A VOICE ACROSS - NEWSLETTER FROM THE DANISH HOUSE

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HOPE AND REALISM

The New Year is always a time of reflection. We think back and evaluate the year that passed and we set ourselves new goals for the year to come. I am optimistic on behalf of the Danish House – we are in great shape and ready to launch a number of new projects and events. However, with regard to the context around us I am caught somewhere between hope and realism: I am hoping that the number of Palestinian youth detained, wounded or losing their life will decrease but I am also aware that the root-causes of the confrontation still remain. The occupation is more visible and present than ever and the peace process is totally absent.

I am a hopeful realist with regard to the Palestinian reality in general and regardless of how the situation evolves I can guarantee that the Danish House will continue to make a difference for the Palestinians involved in our events and projects.

Lone Bildsøe Lassen, Director of the Danish House in Palestine

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DHIP EVENT - CONCERT: SHADI ZAQTAN UNPLUGGED

Shadi is a guitarist, composer, singer and songwriter from Palestine. Born in exile, raised in Damascus, Beirut, Amman and Tunis, he returned to Palestine after the peace agreement.
He lives in Ramallah, composing his musical projects focusing on transmitting the lived and present in his surrounding into songs addressing political issues, personal and emotional concerns.

Writing, composing, and performing songs from and to the street, trying to sing about things that are not sung about in an attempt to approach it from a different angle, documenting what the news doesn’t document in daily life and daily issues, matters and worries of Palestinian burden.

He writes his lyrics in classical Arabic, colloquial and Bedouin dialects. He also composes music for poems of Palestinian and Arab poets. He has already produced two albums, the first “About a Country,” 2008, and the second album, “Singing at the Checkpoint,” produced in 2013.

LISTEN TO SOME OF SHADI'S MUSIC:

http://www.mideastunes.com/artist/shadi-zaqtan-2
https://www.reverbnation.com/shadizaqtan/songs

SEE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

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MERGING MUSIC

Six students from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music visited Aarhus in Denmark. Along with students from The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus they participated in workshops and concerts. The trip was part of the project 'Merging Music' - a platform for students to introduce each other to Danish and Palestinian traditional music.

See some of the coverage in Danish media below:

TV2 Ø STJYLLAND
A ARHUS STIFTSTIDENDE

NEW DHIP WEBSITE LAUNCHED

The new DHIP website is a corner-stone of the communication strategy from 2015. The design is alligned with the new graphic identity of DHIP. It hosts and links all DHIP platforms and outlets – social media, newsletter, blog, annual report etc. The menu structure is simple providing easy overview for visitors. Further more the site is compatible with tablets and smartphones servicing a broader audience and search engine optimized reaching a larger potential audience.

VISIT THE NEW DHIP WEBSITE

DHIP EVENT - COUCH TALK: REFLECTIONS FROM THE SIDE MIRROR

”I have never seen a more spicy debate at the Danish House – it will not be the last time we tune into the words of the streets!” Lone Bildsøe Lassen, Director of the Danish house.

During the couch talk ’Reflections from a side-mirror’ the two experienced taxi drivers Akram Mansour and Jack Kapataies gave their angles on Palestinian reality.

Travelling from villages to downtown and talking to anyone from high level civil servants to young activists the two taxi drivers offered unique insights from street level on anything from economy and high level politics to traffic regulations and gender issues. The event was conducted in Arabic and the audience was modest but highly engaged.

SEE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

IN THE WORDS OF A PALESTINIAN - MAYSOUN ODEH GANGAT

Palestinian reality is debated across the globe. However, often by international academics, journalists and politicians. The Danish House in Palestine has invited a number of Palestinians representing different outlooks and areas of expertise to share their perspectives.

Maysoun Odeh Gangat has an Economics degree from the American University in Washington D.C and has among other things worked at the South African Embassy as the Advisor to the Ambassador. In 2005, she set-up and managed an English Radio Station 93.6 RAM FM and in 2009 she founded Radio Nisaa FM, the first all-women Radio station in the region.

When we started Radio Nisaa FM my goal was to eliminate the image of women as being oppressed by certain religious beliefs and traditions, both inside Palestine and outside in the Western world. My colleagues at the radio station are empowered women, who come from various towns and villages in Palestine. Political, economic and social restrictions have not been an obstacle to their advancement. I want to show this image of the Palestinian female reporter outside Radio Nisaa FM. I want to show the image of Arab women as strong, energetic, and empowered.

READ FULL INTERVIEW

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