The Turkish and Kurdish Community Solidarity Centre (Day-Mer) announced that their final event of the Day-Mer 34th Culture and Art Festival will take place on Saturday, July 1, instead of Sunday, July 2.
The statement made Day-Mer said: “Day-Mer, we announce that we have moved the final event of the 34th Culture and Art Festival, which coincides with July 2, to Saturday, July 1, as a requirement of our responsibility to the grieving families, friends and ourselves, who lost their relatives in the Sivas massacre. Despite the short time remaining for our event and all the difficulties we will face, we have taken this decision in order not to leave our friends’ positive criticisms as well as their reproaches unanswered and to end the useless discussions that cross the borders of England.”
Adding thanks to the local council and partners who have shown understanding in the tasks of bringing the park festival forward. The every has been held every first Sunday of July for the last 34 years, this year the event has fallen on July 2 which is the anniversary of the Sivas massacre.
Day-Mer added that: “Our festival is attended by tens of thousands of people, tens of our members and volunteers, who are our biggest support, will not be able to take part in this festival because they are working on Saturday. Our artist friends who have programs elsewhere that day will not be able to take the stage either. We will have to rent most of the devices and equipment we rented a year ago from other places. Due to the parking problem, which was inevitable that day, thousands of spectators looking forward to our festival will have difficulty participating in our event.
“Despite all this, we believe that we can overcome the shortcomings of the Festival’s program and technical infrastructure thanks to our 34 years of experience and the friendships we have accumulated during this time. Overcoming all these difficulties is primarily on the shoulders of the Day-Mer members. Day-Mer workers, who have created this festival for 34 years with their efforts, have the sensitivity and experience to overcome the problems and difficulties that arise due to this change. “
The festival runs over 3 weeks with events such as the children’s festival, seminars, panels and exhibitions taking place, upcoming events include: Theatre plays taking place on the 23,24, and June 26 June at the Dugdale Centre En2 6DS, on June 29 a panel discussion at the NEU headquarters at WC1H 9BD and on June 30 a Youth Event at NLCH N17 6PY. Full details for the event can be found on Day-Mer’s social media pages.