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The Cedar Tree Project

The Cedar Tree Project (TCTP) encompasses a body of contemporary artistic work reflecting the rich cultures, creatives expressions and diverse perspectives of the Arab/SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) diaspora and region, curated by Lebanese American artist Sharon Mansur. TCTP includes performances, visual art installations and exhibitions, as well as workshops, community meals, panel discussions, artist talks, and other gatherings facilitated by Mansur and guest artists. See below for upcoming and past projects, and for more  information about community engagement activities please visit the Outreach page. 
2024-2025
Art Action for Palestine
December 7, 2024
Inspired by the art of Suhaib Tantoush
​Re-imagined at Levee Park, Winona, MN, Dakota land,  
in collaboration with The Cedar Tree Project, Mary Jo Klinker, Community Not Cages, InSite Arts & Healing and Winona community members.
2023-2024


Motion State 
​A creative project where Sharon Mansur and collaborators explored the concept of diaspora through  film creation, film screenings and creative community workshops with the 2024 Frozen River Film Festival, Our  Voices, Project FINE and the
​Winona Afghan Support Network.

Facilitated by Sharon Mansur, with partners:
Mizna film curator Michelle Baroody,  dance/film artist Meryl Zaytoun Murman and Winona's  Frozen River Film Festival.
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Sharon Mansur is a fiscal year 2023 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the
​arts and culture fund.
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photo: Meryl Zaytoun Murman
2024 McKnight International Choreographer Residency
   with  Meryl Zaytoun Murman
Residency partner: Sharon Mansur/The Cedar Tree Project
​Artists: Gloria Alicia Alatorre, Mary Lee Eischen, Sharon Mansur, Marcia Ratliff, Zil Ricker
Hosted by Prairie Island Campground
​Winona, Mni Sota Makoce/MN  Dakota land

The McKnight Residency in Minnesota was made possible by the McKnight International Choreographer Residency Program,
funded by the McKnight Foundation and administered by ArtSpace. 
This project was also supported by a Forecast Public Art
​Mid-Career Professional Development grant with funding from
The McKnight Foundation, and Winona community partners:  Art of the Rural, Prairie Island Campground, and Theatre du Mississippi.

2020-2022

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Najla Mohamed - Photo by Leila Awadallah
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Photo from Sharon Mansur's 2018 trip to Lebanon.

Western Sahara and Palestine:
​an evening of artistic resistance against occupation

Film, poetry, story sharing, and dance to raise awareness concerning the occupations of Western Sahara and Palestine. 

1001 Arab Futures 

An outdoor multi-media dance performance/art event and re-imagined dance film, co-created by Yara Boustany (Beirut, Lebanon), Andrea Shaker (Minneapolis) & Mette Loulou von Kohl (New York City) with  Sharon Mansur (Winona, Minnesota)

2018-2019 

Lebanon, USA

A photography exhibition and residency by Lebanese photographer Fadi BouKaram, featuring his two remarkable road trips across the U.S. to visit all the towns named Lebanon

Za'atar

An evening of contemporary dance by SWANA artists Leila Awadallah (Minneapolis), Sharon Mansur  (Winona) & Leyya Mona Tawil (California)

Dreaming Under a Cedar Tree

Mansur's immersive, multi-media, site-specific solo performance, meal and discussion event, re-imagined

2017-2018 

Dreaming Under a Cedar Tree

Sharon's immersive solo event  that sparked the beginning of The Cedar Tree Project. 
Funded by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC), with additional support from Art of the Rural