Open Day

This coming Sunday, 1st November, we're offering a unique opportunity to meet Hudhaifa Al-Awaidi, one of the Senior Calligraphers from Oman. Awaidi has been providing special classes at the Apna and on Sunday he'll be showing his work. 

Please drop by; it's very informal and Awaidi will be on hand to answer questions - he'll even show you how you can write your name using Arabic calligraphy.

From 1.30 - 5.30 it's open to all at the Apna at 69 Deardengate, Haslingden BB4 5SB.

Second animation

Kain Leo has now finished work on her second animation and she has sent me the film plus a few screenshots. The subject is a continuation of the first short film - Mr Aslom Miah's story of leaving Bangladesh for England and, in particular, the terrible wrench of having to leave his mother. 

The film is another colourful and delightful animation - but tinged with the sadness of this particular memory of his childhood.

Animations

One of the most exciting strands of our Different Moons programme has been creating short animated films inspired by the interviews we've made with some of the first generation of immigrants to Rossendale from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

We've now made 10 films, created by wide range of animators. The latest two films have been very exciting, created by a young Chinese animator Kain Leo, who based her films on the story of Mr Aslom Miah and his journey from Bangladesh to Rossendale as a young man. Above we have three screen shots from her two films.

Our plan is to launch all of the films in 2016, when they will be part of a brand new Different Moons website, alongside the publication of a book of poetry and other writings by the participants in our creative writing workshops. We'll also be delivering the collected interviews and transcriptions and presenting them to local history libraries and North West Archives.

Masterclasses

It's a busy time for the Different Moons programme, and for the Apna Drop-In Centre in Haslingden in particular. 

Today there's a meeting with the designers who will help us put together the Different Moons website. There's also work beginning on a performance that will grow out of the DM project, particularly the stories that we've recorded from the first immigrants to Rossendale from South Asia.  Bob Frith and Shamshad Khan are working together on various approaches and ideas to develop this.

But the main current focus is on the Apna, where master calligrapher Hst al-Awaidi (above) has arrived this morning from Oman. This weekend we're planning to hang a selection of his calligraphy work, and over the next month Awaidi will be holding masterclasses in Liverpool, Manchester and at the Apna. 

The Apna classes are planned for the weekends of the 24/25th October and 31st Oct/1st November. For more information contact 01706 210335.

Sholay at the Boo!

After a great weekend at the Apna with London Bangladeshi artist Rahima Begum as part of the Rossendale Art Trail we're really delighted to be starting a great season of Bollywood classics.

These start at the Boo in Waterfoot on Saturday 10th October at 6.30pm. These are films suitable for the whole family and they come with free Asian snacks in the interval. 

Tickets are £5 and £3 for concessions - you can order on-line through the Boo shop (www.horseandbamboo.org) , or phoning 01706 220241 - or just pay at the door on Saturday. 

The first of the classic films starring Amitabh Bachchan is the all-time classic SHOLAY, loosely based on 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'. Don't miss it!