UK
Embrace the cultural tapestry of the Muslim world at the Muslim Arts and Culture Festival (MACFEST) 2024 – an innovative and acclaimed international celebration of Muslim arts and culture. This groundbreaking festival, spanning multiple towns and cities, encompasses theaters, art galleries, libraries, schools, and colleges across the North West. MACFEST, running from February 18th to July 30th, is dedicated to championing and promoting Muslim Culture, Heritage, Cuisine, Crafts, Arts, and Artists on local, national, and global scales.
Commencing on March 2nd at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, MACFEST introduces the inaugural Muslim Arts Awards, a collaboration with the University of Salford. Conceived in the aftermath of the 2017 Manchester bombings, founder and executive director Qaisra Shahraz MBE envisioned a festival fostering unity, breaking down divisions, and embracing differences to combat racism and Islamophobia.
MACFEST’s mission centers on celebrating arts, diversity, and fostering community connections. With over 75 events, the festival unfolds through nine themed mini festivals, covering Youth, Women’s, Ramadan and Eid, International, Museums and Libraries, Words and Books, Environment, Calligraphy and Arts, and North-West. Nearly all events are free, offering a diverse range of experiences for families.
The festival spans across the globe, connecting audiences to hosts and artists in locations such as Afghanistan, Dubai, Hawaii, Canada, Pakistan, Jakarta, South Africa, Morocco, and the USA. MACFEST caters to diverse interests, featuring literature, art, history, music, performance, photography, culture, comedy, art exhibitions, demonstrations, debates, women and youth panels, children’s activities, and art workshops.
MACFEST 2024 boasts an impressive lineup of local, national, and international speakers, including performers, writers, academics, photographers, comedians, poets, filmmakers, actors, artists, and singers from Manchester to the USA. This year’s installment promises to be the largest yet, collaborating with organizations such as the Muslim Women’s Arts Foundation, Manchester Histories Festival, Creative Manchester, and the Health Inequalities research platforms at the University of Manchester.
Shifting the spotlight onto culture rather than religion and politics, MACFEST collaborates with the Muslim Women’s Arts Foundation, Manchester Histories Festival, Creative Manchester, and Health Inequalities research platforms at the University of Manchester. The festival explores various highlights, including carpet weaving from Pakistan, Indonesian guitars, mosaic art, Turkish/Ottoman illumination workshops, Islamic and Chinese calligraphy, faith and fashion, Ramadan in Albania, the first Moroccan communities in Manchester, food and healing, Afghani women artists from Kabul, Emirati cuisine, and insightful book discussions with Rukhsanna Guidroz, Sefi Atta, and Prof Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, among others.
Distinguished collaborations with Manchester Lit & Phil Society, Huddersfield Literature, and Liverpool Arab Arts Festivals showcase MACFEST’s commitment to cultural exchange. This year’s festival introduces a comprehensive 60-page brochure, highlighting an extensive array of events catering to all ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds.
Book on MACFEST Eventbrite page or on the website: www.macfest.org.uk
– Press Release
