Apna, Aawaz and the Moonwatcher

There's been a long gap since our last blog, but although the Heritage Lottery funded programme is now complete, with final reports and the leather-bound books containing all the interviews having been delivered, the project continues in various other ways. 

First the Apna continues, albeit with a reduced programme. Arry Nessa has managed to sustain an exhibition and workshop programme at the centre in Haslingden, and this looks to carry on into the winter months. The Apna took part in the Open Studios weekend with an exhibition of work by Ranaaz Shahid and Fatima Zahra Hassan.

Our links with the Aawaz Centre in Accrington have developed, and we had a key part to play mounting exhibitions at Accrington Market and Library (pictured above). The exhibitions outlined the work of women who use the Aawaz centre, led by artists from the Different Moons project led by Shamshad Khan and including Maryam Golubeva and Rahima Begum. 

The Moonwatcher play, written by Shamshad Khan and Bob Frith is still in development, with funding being sought for the making and rehearsal, as well as a soundtrack. 

Finally its worth mentioning that this summer Arry Nessa was awarded the prestigious trophy for Advocacy in Art at the Living Islam Festival. So, all in all, despite the completion of the first stage of Different Moons, the influence and networks associated with the project go from strength to strength. 

The Aawaz in Accrington

The Different Moons team is delighted that our friends at the Aawaz Project in Accrington, Hyndburn are beginning to host arts workshops (under the name Hum Arts Project) led by Shamshad Khan. The project is being supported by the Arts Council, Super Slow Way, and Horse + Bamboo, and partly inspired by our work in Haslingden. 

The group are planning to organise an exhibition of their work in the coming months. Shamshad has already led creative writing sessions, and Maryam Golubeva has run a number of paper-cutting workshops. We eventually hope that a group from the Hum Project will come and visit our Apna Centre in Haslingden.  

More information can be had from the Aawaz, 225 Blackburn Rd, Accrington BB5 0AL. Tel: 01254 398176. Website: www.aawaz.org.uk 

A day at the Library!

Yesterday was a big, big day! The Different Moons book was launched at Haslingden Library with readings, food and good spirits. The book is a lovely 100 page hard-back, illustrated volume, containing over 60 poems by local people - mainly girls and women, and almost all from the South Asian communities. 

The upstairs room in the library was full, and Shamshad Khan, who has overseen the project, compered an hour of readings by some of the participants. Lots of the young people who had been involved in the classes turned up, accompanied by parents - and we were especially pleased to see a number of the first generation family members joining us, such as Mr Mazhar Hussain and Mr Aslom Miah (below). 

At the same time our entirely new Different Moons website was launched - it's to be found at www.differentmoons.org and it's full of interviews, photos, animations and writings that have grown out of our project. 

The third big event to celebrate was the completion of the refurbishment of the Apna, down the road at 69 Deardengate in Haslingden. It's now ready to re-open, and from Wednesday this week (16th) it will host a small exhibition reminding everyone of the many projects that have happened over the past few years under the Different Moons banner! There will also be an opportunity for anyone who didn't make it on Saturday to come along and claim their free copy of the book. 

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...