DUBAI: The Liverpool Arab Arts Festival has received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a major project dedicated to preserving the festival’s history and documenting the experiences of Liverpool’s Arab communities.
Developed in partnership with Bluecoat, National Museums Liverpool and community organizations, the initiative coincides with the festival’s 25th anniversary and will focus on collecting, safeguarding and sharing the memories and cultural contributions that have shaped the organization since its founding in 1998.
Funded by National Lottery players, the project will engage young people of Arab heritage in exploring the festival’s archive, recording oral histories and helping to create a public program of exhibitions, events and digital content ahead of a major launch in 2027.
Over the past two decades, LAAF has grown into a significant platform for Arab artists and communities in Liverpool, across the UK and internationally. Through music, theater, visual arts, literature, film, food and community initiatives, the festival has fostered dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange. In 2025, it reached more than 35,000 people through 32 events.
Young participants will work alongside artists, founders, community members and heritage specialists to document personal stories and examine archival material. The resulting collection will be preserved and made publicly accessible through partnerships with National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool Record Office, Bluecoat and community organizations, including the Liverpool Arabic Centre, the Merseyside Yemeni Community Association and the Syrian Community in Liverpool.
The project will also provide young people of Arab heritage with training and experience in oral history, heritage practice, event production and creative programming, helping to build skills and open pathways into the cultural and creative sectors.
Afrah Qassim, chair of LAAF, said in a statement, “For 25 years, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival has created space for Arab stories, artists and communities to be celebrated, shared and understood. This project is about making sure those stories are preserved for future generations and giving young people of Arab heritage the chance to actively shape and share that history themselves. We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this possible.”
