This project established SPW on an international platform with cultural exchanges between Wales and Pakistan. It connected the Workshop with the Muslim community in Swansea and South Wales and through us, connected the public with this community, showing how art, and specifically printmaking, can promote cultural understanding.
The Festival of Muslim Cultures was a national year-long celebration in 2006 that sought to foster an improved understanding and appreciation for Muslim cultures. Major events and exhibitions were organised across the UK Cultures in arts, humanities, education and discourse in which moderate Muslim voices could be heard and negative stereotypes challenged.
Printmaker, Sarah Hopkins, led the Workshop’s contribution with The Festival of Muslim Cultures Print Project. The project promoted the belief that the arts can play a role in changing society for the better by enabling people to enter into the experiences of others. The project aimed to expose a wide audience to Muslim Cultures through the medium of printmaking.
Two artists from Pakistan – Atif Khan and Aleem dad Khan – spent twelve weeks as Artists in Residence to assist us in our understanding of Islamic Art through printmaking.
We welcomed the exhibition, Contemporary Pakistani Printmakers, which launched SPW onto an international platform. The exhibition opened at the Oriel Ceri Richards gallery, Swansea and went on to tour three venues around the UK.
An extensive programme of project events and activities was designed around our artists in residence, our theme, ‘Image and Symbol and Text’ and the exhibition ‘Contemporary Pakistani Printmakers’.
A series of Masterclasses took place for experienced artists, enabling individuals to further develop their practice with the expertise of lead artists in Screenprinting and Intaglio, with Sameera Khan, Intaglio with Atif Khan.
The exhibition also provided a focus for supporting resource material for a specially appointed Outreach Team to teach and inform local children, students and community groups about contemporary approaches to printmaking and to create artwork under our project theme.
Communities reached by the project included Asylum Seekers living in Blaenymaes, Muslim Women living in Swansea, and the ‘over 50’s’ in Swansea.
Workshops took place with students including those from Primary Schools at: Penclawdd Primary,Ynystawe Primary, Graig Infants,St Thomas Primary,Terrace Road Primary, Coed Hirwaun Primary
The Festival of Muslim Cultures Print project was the catalyst for many other connections and opportunities including a sister exhibition, Contemporary Welsh Printmakers that was exhibited in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan in 2007, giving Welsh artists exposure on an international scale. Pakistan.
More information on this, and other associated projects can be viewed in our Project Archive section:
Contemporary Pakistani Printmakers Exhibition
Contemporary Welsh Printmakers Exhibition
A tri-lingual publication in English, Welsh and Urdu which accompanied the exhibition and project can be viewed in our Publications and Catalogues Archive.
Prosiect Printiau Gwyl y Diwylliannau Moslemaidd | 2006 | Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, AWEMA,Cymunedau’n gyntaf, Cymhorthdal Buddsoddiadau Cyffredin, DACE
Trwy gyfrwng cyfnewidiadau diwylliannol rhwng Cymru a Phacistan, roedd y prosiect hwn wedirhoi GAA ar blatfform rhyngwladol. Roedd e wedi cysylltu‘r Gweithdy â’r cymunedau Moslemaidd yn Abertawe a Chaerdydd a thrwyddom ni cysylltwyd y cyhoedd â’r gymuned hon gan ddangos sut mae Celf ac yn enwedig Argraffu yn gallu hybu cyd ddealltwriaeth ddiwylliannol.
This project took place in 2006 and was made possible through funding and support from The Arts Council of Wales, AWEMA, Communities First, Common Investment Fund and DACE.
Asylum Seekers living in Blaenymaes were supported by the Common Investment Fund
Muslim Women living in Swansea were supported by the Department of Adult and Continuing Education(DACE), University of Wales, Swansea.
