In 2004 I was a Rotary Peace Fellow, studying international conflict resolution. As part of my fellowship, I interned with a US charity working to rebuild demolished Palestinian homes and spent 5 weeks conducting reseach in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. What I saw, the people I met, the stories I heard, and the friends I made moved me profoundly.

13 years later, I was back working in the music industry when I was introduced to a group of Palestinian and international music people who had just started an organisation called Palestinian Music Expo ("PMX") to help Palestinian musicians connect to the international music industry. I saw how valuable this could be and immediately offered my support.

2017-2019 - Palestine Music Expo

Our festivals in 2017, 2018, and 2019 became major events in Palestine. We hosted 150 music industry professionals, including representatives from key organisations such as Glastonbury Festival, the Southbank Centre, The Barbican, many international festivals, booking agents, record labels and distributors, and music publishers... and Brian Eno.

PMX gave Palestinian musicians gave hope visibility, and opportunities.

It led to a number of tours, management and record contracts for many Palestinian musicians and introduced the international community to the richness of Palestinian music.

During the COVID years when we couldn't travel, we did online workshops with Palestinian musicians.

2021-2023 - Music and Joy for Gaza

After the war in 2021 we started our program of children's festivals in Gaza and despite significant obstacles, did 8 festivals between 2021 and 2023, entertaining over 20.000 children.

We also arranged the first songwriting camp in the West Bank.

2025 - Supporting Displaced Gazan Musicians in Egypt

After our Gaza Director, Ahmed Saqer, was displaced to Egypt in 2024, we began a year-long programme supporting Gazan refugee musicians who arrived with nothing.

We provided instruments, rehearsal spaces, paid gigs (including festival stages), training, and — crucially — access to psychotherapy.

2026 - A New Chapter — Palestine, Egypt, and the UK

We successfully secured a skilled worker visa for Ahmed and his family to rebuild their lives in England.

(In Egypt, Palestinian refugees are classified as “illegal immigrants” with no rights, protection, or income.)

Now, our mission continues on three fronts:

** Restarting our programmes in Palestine

** Continuing our support for displaced Gazan musicians in Egypt

** Creating opportunities in the UK and internationally for Palestinian artists

We Need Your Support:

For ten years, our work has been made possible almost entirely through crowdfunding.

To continue in 2026, we must raise £100,000.

Every contribution — big or small — helps musicians rebuild their lives, sustain their art, and keep Palestinian music alive on the world stage.

If you believe in the power of music to heal, to empower, and to connect people across borders, please support our work.

Thank you for standing with Palestinian musicians.