Musical Projects Blossom out of the Selat Summer
With support from Selat: Links through the Arts and in the context of the 2nd edition of the Students Authentic Music Festival, me’zaf Musical Cultural Initiative (Selat: Links through the Artsgrant to organisations - 5th edition) organised two technical workshops. Held at the T-Marbouta Café, Beirut, on 28 July 2017, the first workshop addressed proper sound systems for oriental Takht instruments. Zaynoun Ghannaj of AMAC sarl made a theoretical presentation and a practical application on relevant sound equipment. Organised at the Music House, Choueifat, the second workshop focused on the making and history of oriental Takht instruments. The workshop was organised in collaboration with "Inaq" Studio.
Ghassan Sahhab (me’zaf Musical Cultural Initiative) made a presentation on the history of musical instruments. Emad Billani also presented on the making of musical instruments.
The workshops brought together students of the Al Kamandjâti Association, Beit Atfal Assumoud, and Al Manfeyen Band.
August 2017 also marked the inauguration of Quartet Alisar. The group brings together three Palestinian female musicians from the Burj al-Shamali refugee camp in South Lebanon: violinist Dima Bakkar (19 years), cellist Alice Khashan (18 years), and flutist Lina Khashan (15 years). Young Norwegian violinist Inger Hannisdal is the musical guide of Quartet Alisar. The first party of the group was organised at the Metro al Madina Theatre, Hamra, Beirut, on 6 August 2017.
The three Palestinian musicians received music education at the Music Education Programme of the Beit Atfal Assumoud in Burj al-Shamali refugee camp, South Lebanon. They participated in workshops curated by Palestinian artists Ahmad al Khatib and Youssef Hbeisch in the context of a project implemented by the IRAB Association for Arabic Music (Selat: Links through the Arts grant to organisations - 4th edition).
Selat: Links through the Arts grant to organisations
In the context of the 5th edition of Selat: Links through the Arts grants to organisations, eight grants were approved to support projects submitted by Lebanon-based culture and art organisations in the fields of music, media, theatre, etc. Selat grants were distributed to Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon.
In 2012, the A. M. Qattan Foundation (Palestine) launched Selat: Links through the Arts in partnership with Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands). Selat is tailored to support and fund new artistic and cultural projects in Lebanon. In addition to consolidating relations with the Lebanese society, these projects contribute to promoting cultural and artistic life in Palestinian communities, particularly refugee camps.