Raise the Bar: Poems on Palestine

#### Part of Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2026, and presented in partnership with Out-Spoken Press. Featuring poetry from Lowkey, Haia Mohammed, Ahmed Alnaouq and lisa minerva luxx. Hosted by Anthony Anaxagorou.

Date: Saturday 28th November 2026

Time: 19:00 - 21:00 (includes interval) 

Location: Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA 

Price: £8 (£10 solidarity, £6 concessions)

Raise the Bar proudly presents Poems on Palestine as part of Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2026. Featuring performances from British-Iraqi rapper and activist Lowkey, Palestinian poet and artist Haia Mohammed, Palestinian journalist and co-founder of We Are Not Numbers Ahmed Alnaouq, and British-Syrian writer and activist lisa minerva luxx. Hosted by poet, essayist and publisher of Out-Spoken Press Anthony Anaxagorou. 

Raise the Bar’s Autumn show at Arnolfini brings together four powerful writers and performers for a dynamic evening of poetry on Palestine. 

Presented as part of Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2026, and in partnership with Out-Spoken Press.

⭐ LOWKEY ⭐

One of the UK’s most potent and electrifying rappers, Lowkey is a towering figure of the scene who renews the old tradition of conscious hip-hop activism for the war on terror generation. Fusing politically charged lyrics and deft dissection of topics such as race, war, global poverty and politics with anthemic choruses and unrelentingly energetic performance, Lowkey commands a keen and growing legion of followers – still treading new ground and generating fresh hysteria.

Lowkey is a hip hop artist and political campaigner. He has worked with Immortal Technique, Wretch 32, Akala, Dead Prez and Outlawz. His critically acclaimed music has received millions of streams on Spotify, sold over 25k albums digitally and garnered over 45 million YouTube views.

A vital voice in the global movement for Palestinian liberation, we are delighted he is returning to Bristol to headline this event, three years on from Raise the Bar’s first Poems on Palestine event.

⭐ HAIA MOHAMMED ⭐

Haia Mohammed is a Palestinian poet and artist from Gaza. Her work explores memory, land, and the intimate textures of survival, often weaving personal witness with collective history. Through poetry and visual art, she documents the fragile and resilient moments that shape Palestinian life. 

The Age of Olive Trees (Out-Spoken Press, 2025) is her debut pamphlet, written across years marked by displacement, longing, and the insistence on voice. Haia’s creative practice continues to expand across genres and borders.

⭐ AHMED ALNAOUQ ⭐

Ahmed Alnaouq is a Palestinian journalist and a co-founder of We Are Not Numbers. Originally from Gaza and currently based in London, Ahmed holds a master’s degree in international journalism from the University of Leeds, which he completed as a Chevening Scholar.

Ahmed is also a host with Palestine Deep Dive and co-editor of WE ARE NOT NUMBERS: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth, a collection bringing together the writing and lived experiences of young Palestinians from Gaza.

Over the years, Ahmed’s journalism, commentary, and writing on Palestine have appeared across a wide range of international media platforms. Through his journalism, public speaking, advocacy, and media work, he has focused on bringing Palestinian perspectives to international audiences and creating space for Palestinians to tell their own stories.

⭐ lisa minerva luxx ⭐

lisa minerva luxx is a British-Syrian writer and political activist. Their poetry, essays and fiction have been published internationally including by Poetry Review, Telegraph, New England Review, BBC Radio 4, Al Jazeera and their short film ‘Lesbian.’ was produced by Channel 4. In 2021 their debut collection, Fetch Your Mother’s Heart received critical acclaim. They are a platinum award-winning lyricist with Maison Arts, LA. They have written three verse plays including what the dog said to the harvest which premiered at Southbank Centre. Currently, studying their PhD in diaspora resistance poetics, they have also taught students at Columbia University (New York), American University of Beirut (Lebanon) and Queens Mary (London). In 2025 their short story collection, Raising the Sun, is set for release by Comma Press. 

luxx is a long-time grassroots organiser across England, Beirut and Syria. They believe in transnational community and direct action as a means of liberation.

⭐ RAISE THE BAR ⭐

Winner of the Sky Arts Award for Poetry (2026), Raise the Bar is South West England’s leading live poetry night, showcasing national and international poetry alongside local talent for over 10 years. As an artist development platform, Raise the Bar also runs open mics, workshops and writing retreats and courses for poets and writers.

“One of my absolute favourite poetry nights” - Hollie McNish

"One of the best poetry nights in the country" – Rafeef Ziadah

“Raise the Bar is one of the most professionally run and dynamically curated events in the country, poetry or otherwise” - Harry Baker

⭐ BRISTOL PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL ⭐

The Bristol Palestine Film Festival has been running since 2011. It takes place every December and showcases an exciting mix of Palestinian films, including documentaries, features and shorts, as well as music and arts events across a range of venues.

BPFF works with venues in Bristol including Watershed, Cube Microplex, Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre, and Arnolfini. BPFF screen films in community venues working with the Arab and Arabic speaking communities, and since 2018 have been working with venues and organisations outside Bristol to bring Palestinian films to the widest possible audience.

⭐ OUT-SPOKEN PRESS ⭐

Out-Spoken Press is an independent publisher of poetry and critical writing, established by Commissioning Editor Anthony Anaxagorou in 2015. The Press has been shortlisted for the British Book Awards’ Small Publisher of the Year in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and for the Michael Marks Publisher Award in 2024 and 2026. Press titles have won the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, and been shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Forward Prizes.

♿ ACCESSIBILITY / SAFEGUARDING ♿

Our events aim to be as safe, inclusive, accessible and welcoming as possible.

The venue is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets. For full venue accessibility information see https://arnolfini.org.uk/plan-your-visit/accessibility/

⚠ CONTENT WARNING ⚠ 

Poetry events include performers sharing personal accounts which you may relate to in some way. This may include content that is potentially upsetting or triggering. We provide a general content warning at the beginning of each event. 

SAFE SPACE 

Raise the Bar has a zero tolerance policy towards hate, discrimination and abuse of any kind. Our staff team will work together to ensure the space is respectful and welcoming at all times.

Part of Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2026.

See the full festival programme here: < u>https://bristolpff.org.uk< /u>