The festival kicks off with the Muslim Women’s Arts Festival and the popular Opening Ceremony at The Whitworth on Sat 22 February, at 11am.
There is something for everyone, with poetry reading from the Blind Chef Ibraheem Iqbal, singing from Jamil Felix, a live performance by the Arabic Sudanese School and Nasheed by Whalley Range High School, as well as an assortment of art exhibitions, cake-cutting and welcome speeches from Qaisra Shahraz MBE, founder and executive director of MACFEST, and Sook-Kyung Lee, Director of the Whitworth Art Gallery.
This year, is launching Muslim Artists Network, to provide a platform for artists to meet, network, and share experiences relating to art and creativity.
Alongside its main programme, MACFEST presents a succession of themed festivals including Women, Ramadan, Environment, Museums, Eid, Libraries and more, each with their own captivating sub-schedule of exhibitions, panels, multi-lingual poetry recitals, art, debates, literature, music, performance and family-friendly entertainment. This year’s festival features lots of art workshops across the North West and the Lowry Eid Musical.
Following the soaring success of its inaugural instalment last year, the second Muslim Arts Awards will showcase more spellbinding works by UK Muslim artists, with selected pieces in Calligraphy, Drawing, Painting and Photography set to feature in a special exhibition at the University of Salford in November.
