HOME | EVENTS | PRESS | SPONSORS | EDUCATION | GET INVOLVED | WHO'S WHO | CONTACT
EventsPlease choose from the regions below or scroll down to see all events: From: 05 November 2005 To: 24 February 2006 A Building Tradition: The work of The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts An exhibition of the work of students in the School, the only UK institution that gives practical training in the skills of creating traditional Islamic arts at MA and PhD levels. Approximately 100 works shown including architectural drawings, stained glass, illumination, woodcarvings, tile and glass panels and ceramic pieces, watercolours and paintings. A series of educational panels presented Geometry in Nature, The Geometry of Structure, Pattern and Design and the Building of Crafts, amongst other works.
Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG Tel: 0207 613 8500 www.princesschooltraditionalarts.org From: 03 December 2005 To: 05 February 2006 It´s Still Hard Being British Cartwright Hall, Bradford The first of a series of exhibitions looking at the term - ´British´ and ´Muslim. The ´Still´ of the title hints at the trouble some young British-born Muslims have in dealing with their dual identity - despite the expectations of their immigrant parents. This exhibition showcases the work of two young artists of Pakistani origin - one based in London, Faiza Butt and the other in Melbourne, Naeem Rana. Photographs of pop celebrities poised between painting and sculpture, digitally manipulated prints and ´psychedelic pop´ conceal observations of social and intercultural relations.
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Lister Park, Bradford BD9 4NS 01274 431212 www.bradfordmuseums.org From: 04 January 2006 To: 30 April 2006 Issam El Said Aya Gallery Aya Gallery hosted this exhibition of a unique collection of works by one of Iraq’s most original and multi-talented artists, the late Issam El Said (1933-88). The exhibition was the first ever presented since the artist’s death and included works in various media, some of which had never been shown before as well as examples of Iraqi art drawn from Aya Gallery’s own in-house collection.
Aya Gallery, 15 Fulham High St, London SW6 3JH Tel: 020 7371 5050 www.ayagallery.co.uk
Contemporary Pakistani Printmakers’ Exhibition Contemporary Pakistani Printmakers’ Exhibition
To celebrate the Festival of Muslim Cultures: UK 2006 Swansea Print Workshop initiated a cultural exchange with two print makers from
Pakistan and a diverse programme of workshops with communities in Swansea. The opening exhibition featured over sixty works by ten artists from all regions of Pakistan, reflecting the visual and methodological diversity of their art world. Featuring a variety of printmaking techniques, the exhibition highlighted some contemporary issues as seen through the eyes of these artists. Following the showing in the Swansea, the exhibition toured Wales.
Ceri Richards Gallery, Taliesin Arts Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA2 8PZ. 01792 296883 www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
Palace and Mosque Millennium Galleries, Sheffield
An international tour from one of the most renowned Islamic art collections in the world. The exhibition showed a selection of objects from the V&A, which had been on tour in America and Japan and subsequently returned to London for the opening of the new Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art in July 2006. The 120 items shown are part of one of the world’s most extensive collections of Islamic art from the
Middle East, dating from the eighth to the nineteenth centuries. Included among them were the Chelsea Carpet, an outstanding example of Iranian weaving dating from the early 16th century; an Iznik vase from the imperial treasury at Topkapi; a miniature painting of the Romance of Khusraw and Shirin painted in Safavid Iran; and a magnificent fritware fireplace from Ottoman Turkey.
0114 278 2600 www.vam.ac.uk
Through a Glass Brightly Millennium Gallery, Sheffield Artists’ reflections on ‘Palace and Mosque’ created by glass-workers Kalim Aszal and Farhad Ahrarnia.
Millennium Gallery, Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2PP 0114 278 2600 www.sheffieldgalleries.org.uk
Egyptian Landscapes: Fifty Years of tapestry weaving at the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre Cairo Brunei Gallery, SOAS This exhibition of colourful tapestries celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the celebrated “experiment in creativity”, initiated by Ramses Wissa Wassef near Giza. The works demonstrated the progress of the weavers during the 20 years since the 1985/6 UK touring exhibition and introduced the philosophy and the tapestries to a new generation in Britain. The display consisted of masterpieces from the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre’s permanent collection together with new wool and cotton weavings and batiks. Two weavers set up their looms in the gallery to demonstrate their art. SOAS Brunei Gallery, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG Ramses Wissa Wassef Exhibition Trust Tel: 0207 276 1034
www.wissa-wassef-arts.com
From: 28 January 2006 To: 03 March 2006 Ashura Filmhouse, Edinburgh A collection of photographs shot during Ashura in Iran, the tenth day of the Muslim month of Muharram, by Esther Sabetpour. The day marks the day when Husayn, the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammed and third imam of the Shias, was killed during the battle of Karbala in 680 AD. It is a day of lament that expresses the suffering of the Shia Muslims throughout history as well as the present day. Filmhouse Cinema, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ 0131 228 2688 (telephone bookings) www.filmhousecinema.com From: 02 February 2006 To: 09 February 2006 Atash Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh The debut feature from Palestinian filmmaker Tawfik Abu Wael with Assaf Sudry’s striking cinematography, Wissam Gibran’s fine music, and strong first-time performances from a cast of non-professionals. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not allowed to cast a shadow over the familial tensions. This is a film about freedom and rebellion, need and desire, fear and oppression, tradition and change. From: 07 February 2006 To: 07 February 2006 East Lancashire Festival of Muslim Cultures Launch St Mary’s Chambers Conference Event to launch and celebrate the Festival of Muslim Cultures in Lancashire will included Hazal County Councillor and Dr Chandia. St Mary’s Chambers Conference and Function Centre, Haslinden Road, BB4 6QX 01254 300479 From: 10 February 2006 To: 11 February 2006 Baraka, Letters From the Heart Sheffield Theatres Based on letters written by parents to their children, this performance was inspired and created by children, young people and adults through a mosaic of stories capturing the wide and diverse experiences of Muslim childhood. This performance, created as part of Sheffield Theatres’ Creative Development Programme in association with Sheffield Children’s Festival linked to the Millennium Galleries’ exhibition ‘Palace and Mosque’. Crucible Studio, Sheffield Theatres, Norfolk St, Sheffield S1 1DA 0114 249 5999 From: 27 February 2006 To: 31 March 2006 Contemporary Pakistani Printmakers’ Exhibition Sultan of Lancaster Gallery Sultan of Lancaster Gallery The exhibition features over sixty works by ten artists from all regions of Pakistan, reflecting the visual and methodological diversity of their art world. With a variety of printmaking techniques, the exhibition highlights some contemporary issues as seen through the eyes of the artists. Sultan of Lancaster Art Gallery 16a Brock Street, Lancaster LA1 1UU www.sultanoflancaster.com From: 03 March 2006 To: 09 March 2006 Exils (Exiles) Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh While some Algerians leave for the relative prosperity of France and the EU, Zano and Naima head in the opposite direction. Zano impulsively suggests that they head off to Algeria, the land of his father, an anti-colonial activist. Naima, also of Arab descent, agrees. As the couple head down through Spain to North Africa, they become calmer and gentler as they get closer to the spiritual wellspring of Arab culture. An engaging and visually striking film. From: 05 March 2006 To: 07 March 2006 Sisters in Law Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh A fascinating, often hilarious look at the work of one small courthouse in Cameroon. The tough-minded state prosecutor Vera Ngasssa and court president Beatrice Ntuba are helping women in their Muslim village find the courage to fight what are often difficult cases of abuse, despite pressures from family and their community to remain silent. With fierce compassion, they dispense justice in fair measure, handing down stiff sentences to those convicted. From: 10 March 2006 To: 22 May 2006 The New Scots National Library of Scotland Fifty colour photographs highlighted the diversity of Asian lifestylesand cultures in Scotland, from Dumfries to Stornoway. Photographer Herman Rodrigues recorded community history, new immigration, religions, professions, activities, historical buildings – and the Sikh Scottish tartan. Visitors to the exhibition also saw some of the wealth of material relating to Scotland´s Asian communities which is held in NLS collections including books, letters, pamphlets and posters, and translations of Robert Burns´s poetry into Urdu and Punjabi. National Library of Scotland George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW. 0131 623 3845From: 11 March 2006 To: 01 June 2006 Calligraphy Exhibition St Fagan’s National History Museum An exploration of Arabic, English and Welsh calligraphy produced by community groups in collaboration with Muslim artist Mohamed Hamza
02920 573500 www.museumwales.ac.uk From: 13 March 2006 To: From Bangla-beat to Afro-beat Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Asia House showcased a fusion of traditional and contemporary Bangladeshi Music on the South Bank. The concert explored the musical roots of Bangladesh from the homeless through to the world famous with three great bands. Rob Fakir and Shahjahan Munshi played traditional Baul-inspired music; Ektaar All Stars led by Ornob, represented the new generation of Bangladeshi musicians; and Lokhi Terra, led by London-based Bangladeshi pianist and composer Kishon Khan, mixed these with other musical traditions, from Cuban Rumba to Nigerian Afro-beat. With special guest Fazal Querishi on tabla.
