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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

The International Storytelling Festival & Conference 2025

We are organizing the The International Storytelling Festival and Conference 2025, dedicated to reviving the Palestinian story and enhancing its presence in public spaces. The festival aims to share traditional and contemporary storytelling performances by Palestinian and international storytellers in villages, cities, refugee camps, and Bedouin communities across Palestine.

17–23 November 2025, PALESTINE

Supporters

Seraj Library Project 〰️ Mcmillan Stewart Foundation 〰️ The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture - AFAC 〰️

Seraj Library Project 〰️ Mcmillan Stewart Foundation 〰️ The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture - AFAC 〰️

About The Festival & The Conference

Hosted by Seraj Libraries and the House of Stories, the Festival and Conference brings together professional Palestinian and international storytellers to share the art of storytelling with communities, schools, universities, and libraries across Palestine. Each performance celebrates the power of stories, told in both Arabic and English, featuring one Palestinian and one international storyteller on stage.

The Festival and Conference highlight the importance of fairy tales, folk tales, and wonder tales, honoring the oral traditions preserved by women and passed down through generations. Rooted in humanity’s oldest cultural traditions, storytelling has evolved from a communal practice into a vibrant art form with its own festivals and diverse voices.

Partners

Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research | Bethlehem 〰️ Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center | Ramallah 〰️ Ministry of Education and Higher Education | Palestine 〰️ Al-Baluta Charity Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Women's Programs Center | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp 〰️ Popular Committee | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | Qalandia 〰️ Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp 〰️ Al Maleh village council | Almaleh Village | Tubas 〰️ Sanabel Al Reef Collaborative | AlJiftlik Village | Jericho 〰️ Seraj Art of Storytelling Academy, The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Box of wonder Theatre {Sandouq Elajab} of Adel Tartir | Ramallah 〰️ RACCONTAMIUNASTORIA, Italy 〰️ Praline Gay-Para | Compagnie Pavé Volubile | Paris -France 〰️ Jana | Arab Resource Center For Popular Arts | Lebanon 〰️ The Fiction Council | Jerusalem 〰️ VAF, Visual Art Forum | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Laboratory For Global Performance & Politics | Georgetown University | U.S. 〰️ Beit Al Karmeh, Dalia Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ PAVIP - Palestinian Association of Visually Impaired Persons | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Riwaq- centre for architectural conservation | Al-Bireh 〰️ Kufraqab Municipality 〰️ Ramallah Municipality 〰️ Al-Bireh Municipality 〰️ Storytellers of Ireland Association 〰️ Union of Irish artists 〰️

Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research | Bethlehem 〰️ Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center | Ramallah 〰️ Ministry of Education and Higher Education | Palestine 〰️ Al-Baluta Charity Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Women's Programs Center | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp 〰️ Popular Committee | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | Qalandia 〰️ Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp 〰️ Al Maleh village council | Almaleh Village | Tubas 〰️ Sanabel Al Reef Collaborative | AlJiftlik Village | Jericho 〰️ Seraj Art of Storytelling Academy, The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Box of wonder Theatre {Sandouq Elajab} of Adel Tartir | Ramallah 〰️ RACCONTAMIUNASTORIA, Italy 〰️ Praline Gay-Para | Compagnie Pavé Volubile | Paris -France 〰️ Jana | Arab Resource Center For Popular Arts | Lebanon 〰️ The Fiction Council | Jerusalem 〰️ VAF, Visual Art Forum | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Laboratory For Global Performance & Politics | Georgetown University | U.S. 〰️ Beit Al Karmeh, Dalia Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ PAVIP - Palestinian Association of Visually Impaired Persons | The Old City of Kufr Aqab 〰️ Riwaq- centre for architectural conservation | Al-Bireh 〰️ Kufraqab Municipality 〰️ Ramallah Municipality 〰️ Al-Bireh Municipality 〰️ Storytellers of Ireland Association 〰️ Union of Irish artists 〰️

The Schedule

The Schedule

  • 10:00 📍 Seraj Storytelling Center, Kofur Aqab Old City

    • Festival Opening & Welcome | حكاية وأغنية

    • About Seraj Libraries and the Storytelling Center | عن مكتبة سراج ودار الحكايات

    • About the Festival & Conference | عن المهرجان والمؤتمر

    10:20 📍 Kofur Aqab Old City

    Presentation on Preserving the Stories of the Houses in the Old City of Kofur Aqab | حكايات الأمكنة القديمة والحديثة

