ARTS AND ISLAM
"Free Muslims: Autonomy and Creativity"

SOAS Brunei Gallery, Thornhaugh Street, London

Tuesday 16th February 2010

10am to 2pm
 
British Muslims for Secular Democracy in association with the British Council present a  half day symposium exploring the themes of creativity and autonomy in the arts within a Muslim and Islamic context.
 
Various artists and cultural commentators will be invited from Britain and other parts of the world. BMSD Chair Yasmin Alibhai-Brown will chair the event, working alongside Catherine Fieschi, Director of Counterpoint at the British Council. For further information and registration go to http://www.bmsd.org.uk

Confirmed speakers include:

Razia Iqbal, special correspondent, BBC News, and former BBC senior arts correspondent
Hassan Mahamdallie and Abid Hussain, Arts Council England

  Tahmena Bokhari, professor, social worker and activist who won the Mrs Pakistan World title in 2010

Saira Khan, businesswoman and former Apprentice star

Ayesha Tammy Haq, corporate lawyer and organiser of Pakistan's Fashion Week 
  
 Joan Smith, novelist and human rights activist

Anwar Akhtar, Director of new online culture and politics magazine "The Samosa" and former Director of the Richmix Cultural Centre in East London  

Salman Siddiqui, Co-Chair of the Muslim-Jewish theatre company MUJU


2009 marked the 5th year of the Arts and Islam programme and the launch of our biggest programme of activity to date. 2009 Highlights include:
 
 
  • Islam, Hip Hop and Social Change debate

    In February 2009 the Arts and Islam team delivered a debate and performance programme in partnership with the Drum Arts Centre and Crescent Media in Birmingham. The debate attracted over 250 guests and explored the relationship between Islam and Hip Hop.

    Chaired by Rakin Fetuga, panellists for the debate included Mecca to Medina, Poetic Pilgrimage, Lowkey as well as academic and scholar Michael Mumisa. The debate was followed by an evening performance showcase featuring the artists involved in the debate.



  • An Audience with Brother Dash

    In June 2009 in partnership with Hear My Voice and Soul City Arts, the Arts and Islam hosted internationally acclaimed spoken word artist Brother Dash who is based in New Jersey, USA. Whilst in the UK Brother Dash participated in an intimate audience with event providing participants with a unique opportunity to ask questions about the performance circuit, issues facing Muslim artists as well as gender equality in the arts.



    The audience with event was followed by the first ever I-Slam Poetry Slam contest featuring Brother Dash as the guest performance poet for the event which took place at the Custard Factory in Birmingham.

  • Deentight Documentary UK Tour

    The Deentight UK tour is the single biggest intervention managed by the Arts and Islam team. The Deentight documentary explores the relationship between Islam and Hip Hop and follows a number of Muslim artists involved in the Hip Hop industry as they seek to find a balance between their religious beliefs and artistic practice.


    The Arts and Islam team in partnership with the Love and Etiquette Foundation, Punch Records, Bristol Council, the US Embassy, Soul City Arts, Hear My Voice and other partners delivered a 6 city screening in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Luton, Liverpool and Manchester. The screenings were accompanied by a panel discussion featuring Deentight director Mustafa Davis, HBO Def Poet Amir Sulaiman and UK based Graffiti Artist Mohammed Ali.



    The Deentight tour marked the first time the film has been screened outside of North America and stimulated passionate and heated debate throughout the tour.



  • In the Heart of the City seminar exploring Faith, Buildings and People
The In the Heart of the City seminar was delivered in October in partnership with a number of organisations including OpenVizor and Tinag. The event was held at East London mosque and featured a number of prominent speakers including Abdul Lateef Whiteman, Liz Hingley, Zarah Hussain and Richard Gale.
 
 
The event featured a number of presentations from prominent artists, faith leaders and leading architects exploring the relationship between faith, beliefs and the built environment.
 
 
Photo credits for Architecture Symposium Rehan Jamil
 
  • Tower Hamlets Arts Residency for artists of Bangladeshi Origin
     
     
     
     
  • Support for the Muslim Women Film Festival
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    During 2009 the Arts and Islam team has worked with an ecclectic mix of artists, arts practitioners, academics, educationalists from all faith backgrounds including
     
    • Amir Sulaiman - HBO Def Jam Poet from the USA
    • Brother Dash - Spoken Word Poet from the USA
    • Mustafa Davis - Internationally acclaimed film producer and director from the USA
    • Mohammed Ali - Graffiti Artist, UK
    • Hajj Abdulhasib Castiņeira - Director Granada Mosque, Spain
    • Adbullateef Whiteman - Calligrapher, UK 
    • Muiz Anwar, Digital Media Artist, Typographer, UK
    • Liz Hingley - Photographer / Artist, UK 
    • Zarah Hussain - Visual Artist, UK
    • Richard Gale - Academic, Birmingham University, UK
    • Lowkey MC - Hip Hop Artist, UK
    • Poetic Pilgrimage - Hip Hop Artists, UK
    • Mecca 2 Medina - Hip Hop Artists, UK
    • Mangera Yvars Architects - UK
     
    An integral part of our philosophy is to deliver work through brokering effective and empowering partnerships, in 2009 the Arts and Islam programme has worked with
     
    • Bristol City Council
    • Punch Records
    • The Drum
    • Rich Mix
    • Soul City Arts
    • Merseyside Music Development Agency
    • OpenVizor
    • TINAG
    • US Embassy
    • British Council
    • Hear My Voice
    • The Love and Etiquette Foundation
     
    We look forward to working with you in 2010 to bring you even more groundbreaking projects and interventions. For further information on the Arts and Islam programme you can contact us at info@artsandislam.com