Asia House 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP Tel: 020 7307 5454 www.asiahouse.org From: 17 March 2006 To: 17 March 2006 Zaina, Rider of the Atlas (French with English Subtitles) Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh This mixture of fairytale and high adventure set in the mountains of Morocco starts with the funeral of Selma, mother of 11-year-old Zaina, whom she had raised on her own after being abandoned by Zaina’s father, Mustapha. Selma had won a horse race disguised as a man, forcing Mustapha to disown her. Passing through town on his way to the latest horse race, Mustapha is confronted by the daughter he never knew he had. Spectacular and breathtaking, Zaina won the audience award at the Locarno International Film Festival. From: 21 March 2006 To: 21 March 2006 “Inclusion or Isolation — Muslims in the West”, lecture by Tariq Ramadan Cardiff University Julian Hodge Lecture Theatre, Cardiff University, Column Drive, off Column Road, Cathays, Cardiff
029 2034 4555 www.muslimcouncilwales.org From: 24 March 2006 To: 30 March 2006 Crossing the Bridge: the Sound of Istanbul (English, German and Turkish with English subtitles) Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh Multi-award-winning director Fatih Akin returns from the success of Head On with a musical odyssey following Alexander Hacke around Istanbul recording the city’s eclectic music scene. Hacke meets hairy rockers, fervent buskers, wrecked Romanies, persecuted Kurds and crinkly popsters, as well as some of the nicest – yet still credible – rappers you’re ever likely to encounter. The film is an absorbing portrait of the city that bridges Europe and Asia, and an exploration of the musical concept of East-meets-West.
Lands of Enchantment Kufa Gallery Lands of Enchantment was the third exhibition by Halla Ayla Shakarchi, presented as part of the international project, The Arab World Unveiled. It was a photographic mixed-media exhibition of images taken from her journeys through Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. In this series of exhibitions on the Arab world Shakarchi aimed to unveil the unique allure, beauty and vibrancy of the region, its monuments and its people. Her hope in carrying these images from East to West was that they would act as bridges, illuminating a greater dimension of the Arabs, and their incredibly rich culture, and thus reveal the more enchanting aspects of this very misunderstood region. Kufa Gallery 26 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RH 020 7229 1928
From: 29 April 2006 To: 18 March 2006 Art & Islam Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery
A year-long series of exhibitions that showcased the work of both established and emerging Muslim artists, as well as artists whose work is inspired by Muslim cultures. The exhibitions celebrated artistic talent from across the
West Midlands, representing a broad range of artwork in different styles, media and subject matter.
29 April – 2 July 2006 ´Art & Islam: Shaheen Ahmed & Khaver Idrees´ Venue: Gallery 28, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
8 July – 3 September 2006 ´Art & Islam: Dilwara Begum & Syra Miah´ Venue: Gallery 28, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
9 September – 12 November 2006 ´Art & Islam: Halima Cassell & Gail Troth´ Venue: Gallery 28, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
18 November 2006 –14 January 2007 ´Art & Islam: Mohsen Keiany´ Venue: Gallery 28, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
20 January - 18 March 2007 ´Art & Islam: Jafar Dabiri & Unaiza Karim´ Venue: Gallery 28, Birmingham 9 September - 29 October 2006 ´Art & Islam: Arsha Arshad, Thea Brown & Tariq Ali Khaliq´ Venue: Blakesley Hall
15 July - 29th October 2006 ´Art & Islam: Aerosolarabic´ Venue: Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
3 July – 29 October 2006 ´Sisters´ (Clement Cooper) Venue: Aston Hall
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH 0121 303 2834
Blakesley Hall, Blakesley Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8RN 0121 464 2193
Aston Hall, Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6JD 0121 327 0062
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, 75-79 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6HA 0121 554 3598 www.bmag.org.uk/ From: 05 May 2006 To: 03 June 2006 Child of the Divide Polka Theatre A play for 8 to 14 year olds, Child of the Divide is set during partition on India and centres around Pali, a young Hindu boy who gets separated from his parents. Adopted by a Muslim family, he learns to embrace Islam and his new identity. Seven years later life comes full circle when he is reunited with his Hindu roots. At the heart of the piece are the stories of four other children. Scarred by their experiences, they forge friendships across religious divides and challenge the prejudices of the adults.
Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8545 4888 From: 05 May 2006 To: 15 June 2006 Tears of the Ancient City: Paintings By Suad Al-Attar Leighton House One of the most celebrated contemporary Middle Eastern artists, with work in many private and public collections worldwide, Suad has lived in London since 1976 and, like many Iraqis, her response to the bombing of Baghdad in 2003 aroused powerful and complex emotions. She produced five large-scale works for this exhibition that were a moving testament to the suffering of her people.
Leighton House Museum 12 Holland Park, London W14 020 7602 3316 From: 10 May 2006 To: 10 May 2006 Celebrate the New Scots National Library of Scotland The cultural delights of Scottish Asian life were celebrated with an evening of photography, poetry, music and dance. Photographer Herman Rodrigues gave an illustrated virtual tour of the Asian communities he has documented across Scotland, followed by poetry from Bashabi Fraser, author of Tartan and Turban, and music and dance from Bani and Indrani Bhattacharya, of Scotland’s only Asian language music group, Sangeet Mala.
Kalila wa Dimna or the Mirror for Princes Barbican Centre Acclaimed Kuwaiti writer-director Sulayman Al-Bassam presented his latest production: a radical adaptation of one of the masterpieces of Eastern culture, the fables of ‘Kalila wa Dimna’. Intended originally as a book of council for kings – literally ‘a mirror for princes’ – these subtle and philosophical animal fables still carry immense significance. From India, via Persia, the tales reached the Arab world through the pen of Ibn al-Muqaffa, court scribe, wit and radical reformer. This exciting new theatre production located the work in its original historical context, in Iraq around 750 AD, one of the most turbulent moments of Islamic history, the resonances of which continue to be felt today. A special Gala Performance of Kalila wa Dimna was held on Thursday 11th May at the Barbican Centre in the presence of the patron of the play, Sheikha Hussah al Sabah of Kuwait. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. 020 7638 8891 Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW 01865 305305
From: 13 May 2006 To: 13 May 2006 New Scots Family Event National Library of Scotland A day of Muslim cultures activities from Indian tabla drumming to Japanese calligraphy, getting your hands henna painted or designing your own prayer rug. Was advertised as suitable for families with children over 7 years. From: 13 May 2006 To: Writing Turkey: Then and Now School of Arts, Middlesex University A group of internationally famous writers, novelists, historians, journalists and broadcasters discussed aspects of Turkey’s past and present contributions to world culture in the context of Turkey’s bid for EU membership. Speakers included award-winning novelist Elif Shafak, poet Alev Adil, Maureen Freely (translator of Orhan Pamuk’s novels), Mehmet Ali Birand of Kanal 5 TV, Istanbul, CNN-Turk reporter Andrew Finkel, and HE Dr Akin Alptuna, Turkey’s Ambassador to Great Britain. From: 13 May 2006 To: 13 May 2006 “Confinement to Conversion”, lecture by Yvonne Ridley Cardiff University Julian Hodge Lecture Theatre, Cardiff University, Column Drive, off Column Road, Cathays, Cardiff
Frank Gardner In the City London To coincide with the publication of his book “Blood and Sand” the BBC’s security correspondent and a member of the Festival’s Honorary Board discussed his experiences of Muslim cultures and the Muslim world at BT’s head office. There was an opportunity to meet Frank and other supporters of the Festival, and to buy the book. From: 18 May 2006 To: 21 June 2006 Arabic Poetry and Calligraphy Workshop National Library of Scotland A celebration of the Year of Muslim Cultures with a free workshop led by celebrated Palestinian poet and refugee Ghazi Hussein. The incredible and moving story of Ghazi’s life was explored through his poetry and prose, plus an introduction to the art of calligraphy. From: 19 May 2006 To: 16 July 2007 Expression of Faith Exhibition Craft in the Bay Contemporary Islamic art made by artists working and living in the UK. This is an exhibition of highly modern work based on traditional Islamic patterns and styles.