    10:30 📍 Al-Maghazi Shelter Center, Gaza

    Storytelling Performance – Gaza Stories | حكايات غزية

    10:30 📍 Seraj Storytelling Center, Kofur Aqab Old City

    The Story of the House | حكاية الدار

    11:00–12:00 📍 Kofur Aqab Old City

    Storytelling Performances 📍 (location depending on each performance)

    • Storytelling Walk 📍 Sheikh Yassin → the Oak Tree | مسار حكي من الشيخ ياسين إلى البلوطة

    • Wonder Tales 📍 Seraj Storytelling Center | خراريف وأساطير – مكتبة سراج ودار الحكايات

    • Storytelling & Drawing 📍 VAF, Visual Art Forum | خيال في خيال

    • Storytelling for Little Kids 📍 Seraj Children Library | حكايات للأطفال الصغار – مكتبة سراج

    • Storytelling & Songs 📍 Beit Al Karmeh, Dalia Association | حكايات وأغنيات – بيت الكرامة

    • Women’s Stories 📍 Al-Baluta Charity Association | حكايات نسوية – جمعية البلوطة

    • Storytelling & Music 📍 PAVIP | حكايات وموسيقى – جمعية المكفوفين الفلسطينيين

    13:30–15:30 📍 Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | Qalandia

    Interactive Storytelling Walk at Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | مسار حكي "نحترف الحياة" – مخيم قلنديا للاجئين

    18:00 📍 Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah

    Storytelling Performance | حكايات من فلسطين والعالم

  • 9:30–12:00 📍 Various Schools in Ramallah

    • Storytelling – Strange Tales | حكايات عجيبة – Banat Beitunia Elementary School

    • Storytelling – Joha and His Friends | حكايات جحا وأصدقاؤه – Faisal Al-Husseini School

    • Storytelling – Taste of Opera | حكايات أوبرا – Al-Karama School

    • Storytelling – Grandmothers’ Stories | حكايات الجدات – Samiha Khalil School

    • Storytelling – The Sea | حكايات البحر – Red Crescent School for the Deaf

    • Storytelling – Motherland | حكايات من بلدنا – Al-Quds School

    13:00–13:30 📍 Ramallah Old City

    Ramallah Storywalk | مسار حكي في حارات رام الله البلدة القديمة

    13:30–14:00 📍 Sandouq El-Ajab Theatre

    Storytour – Box of Wonder | حكاية صندوق العجب

    17:00–19:00 📍 Ramallah Municipal Theatre

    Storytelling Performance | عرض حكايات وموسيقى

  • 9:00📍 Kobar School, Beirzeit

    Storytelling Performance: Folk Tales | حكايات خرافية

    9:00📍 Dar Al-Hekayat (Storytelling Center)

    • Storytelling Performance: Stories from Jerusalem and Far Away |حكايات من القدس ومن بعيد – Anata School

    • Storytelling Performance: Stories of Hope | حكايات عن الأمل – Hizma School

    10:00–12:00📍 Various Schools

    • Storytelling Performance: Stories of Wonders | حكايات عجيبة – Deir Abzi’ School

    • Storytelling Performance: Stories from the Earth | حكايات من الأرض – Deir Ammar School

    • Storytelling Performance: Stories of Trees | حكايات الأشجار – Academy of Scholars

    📍 Al-Maghazi Women’s Activity Center, Gaza

    Storytelling: Gaza Traditional Stories | حكايات غزة التقليدية – مركز النشاط النسائي، مخيم المغازي

    13:30–15:30📍 Al-Bereh Cultural Center

    Storytour: Imagining Jerusalem Exhibition | جولة في معرض تخيل القدس

    16:00–17:00 📍 Al-Bireh Municipal Library

    Storytelling: Between Hope and Freedom | حكايات ما بين الأمل والحرية

  • 9:00–10:00 📍 The Storytelling Center & Virtual

    Worlds of Storytelling: Sha'ir Rababa | عالم فن الحكي) شاعر الربابة)

    10:00–11:30 📍 The Storytelling Center & Virtual

    The Archive: Heritage and Contemporary Practice | "الأرشيف: التراث والممارسة المعاصرة"

    11:30–12:00 📍 The Storytelling Center & Virtual

    Adel Tartir’s Emancipatory Theatrical Compass | البوصلة المسرحية التحررية لعادل ترتير

    13:00–14:00📍 The Storytelling Center

    The Art of Storytelling in Palestine through Research and Book | فن الحكي في فلسطين - البحث والمنهاج

    14:00–15:30📍 The Storytelling Center & Virtual

    • The Question of Storytelling | The responsibility of the storyteller today مسؤولية الحكائين اليوم

