The purpose of the Quilt
To show solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination. To create a testimonial of remembrance to those Palestinians who have lost their lives in that struggle. To create a 'thing of beauty' out of a situation of dire tragedy.

Aims:
To become a national and international project symbolising and demonstrating peace and cooperation.

To exhibit the quilt(s) in as many places as possible, including Palestine.

To raise awareness and support for the wider campaign for peace and justice for Palestine.

For the quilt to go on growing, as long as the apartheid wall if necessary.

How to make your square:
Any fabric that is not too heavy or too light can be used. Each square to be exactly 30cm X 30cm unhemmed.

Make sure any design finish at least 1cm away from the edge to allow for seams. Sewing is not necessary!

Here are some ideas:
paint onto fabric with acrylics, watercolours or fabric paints...

Draw ans write onto fabric with permanent markers or fabric pens...

Embroider pictures or writing of slogans and names...

Collage using fabric glue or sewing, or both...

Applique or reverse applique and patchwork...

apply photo transfers...

...or any combination of the above.

One person has made the Palestinian flag by weaving narrow ribbons and sewing them onto a backcloth!

Children as young as 2 years old have drawn and glued bits onto fabric which have been incorporated into the quilt.

Why a quilt?
To bring togather art and politics. As our right to protest comes under increasing attack, we must come up with more imaginative ways to voice our dissent from injustice.

Beginning the Quilt
The idea of a quilt was born of a kitchen-table coversation between friends who wanted to come up with a more imaginative way to voice protest against injustice in Palestine.

All those invloved with the early atages are members or supporters of Brighton & Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign, or Coalition Against EDO (a local group protesting about the existance of a weapons-components factory, EDO/MBM, in Brighton - a UN appointed Peace Messenger City!). We soon held a hugely successful public Launch on June 4th 2005 at the Brighton Friends Meeting House.

Many people brought squares, made them on site, and listened to wonderful music perfomed by Palestinian singer/songwriter Shadia Mansoor, and hilarious cabaret preformed by Jewish political soprano Deborah Fink. Marvellous Arabic food was denoted on the night by Manna Foods of Brighton. The first four sections of the quilt have now been completed and we continue to meet forthnightly in a local cafe, producing more squares and encouraging the public to participate.

Next Meetings :
Sanctuary Cafe / Hove Wednesday 8pm

April 19th

May 3rd, 17th, 31st

Interested? Inspired? Motivated?
Post your squares to "Peace Quilt" c/o B&HPSC, Brighton Peace & Environment Centre, 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB. or for more details please contact:

Quiltforpalestine@hotmail.co.uk OR alison.w@macunlimited.net

You might like to contribute individually, or you might like to start up a group in your area and make your own quilts which can be brought togather for events and exhibitions. The Quilt Collective retains all editorial rights. Please make contact so that we can construct quilts of a uniform size for ease of multiple exhibiting, and to encourge each other. Good luck and best wishes from all at Brighton & Hove PSC