Toolkit

Festivals, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation

Find here a list of useful links to tookits on how the arts can be used in peacebuilding.

Find here a non-exhaustive list of useful list with gathered challenges faced while organising festivals in conflict regions and strategies to tackle them.

Media

Atelier New York - 7 January 2024

Opening Keynote Conversation: "The Power of Festivals in Shifting Harmful Narratives and the Art of Gathering at times of conflict and a need for safeguarding human rights"

Speakers: Kumi Naidoo (South Africa), Kee Hong Low (Hong Kong/UK), Juan Pablo Lopez (Colombia), Meera Dugal (United States) and Thimali Kodikara (United States)

Facilitator: Yazmany Arboleda (Colombia/United States)

Land Acknowledgment and Opening Ritual: Dennis Redmoon Darkeem (United States 

Atelier Elefsina 2023 - 22 June 2023

Panel Discussion: "Festivals in an age of polarisation, conflict and existential threat"

Speakers: Thobile Maphanga (South Africa), Horacio Pérez (Chile) and Nima Deghani (USA/Iran)

Facilitator: Mike van Graaf (South Africa) 

Atelier For Young Festival Managers Nicosia - 8 October 2022

Panel Discussion: Definitions of Peace: What is a 'successful festival' in contexts of conflict? 

Speakers: Brett Pyper (South Africa), Atje Drexler (Germany), Mira El Mawla (Lebanon), Lea Perekres (Belgium), Mwandwe Chileshe (Zambia)

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The toolkits are open-sourced, continuously developed tools. Therefore, festival and cultural practitioners from all backgrounds and levels of experience are invited to expand these materials by adding their own contributions, building on the gathering of knowledge and insights shared with the whole festival-making community worldwide. Please email info@festivalacademy.eu for feedback, amendments, and additions.