Since October 2023, the world has witnessed a catastrophic escalation in the loss of civilian life in Gaza. This has included artists and practitioners as well as the destruction of cultural heritage on an unprecedented scale.

This event brings together Palestinian artists, cultural organisers and activists to discuss the impact of conflict on the Gazan arts and culture sector. Together they will discuss what has been lost in terms of Gaza’s art infrastructure, exploring the ways Palestinian cultural practitioners are salvaging what remains, imagining liberation beyond the status quo and speaking about the future of their work in this space.

Speakers

• Mohamed Abusal, artist, Co-founder of Eltiqa and the HAWAF collective.
• Aser El Saqqa, cultural organiser, activist and founder of Arts Canteen
• Dima Srouji, architect, artist, Tutor MA City Design, Royal College of Art
• Malak Mattar, artist and writer, MA Fine Art programme, Central St Martins
• Venetia Porter, Honorary Research Fellow, British Museum (former Curator of Islamic and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art) – Moderator

The event is part of the V&A’s Culture in Crisis Programme and Jameel Programming.