back to the board. That way the organisation minimises the risk of diverting from the original plan and it makes all
implementing parties accountable to their commitments, where the board holds the ultimate responsibility for the successful implementation of the annual plan within the scope of the bylaws. Public domain Most of the documentation of TFT is considered to lie within the public domain and may be retrieved by contacting the general secretary with a letter stating the intention along with contact information. Documents that can be retrieved include the audits, annual reports, the quarterly financial and administrative reports, policy and procedural manuals, grant applications, donor reports, rent agreements and contracts with service providers. Spaces TFT operates mainly from its theatre, workshop and office complex in Jenin refugee camp, and its rehearsal hall in Jenin town. The facilities include: 1. A 150-seat theatre and cinema hall, changing rooms, storage and technical workshop as well as a rehearsal space. Fully accessible by wheelchair. 2. A set and general storage space. 3. An office with six rooms and a common meeting space. 4. A meeting/lunch room with merchandise display corner and a kitchen. 5. A rehearsal hall, library, costume storage and changing rooms, as well as rest and kitchen areas with full wheelchair access. 6. A child activity space with two playrooms with full wheelchair access. 7. A cinema room with partial wheelchair access.
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