Regeneration
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Palestine
The RHC program
tries to bring life back to those historic centres by supporting the local
communities to develop a regeneration strategy, rehabilitating historic
buildings or compounds and supporting operators in setting up new social,
cultural or economic functions.
But reviving,
revitalizing, regenerating the historic centres needs more than stones and
mortar. Together with all stakeholders, the program aims to change the
sometimes negative perception with regards to ancient structures and to show
the people the possibilities to adapt historic buildings – with respect for the
historic values and the local identity – to the needs and requirements of today
and tomorrow. Here for a lot of emphasis is put on advocacy, awareness raising,
participation, and community activation. In that way, supporting the Al Kamandjâti
Festival was the ideal opportunity to reach out to the local communities, local
visitors and international tourists.
Far from being a
simple entertainment, Al Kamandjâti Festival seeks an art of living together by
highlighting the cultural diversity and traditional heritage. This event was
the occasion for an insight in both Palestine’s contemporary issues and
incredibly rich legacy as this edition was travelling from the North to the
South of Palestine for almost a month, passing by cities, villages and refugee
camps.
On Thursday 5th
of April the Festival was kicked off by a press conference, photo exhibition
and concert. Later on the Festival had stopovers in, amongst others, Sabastiya
(April 7-8), Arraba (April 11), and Adh Dahariya (April 14). Concerts, children
shows, film screenings, workshops, lectures, exhibitions and alternative guide
tours took place in the different locations. The historic centres were
transformed from being charming but quiet into bustling stages where hundreds
of small and big events happened.
BTC was also
present during the Festival to communicate about the RHC program and to reach
out to the local communities, local visitors and international tourists. With
posters and a small brochure a first glimpse of the project was given and through
screening testimonies the history of the different villages was told.
The brochure (in English and Arabic) can be
found here: http://ow.ly/Lv8Y30aWk1n
For more information about the Al Kamandjâti
Festival, please visit: http://alkamandjati.org/festivalblog/
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