Sheba Festival 21

Sheba Festival ran from the 13th to 19th of September 2021.

This was our second week-long festival that happened in person across different venues and towns in Greater Manchester. We partnered with AIU at Manchester Central Library, Doosti Community Group in Salford, and Everything Human Rights in Leigh, alongside many community groups across Greater Manchester to bring a vibrant and diverse festival to your doorstep. This year’s festival theme was “Home is Where the Heart is” and it showcased the best of community and migrant art that Greater Manchester had to offer. We had artists, facilitators, musicians, performers and volunteers from across the North, including York, Liverpool, Sheffield and Darlington. We commissioned artists from Worsley, Stalybridge and Manchester to produce new pieces responding to the theme of the festival. Please check our social media for more details about each day, biographies from our amazing artists and photoes of the events.
Watch the festival's promo video:

DAY 1 - OPENING DAY

SEP 13: Manchester Central Library

Musicians from Manchester, Liverpool and Darlington shared space at Manchester Central Library on the 13th of September 2021. A wonderful selection of Jazz from Iran and Cameroon, traditional Iranian, suprano in Different languages and Sufi music from Pakistan.

DAY 2

SEP 14: Manchester Friends Meeting House

A fun songwriting and music workshop with a performance of La Nagualita by Sally Hilton.

DAY 3

SEP 15: Hulme Community Garden Centre

An afternoon of poetry and drama performances in Hulme. With themes of home, belonging and identity.

DAY 4

SEP 16: Manchester Central Library

A film and exhibition day in Central Manchester, showcasing some of the stories shared by undocumented migrants, which we collected during the lockdown.

DAY 5

SEP 17: Spinners Mill, Leigh

A community day in Leigh with dancing, drama and workshops, with time for food and socialising, organised by Sheba Arts and Everything Human Rights.

DAY 6

SEP 18: Stockport Friends Meeting House

This was our friends and family day, with arts and crafts for children in and music for families. Finishing the day with an exciting magic performance from Philip Partridge!

Day 7

SEP 19: Beacon Centre, Salford

A packed day of poetry, dance and Turkish and Kurdish music performances, arts workshop for women and children and a coffee ceremony. Finishing with fantastic food and desserts prepared by our communities.