#Heritage Event Promotions

[prnanayarquah]

Heritage Promotions Unveils Academy Members for Central Music Awards 2023

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/heritage-promotions-unveils-academy-members-for-central-music-awards-2023/

Heritage Promotions Unveils Academy Members for Central Music Awards 2023

Heritage Event Promotions, the organizers of the annual Central Music Awards have officially unveiled 24 Academy Members and District Representatives for the 12th edition of the award scheme. 

The Central Music Awards is organized annually to recognize, honour, celebrate and award hardworking and deserving artistes who have achieved greatness and have contributed immensely towards the growth of the music industry in the central region.

Since it’s establishment in 2012, formerly known as the “Obama City Music Awards”, the scheme has grown from 10 award categories to 37 categories. Fast forward in 2018 when Heritage Promotions took over from Candymania Entertainment, as part of Heritage Promotions’ action plan, District Representatives was introduced as part of the Academy Members to have a fair representation of all the 22 districts in the central region.

As the scheme celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, 24 Academy Members and Districts Representatives have been unveiled and assigned to special roles heard towards achieving a successful event. The Academy is composed of competent music researchers, digital marketers, public relations experts, media personalities, bloggers, music and events promoters with over a decade experience in the creative industry.

  Academy Members for Central Music Awards 2023 include: 

YUSSIF PHLOW BULLET- Academy Secretary

LEWIS TETTEH DADAS – Digital Researcher

NANA YARQUAH – Digital Researcher

NANA YAW – Event & Promotion Research

HENRY MENSAH – Event & Promotion Research

ALBERT BONDAH – Road Manager

KOBBY YOMMY – Cape Coast South

NANA BROWN – Cape Coast South

THOMAS ANERO DENKEY – Cape Coast North

ERIC FLETCHER MENSAH – Cape Coast North

DJ QWEQU – Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA)

SOLOMON EWUSIE (SoloVision) – Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem

ECK MEDICYN – Mfantseman Municipal

WYSE BRAIN – Mfantseman Municipal

QWAME MACSHAT –  Asikuma Odoben Brakwa

NAKAY ABRANTIE – Twifo Atti Morkwa

DON POT – Abura Asebu Kwamankese

ABDUL FATTAH YAHAYA  (Assin Talks) – Assin Central/Assin North

KOFI TUTU – Assin South

HON. BAWA BOWEJOR – Agona/Gomoa

NANA ASANTE YEKYE – Effutu Municipal

NANA – ANTOBAM JUNIOR – Ekumfi

MISTA CHANTI – Awutu – Senya East & West

EVANS ANNAN ACQUAH – Awutu – Senya East & West

  Issued by: Bismark Botchwey

Dept. Communications Executive

Heritage Promotions

[fairuzfan]

I have concern that I may still be technically zionist despite claiming to be pro-palestine. This is because I knew very little about Palestine when October 7th happened, so in the time since I have been reluctant to have a stance on a two-state or one-Palestinian-state solution. I know now that almost all of Isreal is stolen land and recognize Isreal only exists due to colonialism, it took me a long time to learn that but I know it now. Before I knew that, I knew that regardless of the prior history that in current day Palestine is being subjected to a genocide. However, I struggle with politics and therefore struggle with understanding how a one-Palestinian-state could be achieved and have concern about what would happen to any genuinely innocent people who live in Isreal. To be clear, Isreal as a whole is guilty and I just have concern about what will happen to the portion of people in Isreal who are just as horrified as the rest of the world at what their government is doing. I do not personally know any Palestinians, so I have not known who to talk to about this especially since I do not want to overstep in any way. Theres more context I could provide but I wont because this is roughly the gist of where I am currently at when it comes to my concerns about whether or not I am still zionist. Do you have any reccomendations as to what I can do about my concerns? I am not sure whether or not I am overstepping right now by asking you this, but I do not know any other Palestians on a personal level that I can go to.

hey thanks for sending this in. i think we all have zionist biases that we have to unlearn, even i catch myself falling for it sometimes. so it's not necessarily a moral failing if you're trying to undo the zionism you've been taught. thanks for trying to undo it!

i do want to correct you a bit thought, in that *all* of israel is stolen land because israel is a settler colonial society. until it is relabeled as "Palestine" it can't not be stolen land.

