Our new Postcards From feature is an ongoing series bringing you memories from Brighton Festival, so you can get a glimpse into all the exciting things that are happening around the city this month.
In this first Postcards From, we share some of the highlights from this past week at The Riwaq. Here, you can take a look at the dancing, music, performance and arts taking place in this vibrant space, which continues to bring communities together on Hove seafront throughout May.
Photography by Jim Stephenson.
Syrian architects Marwa Al-Sabouni and Ghassan Jansiz have brought a unique architectural element to this year’s Brighton Festival by building a temporary community arts space on Hove seafront in the form of a traditional Arabic arcade.
The Riwaq - the Arabic word for colonnade - is a semi-open space and a staple of Islamic architecture. It serves as a transitional creative threshold between the surrounding city and the great outdoors.
Across the first week of The Riwaq, we’ve seen family events, spoken word, live music, Bhangra dance performances, kite making, and even a Ukrainian 'Living Library'.
The Riwaq will host an eclectic programme of free cultural and community events throughout Brighton Festival, up to May 29. There will be screen printing workshops, storytelling, dance sessions, yoga, writing workshops, music takeovers and more.
“The Riwaq is often figuratively used in Arabic traditions as a referential space for culture and knowledge: the Riwaq of poetry, the Riwaq of culture, and so on. At Brighton Festival, The Riwaq is going to represent this transitional space of exchange… The Riwaq will be buzzing, filled with visitors contributing and transforming it into a beautiful meeting spot on the charming seafront of Hove.” – Marwa Al-Sabouni
The Riwaq is situated on Hove Lawns, with the beautiful coastline visible beyond- a magical setting for community events throughout the Festival until 29 May.
The Riwaq is made possible with the support of sponsor Moda Living, alongside additional support from Timber Development UK, setWorks, Webb Yates, DHH Timber and Vanessa Norwood.
Click here for a short film of The Riwaq build.
Photography by Jim Stephenson