Starting in 2017, Celebrating Syria Festival has become Rethink Rebuild Society’s major yearly event, showcasing Syrian talent and bringing people together to experience Syrian arts and culture at their finest. Arts and culture, however, have been one of our best ways of shining a light on a different aspect to Syria and the Syrian people which the media rarely highlight. Celebrating Syria Festiva
l is also about the narrative about Syria. We as Syrians wish to change the narrative from that depicted in the media as one characterised by violence, pain and suffering, into one where Syria is recognised as a country which, throughout history has contributed immeasurably to human civilisation and world culture, and whose people continue to create great art and celebrate their culture in spite of, and often in reaction to, the conflict raging at home. Celebrating Syria is an initiative of Rethink Rebuild Society, a Manchester-based charity that works towards improving the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, in particular but not exclusively Syrians in the UK, helping them become positively established within British society. Rethink Rebuild Society won the Manchester Culture Award in the category of Equality and Diversity in 2019 as a testament to the great impact of the festival on this amazing city and its diverse culture.
