Festival of Nablus 2020

Celebrating 40 years of twinning
between Dundee and Nablus

30^th May - 12^th June 2020

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Cancelled - Coronavirus

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March 2020
The Covid-19 virus epidemic put the West Bank and Israel under severe restrictions making it impossible for our visiting delegation of Dabke Dancers from Nablus to travel.

The UK also saw a rapid rise in cases causing the cancellation of events. The uncertainty will last for an unknown time making it impossible to reschedule our events.

We were lucky that, although we had raised lots of money, we had spent almost none. Visas and tickets alone would cost over £6,000. None of this money was lost.

We are very disappointed and thank everyone who helped us with funding, support, advice and contributions.

Donors have been contacted and substantial donations have been returned. Some donors asked us to mark the celebrations by supporting projects in Nablus.

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Draft programme

The draft programme includes:

30th May-12th Jun		Exhibition in Central Library
Mon 1st Jun		Literary event – Book Club
Tue 2nd Jun		Poetry reading: Bill Herbert & Iyad Hayatleh
Wed 3rd Jun		DCA Film Wajib at 6pm (usual DCA prices)
Thu 4th Jun		Dabke group arrive
Fri 5th Jun		Civic Reception and welcome for Dabke group (invitation only)
Sat 6th Jun		City Square event
Sun 7th Jun		Westfest DNTA stall and Dabke performance
Mon 8th Jun
Tue 9th Jun		Scottish Parliament (invitation only)

Except where shown, events are open to everyone and free.

 

30^th May-12^th June – Exhibition in Central Library

A spectacular display of images of Nablus and a history of the twinning.

Mon 1^st June – Literary event – Book Club

This will be a discussion based on the book "Palestine +100. Palestinian authors (including one from Nablus) were commissioned to write their vision for 2048.

This date is 100 years after what Palestinians call the Nakba - the "catastrophe" which was the founding, in 1948, of the State of Israel in the lands of Palestine.

Tue 2^nd June – Poetry reading: Bill Herbert & Iyad Hayatleh

Bill Herbert is a poet from Dundee and is the Dundee Makar. He has agreed to write a poem about the twinning between Dundee and Nablus; this will, of course, be in Dundonian

Bill will be the Dundee component of this poetry event with Iyad Hayatleh representing Nablus and Palestine

Wed 3^rd June – DCA Film Wajib at 6pm

Usual DCA tickets and prices apply. We hope to have a discussion after the film within the DCA.

Thu 4^th June – Dabke group arrive

These are young people who will demonstrate the traditional Palestinian dabke dancing.

Fri 5^th June – Civic Reception and welcome for Dabke group

Sat 6^th June – City Square event

This event will bring Palestinian Dabke dancing to the City Square where everyone can see it. There will be a local choir and several other contributers showing off Dundee culture to match the dabke dancing by our visitors from Nablus.

Sun 7^th June – Westfest performance and stall

During Westfest, our visitors from Nablus will dance and meet people of Dundee.

Mon 8^th June –

Tue 9^th June – Scottish Parliament (invitation only)

Our visitors from Nablus will meet MSPs and the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK.

Fri 12^th June – Dabke group departs

They will be going back to their homes in Nablus.

 

All welcome, free entry to most events; donations welcome. Donations will help to fund the programme and the high cost of bringing young Palestinians from Nablus to Dundee.

 

Building Friendship and Understanding

Organised by Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association
with grateful support from: