Celebrating Contemporary Middle Eastern and North African film, photography, music, fashion and more in a Festival that challenges preconceptions and breaks taboos.

• NOUR FESTIVAL OF ARTS 2011: until 30 November, Leighton House Museum, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ
• Rare opportunity to join leading artists and experts from around the world to explore contemporary art and life in the Middle East.
• IMAGES: http://bit.ly/nourmedia

The Nour Festival of Arts is a unique opportunity to become immersed in the latest contemporary arts and culture from across the Middle East and North Africa through fashion, literature, film, cookery, poetry and photography.

The first month of the festival has been hugely popular, with sell-out events such as the UK film premiere of Damascus With Love, and an evening of Arabic Hip-Hop with Moroccan MC Master Mimz and her unique brand of politically inspired rap, attracting people from all over the Capital.

Throughout its final month the Nour Festival will build upon this success and continue to give audiences the rare opportunity to meet leading artists, film makers, authors and experts as they present their work in the Arab inspired surroundings of Leighton House Museum, an international symbol of East meeting West.

Forthcoming highlights include:

• Unspeakable Love: Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East (26 October 7.00 – 8.00pm) - Brian Whitaker, former Middle East editor of the Guardian, explores the controversial subject of homosexuality in Islamic countries.
• Representing Saudi (29 October, 7.00 – 8.00pm): Sisters and contemporary artists Shadia and Raja Alem on being chosen to represent Saudi Arabia at the Venice Art Biennale in 2011 – the first time the country had participated in the world’s most prestigious art exhibition.
• Messages from Tahrir (22 November 7.00 – 8.00pm): Photographer Karima Khalil discusses her astonishing and deeply moving images which capture the protests that brought down Mubarak.
• Ziad Ghanem (26 November, 7.00 – 8.00pm) - Internationally acclaimed fashion designer and winner of ‘Best in Show’ at London Fashion Week 2010 – showcases a brand new specially created collection in his distinctive ‘Cult Couture’ style.

Now in its second year, The Nour Festival takes place at Leighton House Museum, part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Culture Service. [Full festival listings below and online at www.nourfestival.co.uk]

Cllr Nicholas Paget-Brown, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment, and Leisure Services said: “I am delighted to report sell-out audiences at all this year’s Nour Festival events so far. The timing of it could not be more apposite. The coming month looks particularly exciting as it brings together internationally renowned artists, authors and film-makers who are documenting and exploring the radical changes currently taking place across the Middle East and North Africa.

“The Nour Festival is a showcase of those values of diversity, cosmopolitanism, creativity and cultural excellence, which make Kensington and Chelsea such a remarkably interesting place to visit, live or work in. We look forward to welcoming you – whether for the first time or as a regular visitor – to Leighton House during the final month of the 2011 Nour Festival.”