Artists: Akhter Hussain, Taslim Rashid, Emma Ismaiel, The Asian Gateway, Syeda Suraya Khalique, Mohammed Ali and Nuzhat Khanim.
Cardiff 02920 484611 www.makersguildinwales.org.ukFrom: 26 May 2006 To: Sufism and Islamic Art Tate Britain Sufism attempts to capture the abstract nature of God through the practice of geometry, biomorphic forms, and calligraphy. This study day examined the links between Sufism and traditional Islamic arts, the Sufic quest for knowledge and its reflection in art, and the continuity of the tradition, particularly in the West. The day was artist-led and included visual displays, lectures, a practical workshop and discussions on contemporary practice in the UK. The speakers included Paul Marchant from the Prince´s Foundation; Zarah Hussain, artist specialising in Islamic geometry; and Peter Sanders, photographer.
Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG Box Office 020 7887 8888 www.tate.org.uk
Sidi Goma UK Tour Arts Depot A music and dance performance by the mysterious, little known Sidis who are descendants of Africans who have travelled across the Indian Ocean from East Africa to India over the last 1000 years. As Sufi Muslim devotees of an African saint and symbolic ancestor, their sacred songs praise the gift of Joy. 30 May Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 31 May The Brewery, Kendal 1 June The Sage, Newcastle 2 June Clocktower, Croydon 4 June Arts Depot, London 7 June Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
020 7095 9566 (KAPA)
From: 06 June 2006 To: 30 July 2006 Somali Elders: Portraits From Wales National Museum Cardiff Powerful colour photographic portraits by Glenn Jordan, director of the Butetown History and Arts Centre, of the Somali community in Tiger Bay. There has been a Somali presence in the UK for over 100 years and a long-established community in south Wales dating back four generations. Many of the community elders worked for 40 years or more, both in heavy industry and in the Merchant Navy. Some of them served Britain in the First World War and in the Falklands. This is the first time their history had been documented.
02920 397951 www.museumwales.ac.uk
Visit to the New Building Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was established in 1985 to encourage a more informed understanding of Islam – its culture and civilization. Construction has now begun on a new purpose-built facility in the heart of the city, designed to bring into a single harmony some of the best features of traditional Islamic and
Oxford architecture. Although the fit-out of the interior sections are still underway, the building’s outer structure, its ‘shell and core’, are fully complete. Designed by the well-known architect Professor A.W El Wakil, the design follows traditional Islamic principles featuring numerous arches and vaulted soffits within the 125,000 sq ft structure. When complete, fellows and students will be able to enjoy a new lecture theatre, double storey dining areas, a library, exhibition gallery, office accommodation and study and residential rooms. The Prayer Hall, Quadrangle and minaret Tower are certain to become Oxford landmarks, whilst the formal Islamic garden will become a sanctuary for both members and visitors alike.
Guided tours of the new building at the Centre 10am-4pm New Building, Marston Road, Oxford, OX1 2AR. 01865 278730
Tengir Too - Mountain Music from Kyrgyzstan National Museum of Wales National Museum of Wales, in partnership with Beyond The Border Storytelling Festival A series of evening concerts of traditional music by a leading Kyrgyz group who visited the UK under the auspices of the Aga Khan’s Music Initiative in Central Asia. Kyrgyz music is rooted in the sensibility of nomads who inhabit a spectacular landscape of mountains, lakes and pristine grasslands. The elemental energies of wind and water can be heard in their remarkable music. 9 June Theatre Mwldan, Cardigan 01239 621200 www.mwldan.co.uk 10 June National Museum, Cardiff 02920 397951 www.museumwales.ac.uk 11 June Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea 01792 602060 www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk From: 19 June 2006 To: 25 June 2006 Refugee Week National Waterfront Museum Cultural awareness days for Asylum Seekers.
01792 638960 From: 24 June 2006 To: 02 September 2006 Patterns of Identity Bilston Craft Gallery – Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service An exhibition that explored surface pattern and geometric design in contemporary craft. Work from a variety of disciplines by Muslim craftsmen was showcased, as well as work by makers who had been inspired by Muslim culture or geometric design. Bilston Craft Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 7LU. 01902 552505 From: 27 June 2006 To: 27 July 2006 Cricket Scotland Scotland v Pakistan One Day International Cricket Scotland’s first official One Day International fixture since winning the 2005 ICC Trophy and securing a world ranking of 12th held as part of Scotland’s preparations for the 2007 World Cup. Pakistan were riding high in world cricket after recent test match series victories against England and India and match captured the interest of the Scottish sporting public.
Citylets Grange, Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1HQ
0131 229 4174 (Citylets Grange) From: 02 July 2006 To: 02 July 2006 Only Half of Me – Rageh Omar National Museum Cardiff Rageh Omar in conversation with Jon Cower and the launch of his new book Only Half of Me. This was combined with an event for the Somali community in Cardiff at the Butetown History and Arts Centre.
02920 397951 www.museumwales.ac.uk
Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Bluecoat Arts Centre and Liverpool Arabic Centre With 27 events taking place in venues across the city, this was the 5th year of the Festival. It opened on 2 July with the popular Family Day in Sefton Park Palm House and continued with sufi grooves from Algerian Fantazia; brass and whirling ouds from James Brown; Rai singing from Cheb Nacim; Palestinian hip-hop dancers from the streets of Gaza and a screening of “A New Day in Old Sana’a”, the first Yemeni feature film. Unity Theatre is showing “Sabrine”, a tale of belly-dancing and the politics that surround it and “Texterminators”, a play by Mai Ghoussoub about censorship that premiered in Beirut. Tel: 0151 709 5297 www.bluecoatartscentre.com
Trio Joubran Theatr Mwldan
A concert tour of
Wales by one of Palestine’s finest Arab classical music groups. Le Trio Joubran comprises three amazing young brothers – Samir, Wissam and Adnan Joubran – natives of the Galilean city of Nazareth, all scholars and masters of the traditional maqam, with a repertoire of oud music that is subtle, peaceful and meditative.
4 July Theatr Mwldan 01239 621200 www.mwldan.co.uk 5 July Aberstwyth Arts Centre 01970 623232 6 July Queen’s Hall, Narbeth 01834 869323 7 July Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech 01766 780667 8 July Taliesin Arts Centre 01792 602060 www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
Hamra Abbas Gasworks/V&A Museum Pakistani artist Hamra Abbas visited London with sponsorship from the Festival of Muslim Cultures in a twelve-week residency at Gasworks and in collaboration with the V&A museum. The residency was an opportunity for Hamra to develop new work in response to the V&A’s collection of miniature paintings.
Hamra Abbas’ practice takes a light-hearted and satirical view of some of the issues and ethics around miniature paintings. By isolating certain figures or removing them from their original context, she highlights their relevance to contemporary lifestyles. Her work takes a variety of forms including sculpture, painting, installation and video. Using these media she lifts miniature paintings off their two dimensional form on the page, transforming them into spatial works that engage critically with some of the debates surrounding modern religion and contemporary society.
