Jordan Daily – Festival directors from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, along with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, have gathered in Edinburgh as part of the British Council’s #InBetweenxMomentum initiative.
In a statement , the program, running from August 9th to 13th, aims to explore and influence the future of festivals, focusing on sustainability, audience engagement, technological integration, and cross-border collaboration.
Directors from Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and the UK are participating in this initiative, which coincides with Edinburgh’s globally celebrated festival season. Momentum, the platform hosting the event, provides a critical space for cultural leaders to discuss the current challenges facing the festival sector, while also identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.
The week-long program includes a series of discussions and workshops, beginning with an exploration of the core purposes of festivals. These sessions will cover a range of pressing topics, including the development of sustainable festival models and the use of technology to enhance the festival experience. Participants will also focus on nurturing international collaborations, a key component for fostering cultural exchange and introducing new approaches within the arts.
Amany Abouzeid, Regional Arts Director for MENA, highlighted the significance of this gathering, stating, “‘Festival Making in the Arab Region’ represents a crucial step in reinforcing the festival ecosystem across the MENA region and the UK. By bringing together festival directors from both regions, we are not only sharing expertise but also building partnerships that will lead to more sustainable and innovative festivals. This collaboration is essential for addressing the unique challenges we face and for tapping into the vast opportunities within the global arts community.”
This gathering in Edinburgh underscores the importance of international cooperation in shaping the future of festivals, with the goal of creating more resilient and interconnected cultural landscapes.
