Arts For Palestine

When US Marines landed on the beaches of Da Nang in the late 60s, the Vietnam war began and with it, a countercultural movement of hippies gained global attention - but the anti-war movement was born before the Vietnam war.

On October 7th when Hamas crossed into Israel from Gaza, this wasn't the beginning of the conflict, nor the beginning of a global anti-war campaign for a free Palestine and a peaceful Israel - but it was the spark that reignited another counterculture movement.

In Manchester the arts scene responded in a way that saw the tide turn from an issue that affected some, to an issue that empowered everyone and anyone. So many organisations and individuals took up the mantle to speak out, to boycott, and to create.

No-one in Particular Promo shared flyers at the start of the summer for their Punks for Palestine gig taking place at the end of August, featuring acts such as Crywank, Autonomads, Harijan and Gurnal Gadafi with 100% of the proceeds going towards charities such as Watermelon Relief.

Watermelon Relief are a grassroots collective who aid displaced families in Gaza with meals, support and safe activities. They said: "Unfortunately this campaign is ongoing until there is a ceasefire. We would love to build a community kitchen so we can reach more people but with all the displacements is hasn't yet been possible."

The gig at Rebellion Manchester promised a night of punk, anti-folk, dub and ska showing solidarity with grassroots Palestinian aid organisations. Gay Shame Manchester hosted an alternative Pride event in August as co-ordinators felt they could not support Manchester Pride due to sponsors such as Booking.com and the accusations of hosting listings on occupied territories.

The alternative event in Cheetham Hill raised funds for medical aid in Palestine by hosting a queer cabaret and DJ session on 24th August. The event was described as "a space for artists to have political agency to practice in line with their principles."

‍Another organisation who chose to use theatre as a medium to raise funds and awareness for the Palestinian crisis is Manchester Theatre for Palestine. The theatre group wrote, directed and performed a play based on real-life accounts of those living in Palestine.

The group said: "MTFP was borne of a shared desire to amplify the voices of Palestinians, especially those in Gaza, during this current onslaught of heartless bombardment and displacement. Over some weeks, we assembled a range of voluntary creatives from across Greater Manchester, with the goal of staging a cathartic piece of work that would invite audiences to bear witness to Palestinians’ urgent stories, whilst serving as testament to the necessity and feasibility of delivering such work."

‍[This] work shines a light on marginalised (and silenced) narratives in a manner that is hopefully ultimately empowering. We hope to see other theatre-makers and artists across the country establish similar regional initiatives.”The performance titled 'Light In Me Don't Die' showcased "the words and testimony of Palestinian survivors and martyrs, and of citizens living under nine months of continuous bombardment, displacement and invasion." and featured an all-female cast of Palestinians and British Palestinians.

Money raised from the event was split between Ashtar Theatre's Gaza Monologue Fund and The Freedom Theatre, who are frequently harassed and arrested for the art they create.

Greater Manchester and Manchester city centre especially is no stranger to political protest, whether in the streets, in song or on stage, and the movement to amplify the voices of Palestinians is no different - in that people are having an impact and raising funds to support those whose homes have been decimated and whose lives have been harmed, ruined, or ended.

Speaking with organisers and supporters of various art events, what is so clear is the impact that the art scene and particularly political art can have on people, and how art as a force for good can affect change.

There are many who attend every event they can because of a deep belief in the cause or a personal experience, and there are those who are deeply in love with the arts and feel raising funds for Palestine is a bonus to a worthwhile evening with friends, family, strangers.

Then there are those who attend for the sense of community, whether through a joint rage or a joint hope, through a sense of symbiosis with a group of people who wish they could do more individually but who collectively are doing all they can.

By supporting other artists and events, by promoting each other's fundraisers and by shining a light on the work happening to raise awareness of the strife of the Palestinian people - these people are proving that the arts can bring people together.

Whether poetry filling a creative zine, songs of resistance, a queer cabaret, or a harrowing story of survival told by spotlight, the Manchester art scene sees the people of Palestine, it hears them, it does not shy away from their suffering and as ever, it does things differently here.

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Images: @cochrane_captures