Gasworks, 155 Vauxhall Street, London SE11 5RH (0)20 7582 6848 www.vam.ac.uk From: 12 July 2006 To: 11 August 2006 Karamah Kaftan Kouture Leighton House London Islamic artist Karimah Bint Dawoud presented her fashion exhibition with a collection of garments influenced by the Oriental interior of Leighton House museum and its artefacts. She produced a collection of garments, photographs and painting and textile work that interpreted Orientalism from the perspective of a Muslim woman living in the west and shaped by the east, focusing on the prominent women in the life of the Prophet.
12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ. Tel: 020 7602 3316 www.karamaharts.com
Beyond the Palace Walls: Islamic Art from The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg Royal Museum, Edinburgh This unique and outstanding exhibition was especially created for the National Museums of Scotland by the curators at the State Hermitage Museum, and featured spectacular ceramics, paintings, textiles, carpets, jewellery, arms and armour, including many artefacts never seen outside Russia.
The centrepiece of the exhibition was a magnificently embroidered Ottoman tent that visitors were able to enter. The exhibition explored the diversity and complexity of several Islamic cultures across the world and through the ages, from Egypt to China, and looked at the cross-cultural exchanges between eastern and western styles.
Royal Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
0131 247 4422
www.nms.ac.uk
From: 15 July 2006 To: Day of Turkish Sufism, Music, Poetry and Arts with Latif Bolat St Marks Church A day-long workshop followed by a concert by Latif Bolat. There were lectures on Turkish history, religions and music as well as the mystical poetry of the Sufi dervishes. Participants were encouraged to bring their own musical instruments for the hands-on teaching sessions. One of the most well-known Turkish musicians in the U.S., Latif Bolat plays Turkish folk music and devotional Sufi songs. Accompanying himself on baglama (Turkish long-necked lute), Latif sings of love and the spirit, with many songs featuring the lyrics of the great 13th-century mystical poets Rumi and Yunus Emre. St Marks Church, Myddleton Square, London EC1 0794 448 9527 www.caravansary.org/events From: 16 July 2006 To: 16 July 2006 Abida Parveen in concert The Sage, Gateshead This Pakistani superstar is the uncrowned queen of Sufi singing. Her inimitable Qawwali style and powerful stage presence make her performances unforgettable. Much in demand, she travels the world, uniting a global community through the international language of music. Parveen specialises in Ghazals, Sufiana kalaam and Punjabi folk songs. This event was part of the Muslim Arts Festival in Newcastle created by the Pakistan Cultural Society as a contribution to the Festival of Muslim Cultures programme. The Sage, Gateshead, Hall One Tel: 0191 4434661 www.thesagegateshead.org
Deep in the Frozen Night Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Local British Asian theatre company, Mona Media, created a new play based on the
Pakistan earthquake. The story revolves around a British teenager, a “nobody”, desperate to earn some street cred, who finds herself in the middle of a turf war and needs an escape route. She heads for Pakistan “home of da ancestors”, and soon finds herself caught up in the aftermath of the earthquake. In a camp for the homeless in Kashmir she meets three quirky, dispossessed women. Together they journey towards their individual “truths”.
The performance raised funds for The Lord Mayor’s Earthquake Appeal. Theatre Royal, Nottingham Theatre Royal Box Office: 0115 989 5555; 0115 978 5945 www.monamedia.org.uk www.deepfrozen.org.uk From: 20 July 2006 To: 20 July 2006 Arts and Islam Seminar Newcastle Muslim Arts Festival A free one-day seminar that explored the arts of Islam with writer and presenter Jameela Siddiqui, Palestian singer Reem Kelani, storytelling from Khayaal Theatre, a talk from Mark Robinson (Executive Director, Arts Council England, Northeast), paintings by Ulfah Arts and a screening of the TV documentary “Sufi Soul: The Mystical Music of Islam”.
This event was part of the Muslim Arts Festival in Newcastle created by the Pakistan Cultural Society as a contribution to the Festival of Muslim Cultures programme.
The People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Tel: 0191 2743030
Islamic Ceramics The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery
Exquisite pottery from
Iran, Turkey and Spain were featured in this exhibition from the Museum’s collection. The show was a wonderful opportunity to see all kinds of superb ceramics.
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Cultural Quarter, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3DW Tel: 01782 232323 www.stoke.gov.uk/museumsFrom: 23 July 2006 To: 23 July 2006 Qawwali Evening Newcastle Muslim Arts Festival Bakhshi Javed Salamat (BJS) teamed up with the UK samba band Sambangra to create an electrifying performance under the name Samsalamat. When Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died in 1997 the art of Sufi Qawwali took a huge body blow, but there is no doubt that Bakhshi Javed Salamat carries the art of Qawwali forward. This event was part of the Muslim Arts Festival in Newcastle created by the Pakistan Cultural Society as a contribution to the Festival of Muslim Cultures programme. The Journal Tyne Theatre Tel: 0191 2743030 www.bjspk.com/sam.html From: 26 July 2006 To: Charity, Orphans and Foundlings in the pre-Modern Islamic World The Foundling Museum A guest lecture by Professor Gerald Hawting, Professor of Middle East History at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University on how the Muslim world tackled the issues of orphans, charity and foundlings. The Foundling Hospital in Coram’s Fields (near King’s Cross) was founded in 1739 and was a major milestone for both childcare and charities in Britain. Throughout the day the Museum’s Coram Café offered Moroccan flavours and music. The Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, London www.foundlingmuseum.org.ukFrom: 28 July 2006 To: 31 July 2006 Sufi Music Festival Essex Unitarian Church A long weekend of workshops, concerts and poetry readings in Islington and Notting Hill, London. The concerts included performances by the Nihavend Ensemble, flute-playing and poems from Rumi by Paul Cheneur, and Peyman Nasehpour (drumming workshops). The Festival ended on Monday evening with an exploration of Sufi meditation. St Marks Church, Myddleton Square, London EC1 Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, Notting Hill Gate, London W8 0794 448 9527 www.caravansary.org/festival From: 30 July 2006 To: 30 July 2006 Mushira (Urdu Poetry) Newcastle Muslim Arts Festival An evening of Urdu poetry. This event was part of the Muslim Arts Festival in Newcastle created by the Pakistan Cultural Society as a contribution to the Festival of Muslim Cultures programme.
Gosforth Civic Hall, Regent Centre, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne 0191 284 2586 From: 31 July 2006 To: 26 August 2006 Festival of Muslim Cultures Print Project Swansea Print Workshop
Following their exhibition of contemporary print-makers from
Pakistan earlier in the year, Swansea Print Workshop showed the results of the outreach programme when two of the artists from Pakistan (Atif Khan and Alim Khan) taught in schools and communities in Swansea. The workshops produced astonishing and accomplished prints by Welsh children, Muslim women, asylum seekers, college students and others, while making it possible to exchange understanding of Muslim and non - Muslim cultures.
www.swanseaprintworkshop.org.uk
“Bulha” Riverside Studios
Ajoka, one of
Pakistan’s leading theatre companies, presented their play about the life of the Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah. Performed in Punjabi and Urdu, the play carries a message about love and tolerance from the times of the downfall of the Mughal empire in the mid 18th-century. Bulleh Shah’s Kafis were sung by the actors and a Qawwal party (Javed Bashir and others), celebrating the rich and vibrant culture of the Punjab.
Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6 020 8237 1111 www.riversidestudios.co.uk From: 04 August 2006 To: 06 August 2006 World Sufi Festival Association of Poetry and Music, Glasgow Glasgow hosted Scotland’s first-ever World Sufi Festival. It was an entertaining and enchanting weekend with events inside and outside the Tramway, showcasing performers, artists, crafts, fashion, poetry, theatre and film. Highlights from oversees included renowned Pakistani singers Salamat Ali and Azra Riaz; Gafoor Khan Manganiyar from Rajasthan, folk troupe Joler Gann from Bangladesh and Bakshi Javaid from England. A performance of the play Bulha by Ajoka Theatre (see London events section) was given on Sunday 6 August at Tramway 1. www.sufifestival.org
Prom 29: Radio Tarifa and Dimi Mint Abba Royal Albert Hall, Kensington This late-night Prom showcased music from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar. With its fertile mix of styles, drawing together Iberian, Moorish, Yiddish, North African and Middle Eastern music, from the past and present, into one uniquely adventurous melting-pot, Spain´s Radio Tarifa should brought this concert to a roaring climax. This was the last concert before Radio Tarifa disbanded. Due to the death of Cheikha Rimitti, the concert was changed to include a performance by Dimi Mint Abba, from Mauritania. Box office: 0207589 8212 www.bbc.co.uk/proms From: 07 August 2006 To: 30 September 2006 Connections Waterfront Museum This exhibition told the story of immigration to Britain and explores the relationships and connections between established communities.
01792 638950 www.waterfrontmuseum.ac.uk From: 08 August 2006 To: 08 August 2006 “Bullha” Gosforth Civic Hall Ajoka, one of Pakistan’s leading theatre companies, presented their play about the life of the Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah. Performed in Punjabi and Urdu, the play carries a message about love and tolerance from the times of the downfall of the Mughal empire in the mid 18th-century. Bulleh Shah’s Kafis are sung by the actors and a Qawwal party, celebrating the rich and vibrant culture of the Punjab. This event was part of the Muslim Arts Festival in Newcastle created by the Pakistan Cultural Society as a contribution to the Festival of Muslim Cultures programme.
Gosforth Civic Hall, Regent Centre, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne 0191 284 2586
The Emperor’s Terrapin Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden Carved from one of the largest pieces of jade in existence, the Emperor’s Terrapin is believed to have once decorated the palace garden of an Indian Moghul Prince in the 1600s. On loan from the British Museum, this is the first time the terrapin has been on show around the UK.
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR1 1PP Tel: 0191 553 2323 www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland From: 09 August 2006 To: Special Quwaali Performance St Ethelburga’s A special performance by Javed Bashir and Party and Arif Ali on Wednesday 9 August at the Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.
78 Bishopsgate London EC4 www.stethelburgas.com From: 21 August 2006 To: 03 September 2006 Night Journey St Fagans National History Museum Folk tales from the Middle East. Families Welcome. MORE INFO PLEASE
02920 573500 www.museumwales.ac.uk From: 27 August 2006 To: Medieval Traders’ Day - Castle Park Festival Jewry Wall Museum, Leicester An exciting day spent exploring Britain’s medieval trade links with the Muslim world. This was an invitation to discover the exotic spices in the medieval market, taste foods from around the Muslim world, handle real medieval objects and try your hand at Arabic calligraphy. Mohammed Seddon from The Islamic Foundation presented a slideshow talk on Britain’s medieval trade with the Muslim world. In association with the Islamic Society of Britain. Jewry Wall Museum, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester. Tel: 0116 252 7374/0116 252 7335 www.leicester.gov.uk/castleparkfestival
Orientalism Gallery Trail Wallace Collection, London The Wallace Collection, housed in what was a private mansion, is one of London´s best-kept secrets. This trail around the collections leads to a 15th-century Mosque lamp, orientalist paintings, an Islamic metalwork dish and Tipu Sultan´s sword, amongst others. It is suitable for adults and children and the free leaflet can be picked up at the front of the Museum. See related events elsewhere in this calendar. Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London Open daily 10am 5pm. Free www.wallacecollection.org Tel: 020 7563 9500
Beyond the Page: Contemporary Art from Pakistan Asia House Gallery
The work of six contemporary Pakistani artists who transform miniature paintings beyond the limitations of medium, technique and tradition was presented. Site-specific installations and newly commissioned works were on show simultaneously in
London’s Asia House and the Manchester Art Gallery. Works by Hamra Abbas, Aisha Khalid, Mohammed Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Hasnat Mahmood and Usman Saeed were included.
The exhibition was curated by Hammad Nasar, the Festival of Muslim Cultures Arts Programme Director. Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP 020 7307 5447
Manchester City Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3LJ 0161 235 8888
Touring schedule: 19 May – 15 July 2007, The Harley Gallery, Wellbeck, Worksop, Notts S80 3LW 01909 501700
August – October 2007, Midland Art Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QU 0121 440338
4 November 2007 – January 2008, Huddersfield Art Gallery, Princess Alexandra Walk, Huddersfield HD1 2SU 01484 221962 From: 01 September 2006 To: 31 October 2006 Street Art in Ramadan St Helens Road, Swansea A colourful display of banners in Swansea during the fasting month.
www.islamwales.com From: 06 September 2006 To: 27 September 2006 Lunch Time Talks National Museum Cardiff A series of lunch time lectures exploring different aspects of the Middle East and Africa
6 September – Geology of the Middle East by Professor Mike Bassett, Department of Geology, Amgueddfa Cymru 20 September – Land Snails of Coastal East Africa and their role in the natural environment by Ben Rowson Department of Biodiversity 27 September – Journeys from the East: Ancient Syrian Pottery by Nigel Blackmore, Department of Archaeology.
02920 397951 www.museumwales.ac.uk From: 10 September 2006 To: Sounds from the World of Islam: Haji Ameer Khan Qawwal and Party, Aresh Moradi, Reza Samani and Fariborz Kianne Horniman Museum A series of free concerts celebrating the musical diversity of the many cultures that exist within predominantly Islamic Asian states. Haji Ameer Khan, from one of Pakistan’s most respected musical families, will perform qawwali devotional singing that traditionally celebrates the anniversaries of Sufi saints in Pakistan and India.
Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 www.horniman.ac.uk From: 17 September 2006 To: Sounds from the World of Islam: Aresh Moradi Horniman Museum The sacred music of the Al-I Haqq (Yaresan) sect of Kurdish people of Iran was performed on the tanbur, a long-necked lute.
From: 24 September 2006 To: Sounds from the World of Islam: Reza Samani and Fariborz Kianne Horniman Museum The instrumental traditions of the diverse cultural and geographical areas of Iran were presented in this performance of drums and wind instruments.
Manchester Museums Trail Manchester Highlighting key objects and features from cultural venues across the city, the Manchester Museums Trail reveals the wide ranging impact that Muslim Cultures have had and are continuing to have on our world and how different cultures are interlinked. Featured items range from textile samples and Islamic art to science interactives and a pamphlet on Communism and Islam.
Around 30 chosen items are featured on a web-based trail, with a Guide and Map which can be found (in pdf format) on the Festival of Muslim Cultures web site. A series of decorative and promotional postcards highlight key items from each venue and direct people to the web-based trail.
Download Manchester Trail PDF The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester Liverpool Road, M3 4FP www.msim.org.uk Manchester Museum Oxford Road, M13 9PL www.museum.man.ac.uk Whitworth Art Gallery Oxford Road, M15 6ER www.whitworth.man.ac.uk Manchester Art Gallery Mosley Street, M2 3JL www.manchestergalleries.org People´s History Museum The Pump House www.phm.org.uk From: 30 September 2006 To: 23 October 2006 A Light on Ramadan The Herbert, Coventry "A Light on Ramadan", was a digital projection on the side of Coventry´s Herbert Museum and Gallery, each evening at sunset, to coincide with the moment when Muslims break their fast. It was created by urban artist Mohammed Ali and young Muslims from Coventry. Mohammed Ali specialises in aerosol art inspired by Arabic calligraphy, and he combined this with digital animations to create a urban-styled, fast-moving projection. Mohammed worked with local young Muslims to explore themes of Ramadan that are universal, and which can encourage understanding between religions and cultures.
The launch on 30 September, 6pm-8pm, combined an art opening, and the breaking of the fast with food and prayers. Coventry´s first Muslim Lord Mayor, Cllr Shabir Ahmed, officially opened the artwork at The Herbert on Saturday 30th September. The event was free and open to all and gave visitors an insight into the cutting edge of Islamic art in Britain, and into the creativity of young Muslims in Coventry.