I guess my advice is that you read scholarship and perspectives on palestinian thought and heritage. i can't tell you what a free palestine will look like but i can tell you what i imagine it to be. but what i can tell you is that the state of israel is fully intent on erasing all traces of palestinian life no matter what.

i guess i can tell you why "two state solutions" don't really work because there is no.... prevention of settlement building in the west bank and they'll never really promote *not* settling in the west bank. like i really cannot imagine a world where there aren't settlers on palestinian land no matter the case. and that's even not allowing palestinians the right of return to their homes and expecting them to give up what they dedicated their lives to. many palestinians in the west bank and gaza are themselves refugees because they were displaced in '48. so no matter what, palestinians will always get the short end of the stick and told to "just deal with it."

plus, why are we concerned with the supposed future danger towards israelis when the current, very real danger towards palestinians exists? shouldn't we prioritize actual events over hypothetical ones? why should we concern ourselves with the future when for palestinians its not a guarantee? i have no idea what's going to happen to gaza, for example.... shouldn't we prioritize that gaza lives on today?

i think i would question why you think israelis are inherently in danger in a one state solution? like do you assume that palestinians will all universally commit violence on all israelis? is it because you believe that hamas wants to kill every single israeli jew no matter what? if so, i think that's where your problem lies — in the assumption that peace can only be achieved through segregation just in a lighter form (because the state of israel relies on segregation as a principal of its existence as a jewish state). what about the palestinians who fear living side by side with the same people who raped, tortured, and murdered them for 75 years, or advocated for their deaths? aren't they inherently in more danger?

i mean palestinians have consistently been painted as the villains for more than 75 years. like in every aspect. i think to really truly be antizionist you need to prioritize palestinian concerns and worries over israeli ones because of how.... unwilling much of the world is to even consider them.

approaching zionism from an idea of an inequality structure is also necessary — rather than assuming its a one off system, we examine it as a perpetuation of multiple types of systems of inequality embedded into one. i recommend the institute for the critical study of zionism (click) for more information on this. There's also this book by Ismail Zayid written in the 80's (click) about the longtime violence the ideology of zionism has done to multiple communities, not just palestinians.

Here's a great reading list by palipunk about different aspects of palestinian thought and culture (click). i suggest looking through them to help decolonize our way of thought.

i might add on to this later if i think of something else to say.

[ftmtftm]

Feminism has always, always had a history with Racism and White Supremacy - particularly in a way that promotes fascist leaning "Protection for Me and Mine" type "activism".

There have always been several Upper Class, White, Women at the helm of Feminist movements and it is something Poor, Working Class, Women of Color have been vocally criticizing since the First Wave.

I mean, US Americans, did you not learn about Sojourner Truth? Have you not read "Ain't I A Woman?"? It is one of the most famous early accounts of the racialized nature of gender. It perfectly highlights the way the social aspects of gender have always been barred from People of Color in a way they aren't barred from White People in a firsthand historical account.

Women's Suffrage, and subsequently the First Wave of Feminism was an actively Racially Segregated movement. White Suffragettes intentionally campaigned for themselves and themselves only because they thought that campaigning for Black, Immigrant, and Indigenous Women would undermine their own movement. They did not seek liberation for women, they sought the Systemic, Institutional Power of their White Male Peers and they got it - by intentionally leaving Women of Color behind them.

This is most evident in the fact that White Women received the right to vote in 1920, but Black Women did not receive the right to vote until 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. Almost 50 years later. That is over half a lifetime. This was also only approximately 2-3 years before Radical Feminism and the Second Wave began around 1967~1968.

If you think racial segregation and racism in the Feminist Movement ended with Black Women's suffrage and completely dissipated within the two years it took for the Second Wave to pick up it's feet, you are naïve at best and actively racist yourself at worst. The Women's Liberation Movement / Radical Feminism have always been White Woman's movements riding the coattails of the Suffragette's racism.

Look at the website for the Women's Liberation Front. WoLF is one of the original Radical Feminist organizations. It was founded in the late 60's and is one of the largest Radfem organizations to date. Now. Look at their board. Look at the photos of women they choose to include across their site. Look at the women who are speaking at their events. Beyond one or two token Black Women, it is a sea of Whiteness.

You know who is a special advisor to WoLF and the founder of the group "Standing for Women"? Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, aka Posie Parker. Kellie-Jay is the woman who popularized "Woman means adult human female" as an anti-trans slogan. Kellie-Jay is also real good buddies with - you guessed it! Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists!

WoLF also takes money from the Alliance Defending Freedom, (ADF) a Right Wing Christian Organization, and it's members have worked directly with the Heritage Foundation, a Conservative organization founded during the Reagan Presidency.

Radical Feminism as a political movement cares about the lives and held power of White Women under the guise of "Women's Liberation" in the exact same way as their foremothers, the Suffragettes. It's a foundationally White Supremacist movement. Black Feminists, Indigenous Feminists, Immigrant Feminists, and Colonized Feminists have been talking about this for over a century but it falls on White ears so why would they listen.

[mxtxdiaspora-may]

MXTX Diaspora May is back for 2024!

MXTX Diaspora May is an event in which Chinese diaspora creators come together to share the diverse aspects of Chinese culture, as well as connect with each other over lived experiences.

Through the promotion and creation of these fanworks, we hope to encourage thoughtful self-reflection throughout the broader fandom, especially with regard to embracing cultural humility and dismantling structures and behaviors that allow racism to flourish, both in fandom and in real life.

Support of MXTX Diaspora May will go a long way towards creating a more inclusive and open climate in our shared online spaces, especially for creators who rarely get their voices heard in the English-speaking side of fandom. We aim to uplift the unique voices and stories of our participants, and we encourage anyone who enjoys works from this event to share in the celebration of Chinese culture from Chinese creators.

