Following an open call for applications in Autumn 2022, Zoe Lafferty was awarded an 8-week funded residency. Cove Park’s programme of funded residencies support research, the development of existing and new projects, collaboration, interdisciplinary practice, and the production of new work and ideas. All national and international artists, cultural practitioners, and researchers, working individually and collaboratively in all art forms, in the creative industries, and across disciplines, were eligible to apply. Cove Park’s residencies also support individuals at every stage in their careers.

Zoe Lafferty is a director, writer and maker of theatre, VR, audio and digital work. Her creative practice intersects with activism, civil disobedience, politics and community organising. She has collaborated with some of the world’s most radical artists, touring productions to over 40 stages in the UK & 20 countries worldwide, including the Schaubühne Berlin, Skirball New York, and Young Vic London.

Zoe researches, collaborates and works on the frontline with artists, communities, justice movements and change-makers who are radical in thought & methodology and employ diverse tactics in the fight for equality and justice. This has taken her to the heart of pressing issues in the UK, as well as Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan and across Europe. She is an Associate Director at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp Palestine, where she has worked since 2010. She is the Founder of Artists On The Frontline and a Trustee of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival.

At Cove Park, Zoe will work on “Future Possible” building a global picture of how artists are using a diversity of tactics to stand up to oppression and discrimination, focusing on the radical solutions, thoughts & methodologies of people at the forefront of struggles globally.

‘Mostly I wrote, going back over projects until 2009, that focused on social and political change and the contexts in which those collaborations took place. Some of the focuses included in UK, Afghanistan, Palestine, Yemen and Syria on themes including:

• Cultural Resistance Against Police and Military Oppression
• How Digital Arts Can Circumnavigating Censorship & Borders
• Role of dramaturgy and testimony in activism
• Human rights cases and international law
• Arts, abolition and Justice
• Power, Privilege & Cultural Colonialism
• Connection of citizen journalism and testimonial theatre
• Role of occupying cultural space when reshaping the Arts Eco-System
• Cultural Intifada
• Eradication of cultural heritage and the connection to settler colonialism

Shorter versions of the above have been published in articles and shaped the approach to workshops that I have led in the last year. Part of the written research focused on Palestine and the resources that were developed, can be found here: https://www.theculturalintifada.com/ 

A new project inspired by exploring the connection of citizen journalism and testimonial theatre can be found here: https://www.artistsonthefrontline.com/mayday

Further resources that were collated as part of the writing process can be found here: https://www.artistsonthefrontline.com/resources 

The original purpose was to explore how the diverse tactics of artists and activists who stand up against oppression and discrimination can inspire our approach to tackling the climate crisis. I am working towards putting that into a more public resource.’