Magan-djin Creatives for Palestine: The First Gathering التجمع الأول
LOCATION
Vacant Assembly, Brisbane, Australia, 2024
CREDITS
Team: Prita Yeganeh, Sirena Varma, Ishara Sahama, Katherine Palella, Karla McGrady, Rose Richani, Lynne Z.
Photography & Videography: Siena Stubbs, Jarod Woods, Warwick Gow, Lee Wilkes, Dylan J Prins
Sponsors: Thrill House Tattoo, 350 Australia, Meanjin Solidarity Fund, Baitna, Alphabet Cafe, Sobah, The End Bar, Gabba Ward, Open House West End, Twig Collaborative, Echo Impact Group
Volunteers & Organisations: House Conspiracy, Vacant Assembly, Justice for Palestine, Aleea Monsour, Laura Pascoe, Peter Breen, Payman Meydani, Rami Saab, Celest Munro, Madina Mohmood, Kalpana Prasad, Katie Rasch, Tamara Sukkarieh, Summer Hisken-Raven, LJ Cutter
Collaboration between Sirena Varma and Prita Tina Yeganeh and their shared dedication to community care, cultural and creative expression and activism for the Palestinian cause led us to create Magan-djin Creatives for Palestine (MCFP). MCFP is a community-led initiative to unite Magan-djin (Brisbane) creatives in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
The First Gathering التجمع الأول is an event that marks the first community action and the beginning of MCFP. A seed that has sprouted from the journey of transforming feelings of powerlessness and loss into 'tajamou3', an Arabic verb, the active act of coming together and uniting behind a shared cause. Brisbane creatives answered an open call, offering their creations to be sold at the activation and online, with the aim to support Palestinian refugees arriving from Gaza on temporary visas.
The heart of our project lay in the exhibition scenography, collaboratively crafted to transcend traditional gallery settings. Embracing our cultural roots, we transformed the space into a warm, inviting oasis—complete with food, carpets, floor seating, music, and performances. This grounded atmosphere fostered a sense of authenticity and connection, inviting visitors to explore and immerse themselves in our narrative. By grounding The First Gathering in Palestinian and Blak voices, and music and food from across the Levant, we created a welcoming space that connects us together through truth-telling, hope, and action.
Through MCFP, 200 creatives responded to an open call to aid Palestinian refugees arriving from Gaza on temporary visas. MCFP received creative donations spanning 2D artwork and prints, to furniture, sculpture, ceramics, garments, jewellery and more raising over $23,000 AUD in less than 2 months. This initiative united individuals, enabling them to share resources, leverage their platforms and networks, and form a cohesive community dedicated to supporting the Palestinian cause in Magan-djin. MCFP has now evolved into a strong ongoing project that encourages all our creatives to self-activate through their own solidarity initiatives.
We acknowledge that the struggle for a free Palestine is tightly bound to the ongoing struggle for Blak sovereignty in this country and we are committed to the actions of mutual liberation, enduring solidarity, and truth-telling. Through our incredible community, we were able to donate to TAQWA, Mindle Bygul Aboriginal Corporation, PARA Foundation, and Inala Wangarra.