The Herbert, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 www.aerosolarabic.com www.coventrycitycircle.org
Beyond the Page: Contemporary Art from Pakistan Manchester Art Gallery
The work of six contemporary Pakistani artists who transform miniature paintings beyond the limitations of medium, technique and tradition was presented. Site-specific installations and newly commissioned works were on show simultaneously in London’s Asia House and the Manchester Art Gallery. Works by Hamra Abbas, Aisha Khalid, Mohammed Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Hasnat Mahmood and Usman Saeed are included, curated by Hammad Nasar, the Festival of Muslim Cultures Arts Programme Director.
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 0161 235 8888 www.manchestergalleries.org
From: 01 October 2006 To: 18 February 2007 East-West Tate Britain An new display of Islamic art and artefacts within the BP British art displays to coincide with the Festival of Muslim Cultures. The interventions include the following: Nicholas Hilliard´s portrait of Elizabeth I is paired with a 16th-century letter introducing Ottoman agent Gabriel Defrens to the Elizabethan Court; the first edition of the Arabian Nights in English (1718) is shown with 18th-century masterpieces by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Reynolds; the 17th-century Persian painting A Lady Watching her Dog Drink wine from a Bowla (Isfahan, c.1640) is shown alongside Pre-Raphaelite works such as Millaisa´s "Ophelia" and Waterhouse´s Lady of Shallotta photos of the earliest Muslim communities in Britain are shown alongside works by Bomberg and Nash. Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1 Open every day 10am - 5.50pm Admission free www.tate.org.uk Tel: 020 7887 8888
The Tartar National Theatre Riverside Studios A season of three contrasting plays by the Muslim world’s first professional theatre company as it celebrated its centenary. On 22 December 1906 what is believed to be the first public theatre performance took place in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan in what is now part of the Russian Federation. A year later the first woman actress in the Muslim world joined the company. 3 and 4 October - the company presented “First Theatre”, a comedy by Tatarstan’s greatest playwright Galiaskar Kamal, about the day that theatre first came to Kazan. 5, 6 and 7 October - “Dumb Cuckoo” was about the 1939 Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland and two soldiers, one from each side, who find a common bond.
8 October - “Iron Pea” was a show with music, dancing and bright costumes that tells of the battle between good and evil, based on Tatar folklore. Matinee, suitable for children.
Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6 Tel: 020 8237 1111 www.riversidestudios.co.uk From: 04 October 2006 To: 21 October 2006 One Hour Before Sunrise Theatre Workshop A new play written by Ghazi Hussein and directed by Robert Rae. A passionate piece of writing about one man’s struggle to survive prison and torture in an Arab jail. His crime is that of being a poet. The drama follows the journey of Moneer and his experiences in prison where he meets a drug dealer and a wise man. The three of them go on a profound inner journey and not all survive.
Theatre Workshop, 34 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 226 5425
Gilmorehill, 9 University Avenue, Glasgow Tel: 0141 330 5522 www.theatre-workshop.co From: 08 October 2006 To: 08 October 2006 Hayat Edinburgh Filmhouse A unique and beautiful film from Iranian director Gholam Reza telling the story of a small girl with big determination. On the morning of twelve-year-old Hayat’s school exam her father falls ill. She is left to look after her baby sister on the most important day of her life. With the clock against her Hayat embarks on a battle to be on time to sit the exam that will determine her future. Her grumpy little brother refuses to help and the neighbours have their own problems. But Hayat will not give up. Suitable for age 10+ Edinburgh Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh. Box Office 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com From: 20 October 2006 To: 24 October 2006 Stray Dogs Edinburgh Filmhouse A new film by Iranian director Marzieh Meshkini telling the sad, compelling and sometimes bleakly funny tale of two young siblings desperate to be reunited with their parents in post-Taliban Kabul. The parents are in jail however and the only solution the brother and sister can see is to pinch, pilfer and poach their way to a prison sentence. The dog enters the picture when the nameless boy (played by Zahed) and his younger sister (Gol-Gotai) rescue him from a gang of street kids wielding fiery torches. From: 20 October 2006 To: 24 October 2006 Ramadan Nights Barbican Centre Following the hugely successful Ramadan Nights festival in 2005, the Barbican celebrated more exceptional music from a plethora of Muslim cultures around the globe. Performances were from Turkish Sufi mix-master Mercan Dede and Middle Eastern diva Natacha Atlas (Friday 20 Oct), the astonishingly gifted kora impresario, Toumani Diabate with his Symmetric Orchestra (Sunday 22 Oct). A project exploring the links between two transcendental music traditions, Qawwali Flamenco featuring Faiz Ali Faiz, Duquende, Chicuelo & Encarna Anillo (Monday 23 Oct) and the exquisite Egyptian ensemble El Tanbura (Tuesday 24 Oct).
There were also films, talks and free performances throughout the festival from DAM, Hassan El Ashry, Abdullah Chhadeh & Abdul Tee Jay.
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2 Box Office Tel: 0845 120 7536 www.barbican.org.uk/ramadannights
Big Big World 2006 Royal Concert Hall, The Arches and Ramshorn Theatre
Glasgow’s Festival of World Music promoting traditional music from around the world. The Festival of Muslim Cultures inspired the participation of artists from Mali (Toumani Diabate), Iran (The Payvar Ensemble), and Algeria (Dhafer Youssef Trio) to add to artists from Cuba, America, France and Scotland. Workshops with the Payvar Ensemble formed part of the Festival.
Venues included: Royal Concert Hall, The Arches and Ramshorn Theatre
Soundsfine Tel: 0141 221 0359 www.soundsfine.co.uk From: 21 October 2006 To: 10 December 2006 Making “Music in the World of Islam”: Photographs by Jean Jenkins Horniman Museum This exhibition showcased the photographs taken in the mid-1970s by American-born Jean Jenkins (1922-1990) of musicians from Asian and African Islamic countries and their instruments. Jean Jenkins was the Horniman Museum’s first curator of musical instruments and her sound recordings from the Islamic world are available on CD.
Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 www.horniman.ac.uk
Half-term workshops The Wallace Collection Monday 23 October Jewel-encrusted Daggers. Join Fay Ross Magenty to make your very Swords of the Sultans. A “hands-on” Indian arms and armour experience led by David Edge, the Wallace Collection’s Armourer. Discover for yourself what it was like to wear the armour of an Indian warrior during the era of the Mughal Emperors, and imagine weilding fearsome weapons in the thick of battle. Suitable for all ages.
Tuesday 24 October Unity in Pattern drawing workshop. Find out about tessellation, repetition, rotation, translation and more by creating your own intricate pattern inspired by the richness of Islamic art and the Wallace Collection with the help of artist Zarah Hussain. Ages 7+
Wednesday 25 October Flying Carpet painting workshop. Paint and design your own magic flying carpet with the help of artist Marc Woodhead. Looking at paintings for inspiration you will learn about the history of carpet design and find out why carpets, known as “the furniture of paradise” in the Muslim world, were collected in the Wes. Ages 6-10.
Thursday 26 October Printmaking Patterns. Learn how to make a monoprint using water-based inks. Then create your own unique pattern on paper inspired by the Islamic patterns in the Wallace Collection with the help of printmaker Razia Welland. Ages 6-12
Friday 27 October Illuminating Tiles: Ceramic Painting Workshop. Through looking at the elaborate patterns and designs of the Islamic tiles in the Wallace Collection we will sketch and then develop our own patterns. Back in the education studio these will be transposed onto a tile using fine brushes, metallic and glass paints with the help of artist and lecturer Alison Kusner. Ages 7-11
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN www.wallacecollection.org From: 23 October 2006 To: 05 November 2006 Food for Thought St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival at the end of Ramadan, is a time of peace and conviviality when all Muslims join in prayers and invite each other to celebratory meals. St Fagans organised events to look at the food traditions associated with the festival and compare foods from different cultures.