Any creator with Chinese heritage may participate in MXTX Diaspora May. Event rules and work requirements may be found at the link below.

Please note one major change from last year: all works must be complete at the time of posting. We will not accept works-in-progress into our collection.

Event Rules & FAQ

Our prompts this year are based on 四象, the Four Symbols, also known as the Four Guardians, Four Gods, or Four Auspicious Beasts. You can find an overview of the Four Symbols on wiki.

Sub-prompts for the event will be posted soon.

Are you a creator of Chinese heritage who's ready to sign up for this event? Please fill out the sign-up form below!

You will receive a discord link to the event server after you complete the form. Please make sure to join the discord server to connect with fellow event participants and receive event announcements and updates.

Sign-ups will run from March 17, 2024 to April 9, 2024.

Sign-Up Form

Signal Boost!

Reblogs and signal boosts for this event are welcome from both participants and non-participants. Please feel free to boost on bluesky and twitter as well.

Feel free to check out our collections from previous years. Comments and kudos are always appreciated by creators!

2021 (MDZS only)

2022

2023

We look forward to sharing and celebrating everyone's works from the 2024 event!

[buried-in-stardust]

In Akqi County, Xinjiang.

The Kyrgyz people mainly live in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and China, and are one of the official ethnic groups of China. Within China, they are mostly distributed in the southwest of Xinjiang. The practice of eagle falconry among the Kyrgyz can be traced back to 4000 years ago, and is now considered a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China.

The eagles (or sometimes northern goshawk/other birds of prey), are captured from the wild, tamed, then released back into the wild after five years. With the help of the eagles, hunters on horseback are able to hunt pheasant, rabbits, and foxes more easily.

Because of their nomadic lifestyle, eagle falconry played an important role in the past, but in recent years, increasing settlement of the Kyrgyz, environmental destruction, and other factors has meant eagle falconry has become more of a pastime. However, Akqi County is invested in keeping the tradition alive and holds seasonal tourist events where they showcase their falconry as well as promote other cultural traditions through events and exhibitions.

[edited two videos together]

[blackhistorystoryteller]

FISHING FESTIVAL IN AFRICA

Argungu Fishing Festival

There are lovely cultures and traditions in Africa

Black Americans should read about their heritage

Welcome to Argungu Fishing Festival

Argungu fishing festival is a way of life for the people of Kebbi State. The festival preserves tradition and promotes conservation. The annual festival takes place in February and marks the end of farming season and start of the fishing season. The festival is a four-day cultural event. It begins with an agricultural show, water sport displays, traditional Kebbawa entertainments and ends with the spectacular fishing competition in the Mata Fadan River.

The History

The Argungu fishing festival began in 1934, marking the end of centuries old hostility between Sokoto Caliphate and Kebbi Kingdom. The festival quickly became a celebration of life and unity.

The River Sacrifice

Before the commencement of the fishing festival, the custodian of the river 'Sarkin Ruwa' ensures the river is safe by performing sacrifices to the river oracle to gain its permission.

Sarkin Ruwa

Like his fathers before him, the Sarkin Ruwa is the official custodian of the Mata Fada River. This responsibility is passed down for generation. Without the consent of the Sarkin Ruwa, no fish can be caught. To ensure the river is safe for fishing, he dispels the crocodiles resident in the river and invites all the fishes in the rivers connected to Mata Fada river.

Matan Fada River

The river is a source of pride to the people of Argungu, it serves as a source of food and irrigation for their farm lands. Its about 50 meters wide and about 50 feet deep.

Race To Fish

At the sound of a gun, thousands of fishermen race towards the mata fadan river, leaping into the water to begin their search for the winning freshwater fish

Music and Rhythm

As the fishermen leap into the water, the drummers begin to beat their drums. Filling the air with authentic Kebbawa traditional rhythm. Although women are not allowed to participate in the fishing competition, they are not left out of the drummers group. The drums are traditional Kebbawa drum designs, made of cow skin.

Over 50,000 fishermen from northern Nigeria and surrounding countries participate in the fishing competition annually.

The Sarkin Ruwa and the drummers move to and fro the mata fada river on their canoes, entertaining the fishermen as they search the river for the winning Giwan Ruwa.

Giwan Ruwa

Giwan Ruwa 'Fish' from the mata fadan river can weigh up to 75 kilograms. The fisherman with the biggest catch wins the fishing competition.

[proflaytonbigbang]

The time has come, gentlemen, to don your hat to solve puzzles once again! The Professor Layton Big Bang Interest Check is now open!

▶ Fill the Interest Check!

Info + Rules - Twitter / X - Instagram

If you're interested in the Big Bang, whether as a creator or just as a fan, please take a few minutes to fill the Interest Check! It will help us know if there's enough interest, as well as determine the full scope of the event! We are also looking for mods to help coordinate the event and promote it on social media! Please share the post around! Thank you! 🤎

A true gentleman always helps get the word out! Thank you! @faneventshub @layton-heritage-posts @layton-npc-appreciation-week @littlelaytonproblems @nocontextprofessorlayton @weekly-layton-puzzle @pl4day

[kiaratheronappreciationweek]

Welcome to our third edition of the Kiara Theron Appreciation Week!!

