Mission
To provide Arab arts and culture in Liverpool with an international reach, to bring diverse groups of people together, and to increase the public’s knowledge and appreciation of Arab culture and its people.
The award-winning Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) is an excellent model of how the celebration of Arab arts and culture challenges prejudice and fosters understanding between people. The organisation was established in 1998, and is of great national significance as the UK’s longest running, most successful and sole annual Arab arts and cultural festival.
It is LAAFs mission to provide Arab arts and culture in Liverpool with an international reach, to bring diverse groups of people together, and to increase the public’s knowledge and understanding of Arab culture and its people.
With news from Arab countries continuing to dominate media, our understanding of the region and its people is invariably framed by images of war and conflict; yet, it is a region extraordinarily rich in music, dance, literature, film and other cultural expressions. The festival serves as a celebratory, joyous and inclusive event that welcomes everybody, and positively promotes Arab culture and people.
Working arts professionals and partners, LAAF will deliver an annual festival in Liverpool each summer, as well as several events throughout the year that could take place elsewhere. In 2014 the decision was taken to increase LAAF local events throughout the year and build up delivery of community based workshops and activities thus enabling local people to experience a meaningful contribution to the festival.
A year-round programme of events and community projects is built around the focal point for the year - LAAF’s annual summer festival, which is the UK’s longest running and biggest annual celebration of Arab arts and culture. Now in its 16th year, the festival brings a series of around 35 events to multiple venues, over a packed 10 day period, including over 140, UK and international artists and performers.
LAAF started as a weekender event bringing Arab artists to Liverpool (mainly to Bluecoat, in Liverpool city centre) for a couple of days, and it has now grown to become a major festival event in Liverpool and the UK. The events are spread around the city and it is attracting artists and audience from around the world. LAAF has reached millions of people around the World through the interest of the major media channels, radios, and newspapers.
Responding to demand, LAAF has developed a year-round presence, programming out of festival events and delivering cultural arts programmes increasing participation of those least engaged in Arts. The charity has recently secured several additional projects to its core annual festival and it is looking for forward-thinking board members to drive our next stage of development.
