University collaborates with Muslim Arts & Culture Festival for new North West awards

We have been a proud partner of MACFEST for a number of years and are delighted to be working with the festival on this exciting new event which will involve a curated exhibition in our New Adelphi building.

Since 2017, MACFEST has showcased the outstanding talents of Muslim communities across Manchester and the wider North West, holding over 85 events in person and online. Now in its seventh year, the multi-award winning festival is a new addition that seeks to celebrate and empower Muslim practicing artists in the North West. 

Artists have until Sunday 30 June to submit their entries via an online form in one of the four categories; calligraphy, drawing, painting and photography. 

Successful applicants will be invited to submit their physical work for shortlisting and the shortlisted artwork will then go on display in an exhibition in November 2024 with an awards ceremony to take place afterwards in Manchester Hall. 

Sam Ingleson, Associate Dean for Enterprise and Engagement at the University's School of Arts, Media And Creative Technology, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with MACFEST to help make the awards a reality.

"The school is proud of its record in promoting artforms from world cultures, particularly in those where a career in the arts is not traditionally encouraged. As such, we are very excited to be able to showcase the best work from Muslim artists across the North West in our building.

"It promises to be a really interesting exhibition and we would encourage artists to submit a wide range of work that is representative of both contemporary and traditional Muslim art practices."

Sam, alongside Brendan Fletcher, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for BA Fine Art and Paul Vivian, Director of Art and Design at the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, are part of the eight-person judging panel for the awards.

Brendan and Paul are also taking part in an Islamic Calligraphy workshop for the festival with the internationally-renowned calligrapher Samir Malik on Saturday 29 June via Zoom. 

Brendan added: "I'm delighted to be working with MACFEST to support this venture which offers a platform to an array of creative talent across the North West, and which celebrates Muslim culture and aesthetics by bringing together artists, academics and the public."

MACFEST was founded and is run each year by Qaisra Shahraz, an alumna of the University. We are very pleased to be helping her achieve her vision for the awards this year with the hope that it will lead to an international art prize in the long-term.

Submit your entries to MACFEST's Muslim Arts Awards.

See the full range of activities available at MACFEST this year.