Muslim Women’s Arts Festival - when the new event in Manchester takes place and what is on

A new festival in Manchester is putting Muslim women centre stage this month with a packed programme including dozens of live and digital events.

The Muslim Women’s Art Festival is a sister event to Macfest, which is run by well-known Mancunian author, educator and campaigner Qaisra Shahraz MBE and takes place throughout the spring and summer.

The inaugural event, which starts on 5 March at the Whitworth Art Gallery and runs until 20 March, also marks the launch of the Muslim Women’s Arts Foundation which will sit alongside both the festival and Macfest.

Qaisra says establishing an event specifically for Muslim women is a subject very close to her heart as she feels they are often misrepresented and misunderstood.

What is the Muslim Women’s Arts Festival?

The brochure says the aim of the festival is “celebrating and elevating Muslim women”.

It will feature Muslim female creatives from Greater Manchester, across the country and abroad.

The two-week programme includes art exhibitions, calligraphy workshops, performances and poetry recitals.

The festival is a sister event to Macfest, which has been running for several years and in 2022 is putting on an ambitious programme of some 75 digital and live events spanning February to September and celebrating Islamic communities in the city-region and all across the world.

What is happening during the Muslim Women’s Arts Festival?

The Muslim Women’s Arts Festival gets under way on Saturday 5 March with the launch event at the Whitworth Art Gallery.

Politicians and dignitaries will give speeches to celebrate the launch of the festival and the Muslim Women’s Arts Foundation that sits alongside it.

There will be a celebration of art by female Muslim creatives, a look at the life of Swiss Muslim traveller Isabelle Eberhardt, poetry by Raky Camara, nasheeds (a type of Islamic hymn) sung by Manchester Arabic School and music from Somali singer Hawo Kiin.

In the afternoon there will then be events including cultural hubs from around the world, a silk painting workshop, a screening of documentary film My Name Is.... about non-Western names and how they link to identity, poetry and music.

There will also be activities throughout the day including henna painting, hijab styling, hair and make-up events, exhibitions of art and craft activities.

Other events on the programme include a panel discussing Muslim designers in the fashion industry on 7 March, a discussion featuring female writers for International Women’s Day on 8 March and a celebration of North West poets on 9 March.

Boundary-smashing stand-up comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri will get audiences laughing while demolishing stereotypes and preconceptions about Islam and Muslim women on 13 March while a hijabi ballerina, a comedian and an actress will discuss being a female performer on 14 March.

The event comes to an end on 20 March with a musical finale at The Lowry in Salford featuring four talented North West performers, Gulcin Bulut, Erdogan Bayir, Katayoun Fahimi and Sarah Yaseen.

What has been said about the festival?

Festival founder, community activist and novelist Qaisra says an event specifically about celebrating and understanding Muslim women and their lives is a particularly special moment for her.

She said: “I feel passionately about women’s welfare, their lives, achievements and the challenges they face. This includes Muslim women who are often portrayed in a negative manner by the media.

“My aim for this festival is to debunk some of those myths and negative perceptions about Muslim women. To go beyond the veil!”