The MIDDLE EAST UNION Festival
A Multilingual Literary and Cultural Festival in Berlin
The MIDDLE EAST UNION Festival was a four-day literary and cultural festival in Berlin, bringing together writers, poets, artists, musicians, journalists and academics from different parts of the Middle East and its diasporas.
The festival imagined the possibility of a Middle East Union across national borders, languages and religious divisions. Through literature, poetry, music, film, performance and discussion, the festival explored questions of cultural exchange, migration, identity, political imagination and solidarity.
The festival took place in Berlin from 12–15 August 2021.
Curatorial Work
I was one of the curators of the MIDDLE EAST UNION Festival, together with Hila Amit and Alaa Obeid.
The curatorial concept explored Berlin as a meeting point for Middle Eastern diasporas and as a place from which to imagine new cultural and political possibilities beyond borders and established divisions.
The programme brought together multilingual literary and cultural events in German, English, Arabic and Hebrew, with participants and guests from different countries and backgrounds.
The festival included literary discussions, poetry, music, film, performance and conversations around questions of diaspora, language, cultural identity and political imagination.
Selected Programme
The festival opened at BABYLON Berlin with a proclamation, discussion and concert.
Other events included:
Writing the Arab-Jew: Reflections on Displacement and Middle Eastern Diasporas
Literary Vision: Bi-national Literature and Translation as Middle East Union Culture
Arab-Jewish Musical Traditions: Religious Secrets from Past and Future
After Censorship: We Gain Creativity – Middle East Union Values and Language
The festival also presented artists, writers and thinkers from different parts of the Middle East and its diasporas.
Learn More
The complete festival programme, participants, press materials and documentation are available on the official MIDDLE EAST UNION Festival website.
Curatorial Collaborations
I am available to develop and curate literary and cultural projects with museums, cultural institutions, festivals, universities and independent organisations.