Palestinian music is facing systematic erasure. Musicians have lost instruments, homes, networks and sometimes families. Cultural infrastructure built over decades has been destroyed. Living conditions make creating music a luxury many can't afford.

Yet through music, Palestinians assert their presence and resilience. They process trauma, maintain identity, resist erasure and imagine futures that feel impossible right now.

Palestine Music Expo (PMX) has been supporting Palestinian musicians since 2017.

We have:

— presented 80+ artists internationally,

— facilitated 15+ tours,

— helped secure five major record deals,

— connected 150+ global music industry delegates with Palestinian talent,

— organised five festivals in Gaza for 18,000 children and families, creating moments of joy under siege.

When war began in October 2023, PMX became more than a showcase — it became a lifeline. Working as a volunteer from Cairo, Ahmed Saqar (our Gaza-based coordinator since 2019) delivered an extraordinary impact while displaced himself — supporting over 100 musicians, replacing instruments destroyed in bombings, running music therapy sessions and organising five children’s arts festivals.

Now we have an extraordinary opportunity. Against all odds, we’ve secured a UK working visa for Ahmed and his family. This is our chance to transform PMX from a volunteer-run initiative into something that can genuinely sustain Palestinian music for the long term.

What we need

£100,000 per year for three years to fund PMX’s operating costs, including Ahmed’s salary as our first full-time Director. This bridge funding will sustain the position while we establish longer-term relationships with trusts and foundations.

What your support will fund:

Sustainable employment:

— Create paid opportunities for Palestinian musicians

Performance opportunities:

— Facilitate paid gigs, studio recordings and commercial releases

International festivals:

— Support PMX showcase events in key music markets

Global advocacy:

— Champion Palestinian music with governments and aid organisations

Trauma support:

— Expand music therapy programmes in Cairo, the West Bank and Gaza

Skills development:

— Provide training in production, songwriting and artist management

Why Ahmed, why now?

Ahmed achieved all this while displaced and traumatised, working from a laptop in Egypt. Imagine what he can accomplish with three years of stable employment, a UK base and significant music industry backing. The global music industry is ready to support this work — we have the partnerships, the credibility, the proven model.

What’s missing — the only thing missing — is your support to make it happen.

Music is how communities survive. Help us ensure Palestinian music, and the culture it carries, survives this moment in history.