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Gulf Labor Artists at Roskilde Festival


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For the third year in a row, the big Nordic music event Roskilde Festival has invited CAMP to be an 'equality partner' and curate projects during the festival focusing on 'equality.' This year, CAMP is partnering up with members from Gulf Labor Artist Coalition.

Gulf Labor artists Todd Ayoung (Trinidad and Tobago/US), Doris Bittar (Lebanon/US), and Melissa Smedley (US) will bring four participatory projects to Roskilde Festival. Under the headline Storming the Wall: Who is building the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi?, the projects examine the plight of migrant labor during the construction and maintenance of the Guggenheim's new franchise museum on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

  • Red Light – Green Light, a game whose pace is determined by a domineering leader. During the game, the players are equipped with different identities and have to challenge the 'king.' If they are caught in the act, they will be deported. Time & Place: July 1, 3–6 pm in City East at Equality Stadium.
     
  • Trackless Shoes engages festival guests in creating footwear that disguises its tracks on sand to mirror migration into the US. A model of the US Mexico border wall will be invoked to determine 'winners or losers.' The event is conceptualized to make festival guests identify with people crossing the US border in pursuit of work. Time & Place: July 2, 10 am–12 pm in City East at Equality Stadium.
     
  • Ululation Choir entails learning about ululation, and performing it throughout the festival. Festival guests will learn how to ululate, i.e. making loud sounds with throat and tongue, to form a choir of loud sounds. Ululation is used throughout the Middle East and Africa to express joy or protest. Festival guests is encouraged to ululate when participating in koncerts and protests both during the festival and afterwards. Time & Place: July 3, 10–11 am in in City East at Equality Stadium.
     
  • Join the The People's Decolonization March and march with Gulf Labor banners. The march engages participants in a protest against unequal pay and modern slavery. Time & Place: July 4, 7–8 pm at Equality Walls.

    After the march, the banners will be on view at ArtZone/Gloria stage until July 7.
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Gulf Labor is a coalition of international artists working to ensure that migrant worker rights are protected during the Guggenheim franchise museum construction. Artists should not be asked to exhibit their work in structures built on the backs of exploited workers. Those working with bricks and mortar deserve the same kind of respect as those working with cameras and brushes.