The encounter between the Halles and Palestine has been intense. Two years of preparing the artistic and cultural season MASARAT Palestine, two years of travelling between here and there, interwoven with thrilling encounters with our Palestinian friends, artists and intellectuals alike; and one month of an amazing Palestinian programme in all the areas of the Halles. Everyday during the month of Octobre, we have invited you to an exciting menu in our ‘Palestinian space’ set up by Els Opsomer with the help of Ann Weckx. From the permanent exhibition ‘Intimate Narrative’ in the basement and the movie showings for teens, to the conference cycle d’Ici et Là-bas, which had its great moments (Elias Sanbar/Jean-Luc Godard; Edouard Glissant/Edwi Plenel; Elia Suleiman/Leila Shahid…); the brunches on Sunday, where you could meet the week’s artists; the workshops of each week, where young Palestinian or Lebanese artists have met future young artists from here; the dance or theatre shows, the performances, the encounters and the debates, the poetry, the music and our Palestinian movie showings every night at 19.00. The programme having been so broad and so dense, the team of the Halles wishes to thank you for you presence, your curiosity and your regularity. And hopes to meet you during … the next instalment of the Halles in Palestine in December 2009!

Fabienne Verstraeten