We have received some amazing pieces during our last two editions - works that explored Kiara in all her complexity and appreciated her gifts. We can't wait to see what our Kiara fans have in store for us this year!

Tomorrow will be Day 1 of KTAW, and we have two themes you can choose from (or even combine - anything goes!)

Our first theme is Culture. As many of you who remember our first venture into Castelserraillan will remember, the duchy is known for its cultural heritage and diversity, for loving and revering culture and art. Kiara embodies this in her knowledge about different places, in her love for languages, in her work as a diplomat. This theme would be fitting for her.

Our second theme is related to the first, in some ways. Festivals are some of the most open and colourful ways to celebrate cultural heritage, and it would be great to see Kiara getting involved and celebrating different festivals!

Any content is welcome!! Just make sure your work centers Kiara, and presents a positive depiction of her. Fic, art, meta, headcanons, edits, icons, interactive media, even simple character appreciation posts!! We also accept WIPs, so if your piece isn't entirely complete by the end of the week, fret not - you can still send us the WIPs!

The themes are simply inspirations. If you bring a piece for one of the days later, it's entirely okay...just make sure you tag the posts with the day you meant it for! We will always be keeping a bonus week in case you couldn't complete the piece during the week itself, so our official deadline for pieces will be June 1st!

We'd also like all of you to know that KTAW 2024 will be open ALL YEAR ROUND. So if you're unable to finish a piece before June 1st, pls do send it whenever you're ready to (and tag us!), and it will definitely be up on our masterlist!!

Be sure to keep these rules in mind while making your posts:

1. Use the tags #kiaratheronappreciationweek and #KTAW in your posts. Make sure to tag the day as well (#KTAW Day 1, #KTAW Day 2, etc)

2. Tag @kiaratheronappreciationweek as well as hosts @sazanes and @lizzybeth1986 in your work, so we don't miss any of it!

Fan Community blogs are super important to our promotion of events, so we'd definitely love for you to check out some of these awesome blogs and their challenges:

@choicesficwriterscreations - Primarily fanfic and fanart (no AI allowed). Check out their rules and roster of events!

@choicesmonthlychallenge and @choicesmaychallenge24 - Any and all content welcome! This month's prompts are delightfully Greek mythology-themed!

@choicesholidays - Any and all content welcome, as long as it is centered around one of the holidays listed! Currently, they are hosting Spring Fling!

@choicesprompts - Any and all content welcome! Currently no events, but you could check out all the cool stuff they've been up to so far!

@choicescommunityevents - Any and all art welcome as long as it is on-theme! Currently hosting the AAPI Heritage Month!

Can't wait to see what you all have in store for us!!

Happy Kiara Theron Appreciation Week, everyone!!

[matan4il]

what do we do in the face of indoctrination and bigotry like this, when it's being taught to small children in the United States? https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6rUBp-LjRc/?igsh=NGhpeXNldWFpOWNm - this is so terrifying tbh :(

Nonnie, you're right. :( This is truly petrifying.

What's so horrifying is of course that kids that age do not have the required tools of knowledge and critical thinking to make an informed decision on this, they basically have no free will here, they're being used to promote someone else's political agenda.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by StopAntisemitism (@stop_antisemitism)

I wish I had more details, because I do think there's a difference between an "educator" organizing an event like this, and a parent. If it's the former, parents might be approached to stop this indoctrination and exploitation of their kids, especially if it was done without their consent or their own full understanding. If it's a parent doing this to their own kid... :/ That's harder to deal with (and so much worse in what it means for the kid).

Education is always a touchy subject. Every parent, every educator, wants to give the kid they're responsible for the set of values they truly believe is the most important one, and in that sense, there is always a degree of indoctrination involved in education, or even just in parents passing on their own culture and heritage (and with that, its values, beliefs and mentality) to their kids. Good parents and educators allow the kid to eventually choose their own path, even if it's very different to theirs (and there's a question of what's "very different" and what's "actually immoral" when a kid chooses another set of values), however the path they choose for the kid to begin with is always one without any free choice on the part of the child. Even trying to avoid teaching them a certain set of moral values ends up being a moral choice, made entirely by the parents or educators.

But when it comes to a subject that's purely political, does not directly entail these kids and their families, their people or their culture, and requires so much knowledge that even most people who live this conflict are still unaware of many of its facts, this is just pure indoctrination and exploitation to boost the adult's political ego and agenda, and I imagine at least some of those kids might grow up to resent having been used this way.

I guess that's my biggest hope in that sense.