029 2057 3500 www.museumwales.ac.uk
The Muslim World On Your Doorstep National Museum Cardiff Over the last two years the National Museum has been working with a variety of groups and individuals to create a programme of activity which celebrates the cultural life of the Muslim communities in Wales and beyond, as part of the Festival of Muslim Cultures. The exhibition used items from the National Museum collections alongside items loaned by others. Famous or iconic objects, from Persian ceramics collected by the Davies Sisters to the ‘Offa’s Dinar’ coin, lent by the British Museum, sat alongside items which reflected the local Muslim communities.
An important element was the programme of displays selected from their own possessions by people of Muslim background in Wales. Using both simple items, such as items associated with the Hajj, domestic objects through to spectacular clothes, musical instruments and furnishings, to items with special associations – Palestinian identity papers or a much travelled and much treasured copy of the holy Quran.
Storytelling was also a strong part of the Wales programme, with Chirine al Ansari doing a programme of workshops and events in schools in Swansea and Cardiff over half term in October.
Glanely hands-on discovery gallery, celebrated the Festival of Muslim Cultures and explored different countries with a range of displays and weekend workshops. This exhibition explores how the Muslim world and its complex, diverse history is understood in our every day lives.
029 2039 7951 www.museumwales.ac.uk From: 26 October 2006 To: 26 October 2006 Treasure of the Month: Persian Dagger Wallace Collection Gallery Talk by Armourer David Edge. In response to the Festival of Muslim Cultures, the October treasure is a Persian dagger dated A.H. 902 (1496/7 AD). The grip is of smoky grey-green jade inlaid with gold with lotus flowers and arabesques of gold, minutely chiselled and engraved. The gold inscriptions (couplets of Persian poetry) on the blade are amongst the earliest and finest surviving from this era.
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN www.wallacecollection.org From: 28 October 2006 To: The Big Draw Wallace Collection Free drop-in art activities, suitable for all ages. Taking inspiration from patterns and designs in the Oriental Armoury and Smoking Room, create your own painted tile with the help of artist Zarah Hussain. Meet artist Alison Kusner who will teach you the techniques of drawing still life, and draw from an Oriental-themed still life group in the Great Gallery.
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN www.drawingpower.org.uk www.wallacecollection.orgFrom: 28 October 2006 To: 05 November 2006 Geometric Art Workshop National Museum Cardiff A workshop in creating traditional Islamic designs and patterns inspired by nature.
02920 397951 www.museumwales.ac.uk From: 29 October 2006 To: 29 October 2006 Prophets of Peace National Museum Cardiff An event that allowed the audience to experience the beauty of the recited Qur´an, a traditional vocal art expressing the core of the Islamic faith. The selected passages explored the theme of the Prophets, many of whom are known in the Judeo-Christian traditions.
029 2057 3466 www.museumwales.ac.uk www.quranica.com From: 29 October 2006 To: 29 October 2006 Eid in Leeds: Native Deen The Banqueting Hall, Royal Armouries Islamic Relief and the Festival of Muslim Cultures celebrated Eid and presented a fundraising event for Orphans Worldwide with entertainment from Native Deen, Ahmed Ahmed and Shaam. The concert and dinner was a chance to enjoy top young Muslim talent from the USA and UK. The Banqueting Hall, The Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT From: 04 November 2006 To: Islamic Astronomy Thinktank Birmingham Illustrated lecture and planetarium show. An exciting presentation by astronomers Dr Robert Massey (Royal Observatory Greenwich), Usama Hassan (amateur astronomer) and Dr Steven Bell (HM Nautical Office) looking at the importance of astronomy to Islam, and the Islamic contribution to astronomy from a historical perspective. The event took place inside the UK’s first purpose-built digital planetarium, making full use of sophisticated technology to illustrate astronomical concepts. Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7X www.thinktank.ac/explore/futures/planetarium.htm From: 05 November 2006 To: 05 November 2006 Kabaddi Tournament Meadowbank Sports Centre As part of this year’s Festival of Muslim Cultures, Edinburgh Kabaddi Club delivered this one-day festival which was free for all to come and join in. Kabaddi is a game played with six players on each side where the objective is for players to enter the opposition’s box to score points, touching players in the process and trying not to get caught. This day also included sports activities for children, music, a magic show and a photographic exhibition. Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AE. 0131 229 4174 From: 05 November 2006 To: The Little Draw Wallace Collection Join “Little Draw” artist Zarah Hussain on the first Sunday of each month this autumn to sketch in the galleries. Zarah Hussain’s work is inspired by the colours, vibrancy and sense of movement present in Islamic geometric design. She will teach you how to construct, draw, colour and create repeating designs inspired by the work in the Wallace Collection.
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN www.wallacecollection.org From: 05 November 2006 To: 05 November 2006 The Last Prophet: Badr International Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea Screening of the acclaimed film The Last Prophet.
01792 602060 www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk From: 10 November 2006 To: 11 November 2006 Conference on Faith and Identity in Contemporary Visual Culture University of Manchester This conference, which was open to members of the public, explored many of the issues that the Festival of Muslim Cultures had raised about faith-based identity in a secular society. Artists and thinkers talked about the challenges for the UK Muslim diaspora and how the arts can be one channel for expressing multiple identities today. There were keynote lectures by Homi Bhabha and Tariq Ali and speakers include Reina Lewis from the London College of Fashion, and the artists Shezad Dawood and Emily Jacir. There was an accompanying exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery, titled “Who are You? Where are you Really From?”
Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER
"Who are you? Where are you really from?" The Whitworth Art Gallery
An exhibition of work by five young artists of Pakistani origin, who all share an allegiance to the Muslim faith but interpret that allegiance in different ways. One lives in
Australia, one in Pakistan and three in the U.K. Shezad Dawood´s gold and diamante knuckleduster pays tribute to the Nation of Islam; Yara el-Sherbini shows a Blue Peter style "how to" video that shows her making carpet bombs out of plastic footballs and strips of carpet; Faiza Butt fuses images of Western celebrities with everyday characters from ethnic minorities in her paintings; Naeem Rana´s pantings use Urdu text and popular Punjabi themes, fusing them with imagery from consumer goods packaging; while Ayaz Jokhio plays with different hair styles on multiple images of his own face.
The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER
Mind Journeys Museum of Transport
The
Museum of Transport and the Scottish Academy of Asian Art invited the youth group Al Shabab to work on a filming project in partnership with visual artist Basharat Khan and the Youth Counselling Service Agency in Glasgow. The outcome of these projects were eight short films that reflected the lives of young Muslims in Glasgow.
www.glasgowmuseums.com
The Grand Trunk Road: from Delhi to the Khyber Pass Peoplea's History Museum, Manchester This exhibition will explore the history of the Grand Trunk Road - the longest, oldest and most famous highway in the Asian sub-continent - with a series of photographs taken in Spring 2006 along the route. On his travels, photographer Tim Smith along with oral historian Irna Qureshi, has met people with links to Britain, photographing and interviewing them and their families. People´s History Museum, The Pump House, Bridge St, Manchester Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-4.30pm. Admission free. www.phm.org.uk From: 11 November 2006 To: 11 November 2006 Salaam! The Manchester Museum A family-friendly big Saturday event linkeded to the Festival symposium at the Whitworth Art Gallery. An opportunity to take part in art activities, meet contemporary Muslim artists and handle objects from the Museum’s collections.
The Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
www.manchester.ac.uk/museum From: 12 November 2006 To: 19 November 2006 Film Screening Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea A unique opportunity to watch two important films related to Islamic issues.
12 November Empire of Faith 19 November Puteri Gunung Ledang (Malay) directed by Saw Teong Hin
01792 602060 www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
Abdullah Ibrahim in concert Queen Elizabeth Hall/London Jazz Festival A jazz legend of global stature, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim is a charismatic symbol of the rich South African jazz heritage and an instrumentalist whose solo performances create a hypnotic, spiritual atmosphere infused with his belief in Islam. From luminous gospel-like anthems to rhythmic vamps, his music is accessible and compelling—rich with complex harmonies and a steely mysticism.
