El Akl Festival - Belfast & Menya

As part of its commitment to creating intercultural opportunities for Northern Irish artists, Terra Nova supported Tom Finlay to take part in eight week long week-long international residencies designed to connect European & Arab arts colleagues. These included Lebanon in September 2015, Berlin in January 2016, Amman in September 2016, Marseille in December 2016, Berlin in March 2017 and Odessa in 2017. 

Following on from this Tom and Beshoy Makram, the working partner he had found through the Tandem programme, were encouraged to apply for Tandem funding to spend time in each other’s work places, take time to workshop in each other’s cities and create a piece of joint work. This resulted in the El Akl Festival which they worked towards with emerging community artists from Belfast and Menya.  The theme of ‘Food’ was used to explore each other’s cultures in a non-threatening (to the authorities) way.

Supported by Tandem Shaml and Terra Nova, Tom and Beshoy made four visits to each other's cities, engaging local artists in both places to create live and filmed work.  Two young professional artists from Belfast and Menya were also mentored by Tom and Beshoy to create their own food-themed play.

The pilot culmulated in a festival in Menya in July 2017. The Project worked 102 emerging artists, 4 profession artists, creating 40 live and film performances.