TOPIC

Art is a universal and powerful mean of communication. It can be considered even more so in an armed conflict affected situation, where art’s multifaceted potential can be used to convey the unheard voices of many stakeholders. A work of art can express people’s cultural identity, it can address people’s suffering, it can give form to a message of peace or support, it can be used to appeal the public opinion for recovery from armed conflict affected areas.

This panel, having as keywords art, heritage, conflict and civil society, aims at shedding light on the initiatives undertaken by creators, artists and performers to answer questions, such as:

What is the role that an artwork can play in an armed conflict related area? How can art contribute to mitigate people’s distress? How can art work at the level of consciousness, raising people’s awareness where heritage is a target of armed conflict? How do art related professionals help communities in their efforts to recover from destruction? How can art contribute to convey the right narrative for armed conflict affected heritage?

PROGRAM

Mizuko Ugo & Giovanni Fontana Antonelli - Opening and welcome

Rafiq Kathwari – Winner, Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award. Kashmiri-American activist
Topic: The Human Cost of the Kashmir Dispute

Faustin Linyekula – Dancer, choreographer, storyteller. The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Topic: Art as a space where re-imagining possibilities

Omer Qais – Sculptor, Iraq
Topic: Vision for the future of Mosul. Art and Society

Shyrine Ziadeh – Founder, Ramallah Ballet Center – Dance School (2011, Palestine)
Topic: Dabkeh as a powerful tool to safeguard our intangible heritage

Vanessa Fraga Prol – Summary of the Session