The millions of German kids who grew up with openly antisemitic parents, who were sent to the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth), who were even at a certain point recruited to fight for the Nazis (some allied soldiers reported having taken captive German kids as young as 8. Many German teen soldiers actually got quite a reputation for being brutal fighters, because they were so much easier to mold into fanatics when it came to the Nazi cause), some of them probably grew up to be adults who still believed in that hateful ideology. But some of them, or at least their own kids, were able to step back, and realize what was wrong with what the adults of that generation did, so they ended up denouncing their own parents or grandparents. That's not easy to do. It's true that that did require to a great degree the universal condemnation of the Nazis and their antisemitic, genocidal crimes. But it IS possible.

The biggest problem we have right now, is that the condemnation of the antisemitism in the anti-Israel movement is not yet universal. There are enough people still buying into the lie that it's "anti-Zionism, not antisemitism," despite all proof to the contrary. And I'm scared of thinking what would it take to make it into a universal condemnation. Especially since not even the atrocities of Oct 7 managed to make people realize how heinous it is to support Hamas. I can only hope it wouldn't take an actual second Holocaust. But I do believe in the capacity of people, even those that adults invested in brainwashing them, to eventually step back, and realize that they were a part of a hate movement, meant to demonize, harass and persecute Jews. To be ashamed of that, to denounce it, and to do what they can to make up for it... Every young German person standing by Jews today, at our time of need, is living proof of that.

So yeah, one day these brainwashed useful ignorants might wake up, and look with horror at what they have enabled and the antisemitism they were guilty of spreading. If not, their kids or grandkids might look at them with shame. Let's hope it's the former rather than the latter. But most importantly, let's not stop working to spread the truth about this wave of hatred and how harmful it is to Jews (and as extension, to non-Jews involved in this conflict as well), by speaking up wherever we can, and try to help get a step closer to that day when the condemnation of this hate is universal.

Thank you for the ask, and please take care of yourself during these scary times! xoxox

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[choicescommunityevents]

Prompts

Have fun! 💗

For AAPI Creators

Create a post highlighting your culture and link any art you’d like to promote! CCE will happily reblog and add you to the event masterlist.

For OCs

Where is your OC from?

What is your OC’s favorite thing about their culture?

Who is an AAPI figure your OC looks up to? It could be a parent, a relative, or someone well-known.

How do they celebrate AAPI Heritage Month?

Prompts

Cooking their favorite dish

Attending an AAPI Heritage Month Festival

Visiting their motherland

Visiting an Asian & Pacific Islander Art Museum

Getting to know more about their identity

Karaoke Night

Tea tasting

Food Truck/Street Food Date

Botanical Garden Date

Volunteering at an elderly home

Visiting cultural landmarks

Family Storytelling

Origami making

Teaching or learning a language

AAPI Film Festival

One-Word Prompts

Food

Clothes

Myths

Beliefs

Language

Children

Elders

Nature

Dance

Country

Animals

Music

Ancestors

Tradition

Family

[prnanayarquah]

Emogy Djr, Minab, Kofi Fava, Amankrado and more enlisted for Central Artiste Night June Edition

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/emogy-djr-minab-kofi-fava-amankrado-and-more-enlisted-for-central-artiste-night-june-edition/

Emogy Djr, Minab, Kofi Fava, Amankrado and more enlisted for Central Artiste Night June Edition

Organizers of the annual Central Music Awards Heritage Promotions and partners Toppiard Event Center are at it again as they embark on another journey to uplift the entertainment circles in the central region and empower musicians/creatives in the showbiz industry in the region.

After the successful hosting of the first edition of the Central Artiste Night in April, the 2nd edition comes off on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Toppiard Events Center – Cape Coast at 7 PM.

Minab, Aunty GH, Emogy Djr, Raggay Bee, Amankrado, Zelloys, Khofy Guyson, Is Hommie and Kofi Fava and more will be performing at this month’s edition. This month’s edition comes in stronger as Fays Lounge comes in as Sponsors. 

You can buy tickets for GH 20 (regular) or GH 50 (VIP) by dialling *920*26*200# or visiting www.njet.app/jetcast.

Central Artiste Night is a monthly event organised by Heritage Promotions organisers of the annual Central Music Awards and Toppiard Events Center to uplift the entertainment circles in the Central Region and boost the creative circles in the region.

[brian-in-finance]

The LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award • 10 October 2023 London

Established in 2021, the LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award benefits seven artists with two years of support through rent-free studio space, professional development opportunities and a bursary.

The award has been developed in direct response to the need for affordable and secure workspace for artists in London, the availability of which has decreased significantly. The award aims to support artists who experience reduced opportunities due to economic precarity and limited financial means.

The LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award aims to cultivate spaces where artists can connect in a supportive studio environment that facilitates creative possibilities, risk-taking, experimentation and exchange.

The LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award celebrates talent, individuality and original thinking within contemporary art practice. The award supports artists at all stages of their careers, including emerging and under-represented artists, particularly those who are marginalised or experience intersecting forms of discrimination.

The programme aims to increase and strengthen equitable representation and access and amplify artistic voices across class, race, gender, sexuality and disability.