    • The Art of Care | فن الرعاية

    • The Toxins of History | سموم التاريخ

    • Physical Storytelling | حكايات الجسد

    16:00–17:30📍 The Storytelling Center

    • Round Table: Responsibilities and Futures of Palestinian Storytelling | "الطاولة المستديرة: مسؤوليات ومستقبل فن الحكي الفلسطيني"

    • Three questions for discussion, participants asking questions on papers | طاولة نقاش تتناول ثلاث أسئلة رئيسية، يطرح المشاركون أسئلتهم مكتوبة على أوراق

    • Opening Presentations: The Art of Storytelling – Parallels Between Irish and Palestinian Narrative Traditions (Paola Initiative) | (العروض الافتتاحية: فنّ الحكي: أوجه الشبه بين التقاليد السردية الإيرلندية والفلسطينية) — بمبادرة من باولا

    18:00–19:30📍 The Storytelling Center

    Storytelling Performance: Stand Up Comedy, Wonder Tales, Sha'er AlRababa | حكايات كوميدية وربابية عجيبة

  • 08:00–09:00📍 Seraj Library, Jiftlik, Jordan Valley – Family Garden

    Storytelling Around Breakfast | حكايات حول الإفطار

    09:00–10:00 📍 Fields, Jordan Valley

    Stories From and To Farmers | حكايات من ومع الفلاحين

    10:00–12:00 📍 Jordan Valley

    Storytelling Performance: The Earth | حكايات الأرض

    12:00–13:00📍 Family Garden, Jordan Valley

    Stories Around Lunch | حكايات حول الغداء

    13:30–15:30📍 Ein Helwa & Wadi Elmaleh, Tubas, Jordan Valley

    Storytelling Drive and Walk: From Salt to Sweet | مسار حكي من الحلوة للمالح

    17:00–19:00 📍 Jordan Valley

    Storytelling in Tents | حكايات في الخيام

    11:00–12:00📍 Seraj Library, Birzeit Old City

    Storytelling Performance: Women | حكايات نسوية

  • 08:00–09:30 📍 The Old Town of Birzeit

    • Tea & Breakfast (Manakeesh Sakhin) | شاي وافطار (مناكيش سخن)

    • Tea & Coffee on the Fire | شاي وقهوة ع الحطب

    • Walk and Talk: The Olive Path | درب الزيتون

    09:30–10:00 📍 The Old Town of Birzeit

    Manakeesh Taboun | مناكيش طابون

    10:00–12:00 📍 The Library / Activity Room / Meeting Room / Children Library

    • Hamza: "Palestinian Narrative Storytelling in the Time of Genocide: Between Preserving Memory and Creating Hope" | السرد الفلسطيني في زمن الإبادة: بين حفظ الذاكرة وصناعة الأمل

    • Paola: "1, 2, 3, Eyes on Me!" | واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة، أنظاركم عليّ!

    • Johan: "Oral Storytelling Inspired by Rhetoric Exercises" | السرد الشفهي المستوحى من تمارين الخطابة

    • Sally Shalabi: "Between Memory and Imagination" | سالي شلبي: بين الذاكرة والخيال

    13:30–14:30 📍 Outside Theatre

    How Did Sindibad Sneak into My Stories Without a Visa | كيف تسلل السندباد الى قصصي دون تأشيرة

    14:30–15:30 📍 Outside Theatre

    Waseem and Dalia Talk: "The Art of Storytelling Through Poetry and Playwriting" | حوارية (فن الحكي من خلال الشعر والكتابة المسرحية)

    15:30–16:30 📍 Outside Theatre

    Storytelling: Between Theory and Practice | فن الحكي بين النظرية والممارسة

    17:00–18:30 📍 Outside Theatre

    Women Saving Heritage | النساء حارسات التراث

    📍 Outside Theatre

    Storytelling Performance: A Story to Live | حكاية لنعيش

  • 09:00–11:30 📍 Old City of Bethlehem

    Storywalk in Bethlehem: Aqaba and Wad | مسار العقبة والواد

    13:30–16:00 📍 Aida Refugee Camp

    Aida Refugee Camp Storywalk | حكي ومشي في مخيم عايدة

    15:00–16:00 📍 Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida Camp

    • Performances: Women Stories | حكايات نسوية – The Center

    • Performances: Stories of Hope | حكايات الأمل – The Roof

    • Storytelling Performances: Stories of Love and Care | حكايات الحب والرعاية – The Library

    17:00–19:00 📍 Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research | Bethlehem

    Storytelling Performance: Stories Between Rivers | حكايات بين الأنهار