Art as Activism in Palestine

Free entry

In October 2014 Janina was part of a group of international artists and creative activists who gathered in the West Bank village of Bil’in. Brought together by ImaginAction director and Forum Theatre practitioner Hector Aristizabal, The Committee for Freedom & Justice in Bil’in and Palestinian activist Fidaa Ataya, the aim was for a two week arts residency that would engage the community in Bil’in and neighbouring villages.

Bil’in is the West Bank village featured in the award-winning documentary 5 Broken Cameras. The weekly non-violent protests by the local community against the barrier wall that snakes through Bil’in’s ancestral olive groves, appropriating lands and fortifying the Israeli settlement of Modi’in Illit has meant the village and its people have become a symbol of Palestinian popular resistance against Israel’s military Occupation.

Working with local Palestinian cultural leaders, the group engaged the community in art and theatre workshops resulting in public performances, using large scale puppets, and collectively painted murals along roads and buildings. The group also used their talents to support Bil’in’s emblematic weekly demonstrations.

During their time in Bil’in the group witnessed celebration and harvest, as well as danger and violence, as they worked with the persistent and heroic people of Bil’in.

Janina Moninska is an actor, director and live artist. She is currently researching for a PhD at the University of Brighton, studying the impact of Live Art as activism. Her presentation will hopefully include some Live Art performance.