The two–year programme provides a range of support, including:

- A rent–free workspace

-A bursary of £5,000 for each artist

-An individualised programme of mentoring and professional development

-Curatorial and pastoral support

-Access to local and international audiences via public events programming

Studio Voltaire

Studio Voltaire is one of the UK’s leading not–for–profit arts organisations. Its pioneering public programmes of exhibitions, participation projects, live events and offsite commissions have gained an international reputation.

LOEWE FOUNDATION

The LOEWE FOUNDATION was founded in 1988 with the mission to promote creativity, educational programs and to safeguard heritage in the fields of poetry, dance, photography, art and craft. In 2002, the foundation was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, the highest honor granted by the Spanish government.

Loewe

Remember… the programme aims to increase and strengthen equitable representation and access and amplify artistic voices across class, race, gender, sexuality and disability. — Loewe

[mimi-0007]

****†** EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BEFORE YOU VOTE. ****Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a collection of policy proposals to thoroughly reshape the U.S. federal government in the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Established in 2022, the project aims to recruit tens of thousands of conservatives to the District of Columbia to replace existing federal civil servants—whom Republicans characterize as part of the "deep state"—and to further the objectives of the next Republican president. It adopts a maximalist version of the unitary executive theory—which asserts that the president has absolute power over the executive branch upon inauguration. Unitary executive theory is a disputed interpretation of Article II of the Constitution of the United States. Project 2025 envisions widespread changes across the entire government, particularly with regard to economic and social policies and the role of the federal government and its agencies. The plan proposes slashing funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ), dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), sharply reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor of fossil fuel production, eliminating the Department of Commerce, and ending the independence of various federal agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The blueprint seeks to institute tax cuts, though its writers disagree on the wisdom of protectionism. .

Project 2025 recommends abolishing the Department of Education, whose programs would be either transferred to other government agencies, or terminated. Scientific research would receive federal funding only if it suits conservative principles. The Project urges the government to explicitly reject abortion as health care and to restrict access to contraception. The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank that leads the development of Project 2025, asserted in April 2024 that "the radical Left hates families" and "wants to eliminate the family and replace it with the state" while driving the country to emulate totalitarian nations, such as North Korea. The Project seeks to infuse the government with elements of Christianity, stating in its Mandate that "freedom is defined by God, not man." Project 2025 proposes criminalizing pornography, removing protections against discrimination based on sexual or gender identity, and terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as affirmative action. The Project advises the future president to immediately deploy the military for domestic law enforcement and to direct the DOJ to pursue Donald Trump's adversaries by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807. It recommends the arrest, detention, and deportation of undocumented immigrants across the country. It promotes capital punishment and the speedy "finality" of such sentences. Project director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, explained that Project 2025 is "systematically preparing to march into office and bring a new army, aligned, trained, and essentially weaponized conservatives ready to do battle against the deep state." Dans admitted that it was "counterintuitive" to recruit so many people to join the government in order to shrink it, but pointed out the need for a future President to "regain control" of the federal government. Although the project does not promote a specific presidential candidate, many contributors have close ties to Donald Trump and his presidential campaign. The Heritage Foundation has developed Project 2025 in collaboration with over 100 partners including Turning Point USA, led by its executive director Charlie Kirk; the Conservative Partnership Institute including former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as senior partner; the Center for Renewing America, led by former Trump Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought; and America First Legal, led by former Trump Senior Advisor Stephen Miller. The Project is detailed in Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, a version of which Heritage has written as transition plans for each prospective Republican president since 1980. Critics of Project 2025 have described it as an authoritarian Christian nationalist movement and a path for the United States to become an autocracy. Several experts in law have indicated that it would undermine the rule of law and the separation of powers. Some conservatives and Republicans also criticized the plan, for example in the contexts of centralizing power, climate change, and foreign trade.

[zvaigzdelasas]

It was in the spirit of Christmas-giving that OCD [“Operation Christmas Drop.”] began over half a century ago. Andersen Air Force Base (Guam) is now the basecamp for a range of U.S. military interservice, community/volunteer-supported, regional allies and partners events that delivers mostly school supplies, clothing, rice, fishing equipment, and toys. OCD is estimated to impact 20,000 people in the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. For a host of reasons, Operation Christmas Drop has become window-dressing for a romanticized, fossilized view of U.S. assistance and Pacific islanders. This high-profile media event masks nearly a century of U.S. under-development in Micronesia. Against the backdrop of the FSM and Palau being heavily indebted and dependent on U.S. funds and identified as relationships the U.S. has taken for granted, it is possible that the Grinch is propping up this Christmas event. It is the U.S. under-development of the region (OCD notwithstanding) that contributes to the welcoming that Chinese economic investment has received. Although Chinese development debt trap diplomacy in the region has been flagged as a concern by some, in Micronesia, there is a continuum of underdevelopment and dependency overseen by the U.S. It is not unusual for countries to create and tell stories about themselves. Great powers spin self-promoting projections and try to shape how the world works. In this narrative frame, OCD is a “heritage of generosity” to help out “remote islands” and is the “longest-running humanitarian airlift in the world.” The narrative gaps in this story, however, are glaring.[...]

