Artists and Cultural Events
As a Turkish and Kurdish Charity, we organise a traditional cultural and arts festival every year. Through our festival and our overall work, we aim to contribute to the further integration of our community into the mainstream society and develop further the harmony of all the cultures in Britain.
It has been 16 years since our festival took place for the first time. Every year the festival becomes more popular. The festival programme reflects the ideas behind it. We tried to use it as an opportunity especially for local London based performers to meet with the Turkish and Kurdish community as well as the local community. About DayMer Festival
The festival in Clissold Park attracts thousands of people and this year was no exception. Also a concert on 01 July in the London’s hottest new music venue, Ocean, featuring Haluk Levant was a major success with over 1000 young Turkish and Kurdish people packing the house. Other events featured writing workshops, theatre performances and of course the Day-Mer Folk Dance Group. Read more
In addition to the annual festival, there are regular cultural activities of Day-Mer. The majority of activities take place over the weekend and during holidays. Two groups of guitar and Saz classes practice in Day-Mer premises; a group of young first time learners and a second group of advanced learners. Sedat Sarici, a dedicated professional musician, teaches the guitar classes. Whereas Saz classes are taught by Nihat Isen who uses established methods to teach Saz which is the norm in teaching Saz. One of the significant aspects of the arts and culture activities is that the participants of these groups are presented also with regular opportunities to perform their productions at regular events.
A group of young people, under the arts and culture committee, perform short drama pieces and poetry reading session at cultural activities like women's event, youth activities and other cultural and traditional celebrations. The Youth Committee organises regular film shows in Day-Mer. The centre has a film projector where 50-60 people can watch a film and following that have debate/discussion.
However, the greatest difficulty facing our range of arts and culture activities is the scarce funding opportunities which will go a significant distance in improving the quality and the range of activities. Therefore, due to the general difficulties facing Day-Mer, especially the one concerning funding, the facilities open to these activities is limited. These difficulties range from the lack of equipment necessary for these activities to the lack of venues where these activities could be conducted. Most groups end up rehearsing in different venues because of Day-MER's lack of space, which in turn affects their efficiency and causes delays.
Guitar Saz and Guitar Classes
The other popular instrumental course provided at Day-Mer is the guitar and saz classes. Only the classical guitar classes are again split into beginners and intermediates, while the Saz classes are provided only for beginners. The courses take place at Day-Mer on Saturdays. A local professional musician who has written lyrics for famous musicians back in Turkey tutors the classes.
Folkdance
Each movement and part in folkdance has a tale of its own. Studying the art of folkdance and dancing with this historical tales can be a rich form of learning one’s culture, and above all, it is fun. To carry this tradition Day-Mer has been running folkdance classes now for a decade. This year’s courses will be conducted for under 12s and they will take place at Day-Mer. Folkdance groups perform with their traditional costumes at various events including the annual Day-Mer festival.
Theatre
Day-Mer theatre group has performed numerous plays and sketches over the years. Nasıl Yapmalı (What is to be Done) by Chernyshevsky, Şenlik Mahallesi Uyanıyor (Senlik Neighbourhood is Waking Up), Acil Demokrasi (Urgent Democracy), Oğullari Öldürülen Analar (The Mothers Whose Sons Are Killed), Selamı Aleyküm-Aleyküm Hello, Kadifeden Kesesi (Velvet Pouch), Yeni Bir Dünya Için (For a New World), Yeni Boyut (A New Dimension), Kadının Ölümü (The Death of Womanhood), Kadına Dair (About Women), Önce Ekmek Gelir (First Bread), Gölgeler (Shadows), are among the well remembered plays. A play titled `Custom` (Töre) put on stage in summer 2003 was restaged from the end of October due to wide interest. The activities taking place at the moment however are still open to all. For detailed and up-to-date information please contact Day-Mer.
