Cultural Celebration Exchanges
The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project, members of the Iraqi Minnesotan community, and our two partner institutions, will work together to present two days of cultural activities and performances, honoring and celebrating Iraqi culture and each partner institutions's respective culture.
2022-2023 Cultural Heritage and Community Identity Grants - Winter 2021
Through the planning and execution of two cultural exchange events we hope to see the following outcomes:
1) More than 500 Minnesotans engage with high quality programming celebrating Iraqi culture.
2) Minnesotan attendees increase their appreciation and understanding of Iraqi culture.
3) Iraqi Minnesotan artists and artisans access platforms to reach new audiences and expand their careers in Minnesota.
4) Iraqi attendees are satisfied with the quality of the event and report connection to their culture and community through this event.
Effectiveness and progress toward project outcomes will be determined through audience survey containing both evaluative and demographic questions. IARP and partners will record attendance numbers. Performances will be photo-documented. Local media attention will be recorded. IARP will conduct an evaluation session for committee participants, artists, vendors, etc.
- On June 26, 150 people gathered to celebrate Iraqi and Swedish cultures through music, sweets, games, and crafts at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Highlights of the evening included performances of Iraqi folk music from violinist and singer Layth Sidiq, as well as Swedish music from nyckelharpa player Renee Vaughan and her band. Event attendees also got to their feet to try out traditional Iraqi and Swedish dances. Attendees tasted an assortment of Iraqi and Swedish sweets accompanied by sweetened Iraqi tea or Swedish coffee, purchased handicrafts and art from local Iraqi artisans, and took their picture in a replica of a traditional Iraqi tent. Attendees could make a Cuneiform tablet and a hanging Swedish dala horse, and try their hand at the Swedish lawn game kube or the ancicent game of tawleh (backgammon).
- Planning is underway for the second event that will take place the Norway House this Sunday, July 10th. This event will fall on the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Adha and will include Eid themed food and activities. It also takes place during the Open Streets Festival, allowing us to share Iraqi culture with many hundreds (maybe thousands) more people.
- The first event's planning and implementation have gone smoothly. We received wonderful feedback from the first event's attendees, partners, and the artists we worked with. The planning underway for the second event is moving smoothly as well.
- Although IARP's programming was planned by a committee, we primarily worked directly with the staff of the American Swedish Institute and the Norway House rather than committee members of their respective communities.
; On June 26, around 150 people gathered to celebrate Iraqi and Swedish cultures through music, sweets, games, and crafts at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Highlights of the evening included performances of Iraqi folk music from violinist and singer Layth Sidiq, as well as Swedish music from nyckelharpa player Renee Vaughan and her band. Event attendees also got to their feet to try out traditional Iraqi and Swedish dances. Attendees tasted an assortment of Iraqi and Swedish sweets accompanied by sweetened Iraqi tea or Swedish coffee, purchased handicrafts and art from local Iraqi artisans, and took their picture in a replica of a traditional Iraqi tent. Attendees could make a Cuneiform tablet and a hanging Swedish dala horse, and try their hand at the Swedish lawn game kube or the ancicent game of tawleh (backgammon).
On July 10, IARP celebrated Eid Al-Adha and participated in Open Streets Minneapolis for the first time, joining Norway House on Franklin Avenue for a lively afternoon of music, crafts, and sweets. Pedestrians stopped outside to spin the language wheeland learn a word in Norwegian or Arabic. Inside, visitors created their own cuneiform tablets with clay and wrote their names in runes, while local Iraqi artists showcased their work in the gallery. Guests enjoyed music and event joined in together for an Iraqi "chobi" dance thanks to Iraqi Minnesotan music group, "Ishraqat Sumeria Art Group". Despite the occasional rain, hundreds of people participated in the activities over the course of the 6 hour event celebrating Eid Al-Adha and Iraqi and Norwegian cultures.
On July 17, 600 people visited the Nicollet Island Pavilion over the course of the day for a celebration of Minneapolis's sister cities, including Najaf, Iraq. Throughout the afternoon, performers such as the Ishraqat Sumeria Art Group represented cities from around the world through music and dance. A selection replicas pf Iraqi cultural artifacts and historic landmarks along with labels were on view for attendees.
We are glad to report that we met our goals. We far exceeded our goal of 500 Minnesotans engaging with high quality programming celebrating Iraqi culture, the final number exceed 1,000 Minnesotans over the three events. 8 Iraqi Minnesotan artists and artisans accessed platforms, reaching hundreds of new audiences and expand their careers in Minnesota. Through anecdotal evidence and responses collected in our surey, Minnesotan attendees increased their appreciation and understanding of Iraqi culture. Iraqi attendees expressed satisfaction and excitement, with the quality of the event and reported connection to their culture and community through this event.
Detailed expenses is on the second page of the excel sheet. Do you need it in the exact form in the video? Or is this sufficient? We received a $25,000 grant from the Laura Jane Musser Fund that supported the cultural events. This allowed us to expand the offerings at each event and add a third event. The MHC outcomes and budget was not impacted.
; Azar Maluki, Chair, azar@reconciliationproject.org; Shaymaa Hassan, Vice-Chair, shema.f78@gmail.com; Hiba Qader Al Hasnawi hiba@reconciliationproject.org; Rev. David Smith Professor, dwsmith@stthomas.edu (passed away September 2022); Kathy Adam, kadam@luthersem.edu; Ahmed Alshaikhli, ahmedphoto2015@gmail.com; Leila Hussein, Leila.hussain@capiusa.org.