The FSM and Palau are approaching 40 years of a freely associated state (FAS) status, a relationship the U.S. legally regards as “special” and “highly privileged.” The basic parameters of this relationship have been (1) an arguably subsistence level of U.S. financial support for the FAS in exchange for (2) U.S. military access and rights of strategic denial in the FAS. The U.S. has what it seeks in the relationship, but this has not been a balanced equation. Over three decades as part of the “Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands” overseen by the United States under the United Nations yielded little in the way of development. Four decades as “Freely Associated States” has rendered little more in the way of sustainable economic activity.

Stimulating and supporting local economic development in Micronesia does not seem to have ever been a U.S. goal in its special relationship with the region. If it was, it has been a dismal failure. Not surprisingly then, built into the relationship with the U.S. is the “safety valve” of an open border to the U.S. for Micronesians who find little opportunity at home. For FAS citizens, the real benefits of the relationship only seem to gain fruition when they leave their homelands to find work, education, and the benefits of U.S. social welfare programs in the United States.[...]

After two U.S.-led Pacific Island Summit in two years, promises of aid and regional reengagement, and renegotiations of the Compacts of Free Association (COFA), the U.S. has not delivered. At the recent Pacific Island Forum meeting, the head of the U.S. delegation “pledged to work with Congress to provide over $8 billion in new funding and programs for the Pacific.”

Never mind that the U.S. had not delivered the prior year pledges, or that over $7 billion of the new funding was for the COFA economic packages. Yet, even these subsistence COFA economic packages have not yet been approved, leading to the FSM saying they face a “fiscal cliff.” Increasingly agitated parties in Washington are heralding that the loss of COFA funding would present an opportunity for the CCP to expand its economic influence. Even efforts to prioritize new funding for the COFA states in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act failed in late November[...]

Put simply, the Christmas Drop, as good as it may feel, is not a substitute for a failed U.S. economic policy in the region. Sadly, even the anticipated renewal of the COFA economic packages sometime in 2024 will not change the condition of underdevelopment in Micronesia. There is no realistic plan for regional development. While some in Washington decry expanding Chinese economic influence in Micronesia, few understand that it is U.S. policy that has created the hospitable environment for Chinese effect.

Setting a low bar for yourself—that you clear with fables—works only as long as everyone believes your story and is happy with it.

The U.S. relationship in the Pacific region in general — and the COFA states in particular — have outgrown the Santa narrative. And the region is watching. It is not yet clear that Washington understands this. Most Pacific Island states, of course, will be grateful for any new levels of U.S. funding. That does not make them believers in Santa. It also does not mean that they will shun support from other interested parties.

22 Dec 23

[highfantasy-soul]

so a heads up on 'boycotting/protesting 101' - if there's an event or something we're blacklisting/boycotting because they are silencing Palestinian voices, promoting Israeli propaganda, or ignoring the genocide so they can have a party, Palestinian people (or whoever is being harmed by the thing) get to play by different rules than someone not of the affected group!!

Specifically talking about the man with Palestinian heritage singing in Eurovision, please actually pay attention to context!!

Under a post about Eric Saade and his presence/internet posts about Eurovision and why he decided to participate, I saw a comment that said 'this means fucking nothing given that this person is still participating'.

Hey, fuck wad, part of supporting marginalized people and those being systemically harmed is to LISTEN TO THEM WHEN THEY SPEAK!!! "This person" is a FUCKING PALESTINIAN!!! Don't dismiss him because you think you're getting a 'gotcha! You're not really an ally!!' brain-dead take!

His post clearly explained the concept that THOSE IN THE OPPRESSED GROUP GET TO PLAY BY DIFFERENT RULES!! Him participating was a declaration that Eurovision WILL NOT ERASE PAELSTINIANS!! He was refusing to let them ignore his existence, silence is voice, or pretend he didn't exist.

Those of us who aren't Palestinian: yes, boycott Eurovision.

Those of you who were invited to Eurovision: If you get up on stage, make sure you support Palestine with the platform you have.

And if you're Palestinian: you are the one who knows what's best for you and your people - don't let anyone tell you how you are or aren't supposed to protest

Oppressed people boldly walking into places those in power don't want them to be and sitting down (or standing up) is a statement that 'We're here and you can't get rid of us or erase us. We exist and we're not going to go away.' Those who aren't in the oppressed group have to protest differently - in the ways those fighting for their liberation tell us are helpful.

You trying to 'gotcha' a PALESTINIAN by policing what they are or aren't allowed to do, saying that them standing up in front of a crowd of people after being instructed to stay silent about their heritage and SHOWING THEIR KEFFIYEH PROUDLY ANYWAYS "means fucking nothing" ---just....holy fuck, how much more of a worthless ally can you be?