“When he plays melodies tumble out effortlessly. It’s the musical equivalent of a great raconteur telling you about his life” - The Guardian. A rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s greatest musicians for a unique solo acoustic concert. This event was part of the London Jazz Festival, as well as the Festival of Muslim Cultures.
Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre,
Belvedere Road, London SE1
Tel Box Office: 0870 264 9988 www.rfh.org.uk From: 18 November 2006 To: 19 November 2006 Islamic Extravaganza National Waterfront Museum Swansea A weekend of craft workshops, displays and performances in celebration of Islamic art and culture. Suitable for all ages, children had to be accompanied by an adult.
www.islamwales.com From: 20 November 2006 To: 26 November 2006 Islam Awareness Week University of Wales Swansea A week of events celebrating and raising awareness of Islam and Muslims.
www.islamwales.com From: 24 November 2006 To: Art & Islam: The Journey of the Great Mosaic Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery A women-only concert including a collection of stories from different women and their spiritual journeys. Including poetry, Islamic songs and music (nasheeds), comedy and Qur’anic recitation. A fusion of women, art, Islam and spirituality for all women to enjoy! Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham 0121 303 283 www.bmag.org.uk/ From: 25 November 2006 To: Arabian Nights Wallace Collection Come and listen to beautiful stories of Eastern romance and ancient heroes that have inspired writers, poets and painters in the West. Then walk around the Oriental Armoury and admire jewelled daggers and ornate shields. Gallery Talk: Paintings in the Oriental Armoury Storytelling: be enchanted by tales of the East Family tour of the Wallace Collection Galleries Talk and discussion seminar on issues around Orientalism Craft activity: how to make your own Eastern lights Gallery Talk: Introduction to the Oriental Armoury
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN www.wallacecollection.org
From Kabul to Kandahar 1833 – 1933 Royal Geographical Society with IBG, Kensington The Society’s collection on Afghanistan includes several hundred images with many unique prints that date back to the mid 1800s. A selection of these photographs, drawings and lithographs feature in this engaging and informative exhibition supported by the DfES and Heritage Lottery Fund. They provide a glimpse of communities, customs and histories of this mountainous country and include scenes and descriptions of market places in Kabul from 1842, and panoramic views of the city of Kandahar taken after the second Anglo Afghan war of 1878-80. The exhibition is curated in partnership with the Afghan Association of London, Brondesbury College for Boys, and others. Education resources on migration will be available online for secondary geography and citizenship from January 15 2007.
The exhibition will tour nationally. Organisations interested in hosting the exhibition can call 020 7591 3052 for further information.
Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm
Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7
0207 591 3000
www.rgs.org
Photograph: Horse Sellers, Kandahar, 1881. Copyright RBS-IBG
Treasures From the RGS Islamic Collections Royal Geographical Society with IBG, Kensington
7, 14, 21 and 28 February 2007
Accompanying the exhibition “From Kabul to Kandahar: 1833 – 1933”, this showcase provides a great opportunity to view a selection of original historic maps, photographs and artefacts from Islamic communities from around the world, including photographs of Mecca from the 1900s and pictures taken at the founding of Saudi Arabia by Ibn Saud.
Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7
11.30am and 3pm
Spaces are limited and booking is advised
Tel: 0207 591 3000
www.rgs.org
Photograph: Ramsay taking photo, Sistan Boundary, 1903. Copyright RBS-IBG
Student Expedition to UAE & Oman Organised by Offscreen Education Programme
On 8 February 2007, the
Offscreen Education Programme took a pioneering youth expedition to the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman. Nine East London students embarked on the journey of a lifetime, to inspire others to better understand Arab culture.
For 12 days during the expedition the students are producing an artistic record of their journey from the cityscapes of downtown Dubai to the Bedu camps of the Wahiba Sands. The artworks and video diaries the students create are being beamed back to the UK, via satellite, taking audiences ‘off screen’ every day. Through the power of art, this expedition is communicating a fresh and positive picture based on direct experience, not media stereotypes. The journey of nine young people will be the platform to inspire countless more.
Participating Schools: Dagenham Park Community School, Forest Gate Community School, Plashet School, Crown Woods Community School, Rashid School for Boys (UAE), Latifah School for Girls (UAE), Nusibah bint Kaab Secondary School (Oman), Ibn Anafees School for General Education (Oman).
The Company
Following an extraordinary artist’s journey across the Middle East in 2003, four British artists founded the Offscreen Education Programme, an art-in-schools project promoting a different and creative picture of the region in UK classrooms. Since its inception Offscreen has distributed educational resources to over 1300 secondary schools across the UK and forged successful working relationships with the Institute of Education, the British Museum, British Council and the National Museum of Scotland.
From: 13 March 2007 To: Smethwick Multicultural Mela 2006 Victoria Park, Smethwick With sponsorship from the Festival of Muslim cultures, this one-day event was organised by Smethwick Pakistani Muslim Association Ltd., in partnership with other voluntary and statutory organisations in Sandwell. The Smethwick Cultural Mela 2006 supported and promoted contact between people from different communities by celebrating each other’s rich cultures and closing the divides between them.
The summer family event in Victoria park (Smethwick) offered a main stage for music; stalls; sports such as cricket and kabadi, fun fair rides and the Police, Fire service and Army. It was also a celebration of Independence Day for both India and Pakistan, giving an opportunity for the two cultures to celebrate together.
Beyond the Page: Contemporary Art from Pakistan The Harley Gallery
Six contemporary Pakistani artists transform miniature paintings beyond the limitations of medium, technique and tradition. An exhibition of new work taken from the simultaneous 2006 shows in London’s Asia House and the Manchester Art Gallery. Works by Hamra Abbas, Aisha Khalid, Mohammed Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Hasnat Mahmood and Usman Saeed are included.
The Harley Gallery, Wellbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire Tel: 01909 501700 From: 04 November 2007 To: 01 January 2008 Beyond the Page: Contemporary Art from Pakistan Huddersfield Art Gallery
Huddersfield Art Gallery, Princess Alexandra Walk, Huddersfield
Six contemporary Pakistani artists transform miniature paintings beyond the limitations of medium, technique and tradition. An exhibition of new work taken from the simultaneous 2006 shows in London’s Asia House and the Manchester Art Gallery. Works by Hamra Abbas, Aisha Khalid, Mohammed Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Hasnat Mahmood and Usman Saeed are included.
01484 221962
|
From: 14 January 2006 To: 04 February 2006
From: 14 January 2006 To: 17 April 2006
From: 14 January 2006 To: 17 April 2006
From: 19 January 2006 To: 17 March 2006
From: 26 April 2006 To: 09 May 2006
From: 10 May 2006 To: 17 May 2006
From: 15 May 2006 To:
From: 30 May 2006 To: 07 June 2006
From: 07 June 2006 To:
From: 09 June 2006 To: 11 June 2006
From: 02 July 2006 To: 16 July 2006
From: 04 July 2006 To: 09 July 2006
From: 10 July 2006 To: 30 September 2006
From: 14 July 2006 To: 05 November 2006
From: 18 July 2006 To:
From: 22 July 2006 To: 15 October 2006
From: 01 August 2006 To: 04 August 2006.jpg)
From: 04 August 2006 To:
From: 08 August 2006 To: 15 November 2006
From: 01 September 2006 To: 01 May 2008
From: 01 September 2006 To: 11 November 2006
From: 29 September 2006 To: 29 September 2007
From: 30 September 2006 To: 15 January 2007
From: 03 October 2006 To: 08 October 2006
From: 21 October 2006 To: 27 October 2006
From: 23 October 2006 To: 27 October 2006
From: 24 October 2006 To: 04 February 2007
From: 10 November 2006 To: 21 December 2006
From: 11 November 2006 To: 31 December 2006
From: 11 November 2006 To: 15 April 2007
From: 13 November 2006 To:
From: 08 January 2007 To: 09 March 2007
From: 07 February 2007 To: 28 February 2007
From: 08 February 2007 To: 20 February 2007
From: 19 May 2007 To: 15 July 2007