Our new website

We're working hard to get things ready for next weekend - specifically for Saturday 16th March - when we launch both our Different Moons book and website, and re-open The Apna. All the events will be focused in Haslingden, where the book launch takes place at 12 midday at the Library, and of course it's where the Apna is - at 69 Deardengate. 

Up to now we've focused on getting the book ready, and it's currently at the printers so we just have to be patient. But recently there's been a flurry of activity at the Apna (see previous post), and this week we'll be completing the website (www.differentmoons.org). For a glimpse of what our designers, Osprey Delivers, are doing there's a preview of a page above, while below there's an example of what it might look like on your phone....

...we can't wait!

The New Apna!

Proof that we're almost ready to open - and that the Apna is now fully equipped with heating, toilets and a store room! Above Arry Nessa inspects the work....

Just a few more days of cleaning and some painting...bringing back materials that have been in store, and we expect to be open for the Different Moons Book Launch, which is being held at Haslingden Library on Saturday 12th March. After that the books will be brought down to the Apna, and they'll be activities to celebrate both the book and the new website!

Different Moons animations....

Work is getting underway on the new Different Moons website that will go live on the same day as our book launch - Saturday March 12th. 

Above are some screen shots of the animations that have been made especially for the website; each of them illustrating a story or incident that has been told during the interviews with the first generation of immigrants to Rossendale from Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

The animators, from the top - Kain Leo, Megan Bolton. Rehmat Gangrecker, Elisa Sarchi, Bob Frith.

A glimpse at our book...

The Different Moons book - POEMS, LETTERS & STORIES - SOUTH ASIAN WRITING FROM ROSSENDALE - has had its final proof-reading and is ready to go to the printer in readiness for a book launch in just over a months time - Saturday 12th March. 

Here's a preview of a few pages...

Let's not forget that we're also working hard on getting the DIFFERENT MOONS WEBSITE ready for the same launch date...

Getting ready - for the Apna 2016 and our book launch.

While we're waiting for the completion of the Apna refurbishment there's still much to do. On Friday we visited Maryam Golubeva to return some of her gold paper cuts that we're had since the Apna closed. Sad to see these go back home, but it's always a pleasure to visit Maryam's house in Lancaster and see her work (photos).

Meanwhile we're putting the final touches to the Different Moons book, which will soon be at the printers and which we'll be launching at Haslingden Library on Saturday March 12th. The cover features one of Maryam's paper-cuts:

This 100-page, hard-back book contains 58 poems and writings by women, young people and children from Haslingden. It's illustrated and also has an essay on the history and background of the local South Asian community, plus some short essays about the Different Moons project. Everyone who has been involved with Different Moons will receive a free copy at the book launch.  

Working on the Apna

This is what the Apna looks like at the moment - most things have been moved out and dust-sheets cover all that remains 

Builders have been in - and changes are happening! Water and toilet facilities are being added - plus additional storage and heating. So the small back room now looks like this:

On the right is the black door leading from the front room via a small hall; 

on the left is a door to the new toilet; 

and in the centre there's another new room which will have some shelving, access to the cellar, plus a sink and a tiny kitchen area. 

For anybody who remembers the 'old' Apna, you'll know that this is all an enormous improvement. 

We hope the work will be completed by the end of January and we'll be working to open again at the end of February.  

Different Moons at the Boo

Since the Apna closed for refurbishments and the Mela at Haslingden Community Link, things have gone a little quiet - but at the weekend some the Different Moons team came together at the Boo in Waterfoot, where there was the annual Art & Crafts Market. 

Arry and Habiba offered mehndi; Farzana calligraphy (with some great calligraphic candles) and Maryam came with some of her paper cuts. Nusrat had a stall of beautiful fabrics and Mrs Azfar's daughter Ayesha had her own stall with a range of small home-made crafts.

Meanwhile work has started on the Apna gallery space in Haslingden, with access being cut to the cellar and a toilet installed. We hope that by the end of the winter the building will be open again, and we'll be offering a new set of classes, workshops and exhibitions.