You are NOT helping Palestinians by condemning the protests of actual Palestinians who had the opportunity to get on an international stage and force all the people watching to recognize Palestine exists and it's people are here to stay.

Leftist 'allies': seriously take a step back and shut your mouth when Palestinians talk and don't you dare tell them their bravery on the international stage "means fucking nothing" because you can only grasp the most shallow understanding of protest and boycotting that doesn't include intersectionality or the position of the protester.

[blackhistorystoryteller]

Africa has been very rich even before colonialism

The truth you should know about African

Blacks know your history and divinity

They gave us the Bible and stole our natural resources

Community and Social Cohesion: Traditional African religions often emphasized communal values, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support within the community. Rituals and ceremonies were communal events that strengthened social ties.

Respect for Nature: Many African traditional religions were deeply connected to nature, promoting a harmonious relationship with the environment. This connection often led to sustainable practices and a respect for the natural world.

Ethical Guidelines: These religions often included moral and ethical guidelines that governed interpersonal relationships. Concepts such as honesty, hospitality, and respect for elders were commonly emphasized.

Cultural Identity: Traditional African religions played a crucial role in shaping cultural identity. They provided a framework for understanding the world, explaining origins, and passing down cultural practices through rituals, myths, and oral traditions.

Islam reached Nigeria through a combination of trade, migration, and cultural interactions. The trans-Saharan trade routes were crucial in bringing Islam to the region. Muslim traders from North Africa and the Middle East ventured into West Africa, establishing economic ties and introducing Islam to local communities.

The city-states along the trade routes, such as Kano and Katsina, became significant centers for Islamic influence. Merchants not only engaged in commercial activities but also played a role in spreading Islamic teachings. Over time, rulers and elites in these city-states embraced Islam, contributing to its gradual acceptance.

Additionally, the spread of Islam in Nigeria was facilitated by the activities of Islamic scholars and missionaries. Scholars known as clerics or Mallams played a key role in teaching Islamic principles and converting people to Islam. They often established Quranic schools and engaged in educational activities that promoted the understanding of Islamic teachings.

Military conquests also played a part in the expansion of Islam in Nigeria. Islamic empires, such as the Sokoto Caliphate in the 19th century, emerged through conquest and warfare, bringing Islam to new territories. The Sokoto Caliphate, led by Usman dan Fodio, sought to establish a strict Islamic state based on Sharia law.

Overall, the spread of Islam in Nigeria was a gradual process influenced by trade networks, migration, the activities of scholars, and, at times, military expansion. The interplay of these factors contributed to the integration of Islam into Nigerian society, shaping its cultural and religious landscape.

In the vast tapestry of Africa's rich cultural heritage, herbal traditional healing stands out as a profound and time-honored practice. African herbal traditional healers, often known as traditional or indigenous healers, play a vital role in the healthcare systems of many communities across the continent. Their practices are deeply rooted in the natural world, drawing on centuries-old wisdom and an intimate understanding of local flora.

African herbal traditional healers are custodians of ancient knowledge, passing down their expertise through generations. They serve as primary healthcare providers in many communities, addressing a wide range of physical, mental, and spiritual ailments. The healing process involves a holistic approach, considering the interconnectedness of the individual with their community and environment.

One of the hallmark features of African herbal traditional healers is their profound knowledge of medicinal plants. These healers have an intricate understanding of the properties, uses, and combinations of various herbs. Passed down through oral traditions, this knowledge is often a well-guarded family secret or shared within the apprentice-master relationship.

The methods employed by herbal traditional healers encompass diverse approaches. Herbal remedies, administered as infusions, decoctions, or ointments, form a significant part of their treatment. These remedies are carefully crafted based on the healer's understanding of the patient's symptoms, lifestyle, and spiritual condition. Additionally, rituals, ceremonies, and prayers are often incorporated into the healing process, acknowledging the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual well-being.

African herbal traditional healers frequently integrate spiritual elements into their practice. They believe that illness can be a manifestation of spiritual imbalances or disharmony. Through rituals and consultations with ancestors or spirits, healers seek to restore balance and harmony within the individual and the community.

Herbal traditional healers are integral to the social fabric of their communities. They often serve not only as healers but also as counselors, mediators, and keepers of cultural traditions. Their practices are deeply intertwined with community life, contributing to the resilience and cohesion of African societies.

While herbal traditional healing holds immense value, it faces challenges in the modern era. The encroachment of Western medicine, issues related to regulation and standardization, and the potential exploitation of traditional knowledge pose threats to this practice. However, there is also a growing recognition of the importance of integrating traditional healing into mainstream healthcare systems, leading to collaborative efforts to preserve and promote this valuable heritage.

African herbal traditional healers are bearers of an ancient legacy, embodying a profound connection between humanity and the natural world. Their healing practices, rooted in herbal wisdom and spiritual insights, offer a unique perspective on healthcare that complements modern medical approaches. Preserving and respecting the knowledge of these healers is not only crucial for the well-being of local communities but also for the broader appreciation of the diverse cultural tapestry that defines Africa.