Courageous Programming
Workshop for Cultural Leaders, Producers, and Programmers
Facilitated by Dani Abulhawa & James Harker
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes | Max. 20 participants
The first Courageous Programming workshop, delivered at the University of Leeds and supported by Leeds Cultural Institute. Image by Yasmeen Soudani.
Courageous Programming is a practical workshop designed for anyone considering the programming of work related to Palestine or who has previously encountered difficulty in doing so. It provides skills, tools, and guidance to help organisations prepare for the challenges that can come with platforming this important work, while supporting values-led decision-making rooted in care, fairness, and consistency.
The workshop content comes from research conducted by Dani Abulhawa and James Harker, which involved interviews with professional programmers, writers, directors, and other roles within the cultural industries. Our interivews highlighted patterns of anti-Palestinian bias, emotional strain on staff, and organisational silence when it came to platforming productions relating to Palestine or created by Palestinian artists. The workshop supports participants to surface challenges and strengths within their own organisations, and to develop practical, resilient approaches to courageous cultural programming.
Delivered through a series of engaging and thought-provoking scenarios, the session equips participants to respond to real-world dilemmas around censorship, complaints, and institutional risk-aversion.
While contributions from those already confident in programming Palestine-related work are often valuable in group discussions, this workshop is not primarily designed for those already experienced in this area. It is most useful for organisations and individuals seeking greater clarity, confidence, and institutional preparedness when engaging with Palestine-related content.
Who It’s For
Artistic Directors & CEOs
Programmers & Producers
Trustees & Governance Teams
Community Organisers
Cultural Workers responsible for public-facing programmes
What’s Included
Presentation of research findings on Palestine-related programming
Case studies of institutional response to complaints and controversy
Small-group exercises and values stress-testing
Scenario-based planning and complaint-response design
Peer exchange and network-building
Practical Details
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes (including a 10-minute break)
Capacity: Approx 20 participants
Facilitators: Dani Abulhawa and James Harker
Space requirements:
Tables and chairs for all participants
Projector or large screen for slide presentation
Access to pens and paper/post-its for written tasks
Booking Options
We can come to your venue to deliver a workshop. Please get in touch to discuss.
Alternatively, we can offer a train-the-trainer model, delivered via a 3-hour one-to-one Zoom session (with breaks). This is intended for organisations with skilled in-house facilitators who wish to deliver the workshop themselves. Please note: we strongly recommend that self-delivery is undertaken by those with prior experience in politically sensitive facilitation and equity-based practice.
What Participants Say
“I thought it was a really strong and well-designed workshop, which gave me clarity in knowing that other organisations and artists are having these conversations. It also gave me constructive ways forward in thinking about our own standpoint and treating serious issues with conviction.”
“Thank you for a thoughtfully curated session. It was incredibly useful in outlining the considerations needed when planning, delivering, and evaluating events of this nature.”
“This is exactly the sort of workshop I would like my team and trustees to attend. The themes explored were relevant and timely, and I appreciated the interactive structure and space for discussion and reflection.”
“As the first event I’ve attended that really opened up the questions we should be asking ourselves in this work—it was excellent. It placed a lot of responsibility on the organisers, and the care you brought to the session was deeply appreciated.”
“I... loved your thoughtful, knowledgeable, nuanced and deeply sensitive handling of the topic. I felt inspired by the structure of the event; the way your research was informing (and catalysing) the carefully structured conversations, and it was clear how engaged everyone was in the room. This event felt like one of those ‘gem’ moments—when I know why I do my job. To be able to discuss and connect with other cultural leaders over SUCH an important and relevant topic.”
Downloadable Resources
Participants receive access to:
A digital Courageous Programming Guide, featuring best practices, case studies, and scenario templates
A Participant Notes Pack with activities, frameworks, and recommended resources
Links to organisations offering further training and community support
How to Book
To discuss hosting the Courageous Programming workshop in your organisation or to enquire about training facilitators in-house, please contact:
daniabulhawa@gmail.com
We welcome enquiries from across the cultural and community sector, including arts festivals, producing venues, universities, museums, and cross-arts platforms.