New Work - New Directions
We have launched an exciting new residency programme for 3 artists who are from a minority ethnic background.
New Work - New Directions will create the opportunity for artists to develop their practice, explore partnerships and create new work through a programme of mentoring and creative exchange.
Our three resident artists are:
Sadia Gul Ibrahim
Born in Islamabad and having trained as a mixed medium artist specialising in wood carving and Islamic calligraphy, Sadia worked there professionally as an artist until she emigrated to Scotland in 2001. Ever since then she has continued to work as an independent artist while also frequently running various creative workshops for a wide range of groups from adults to children, able bodied to those who are disabled. Sadia has always been passionate about her work and takes great pride in being able to promote Pakistani/Islamic culture and heritage and now looks forward to doing the same for Scotland too.
“The New Work New Directions residency for me is just as the title suggests. An opportunity to create new work and the time and resources to experiment with new materials, processes and techniques possibly taking my work in new directions. Alongside that the opportunity to promote my work while cultivating new relationships will no doubt lead to better exposure which I hope will continue to benefit my work long after the end of this residency.”
Roxana Pope
Roxana is a British Iranian, singer, writer and filmmaker.
Recent works include; her film ' Tehran Backyard ' shot in Iran and nominated for a Royal Television Award and winner of first place for documentary at the Next Frame Festival US; co-writing the BAFTA winning film Trouble Sleeping about the life of refugees in Edinburgh and working as writer/dramaturge with Lung Ha's theatre company. Roxana sings and writes music with the Edinburgh based band GOL ( UK Iranian Jazz electronica fusion).
For more information please go to www.roxanapope.com
“During this residency I want to create a semi autobiographical film and sound instillation piece, which delves deep into the experience of being mixed culture. I will be using my own Iranian – UK heritage as a starting point. I also hope to use humour, music, film footage and sound design to lead the audience on an experiential journey. During the residency process I will be interviewing and filming others of mixed culture living in Scotland, their personal stories will either indirectly or directly be woven into the fabric of the final piece. I am really excited about the journey this residency will lead me on and the challenge creatively of making personal work."
Niroshini Thambar
Born in London of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, raised in the north of England and now residing in Edinburgh, Niroshini works as a freelance musician in a number of contexts including music education projects, performance and composition. She moved to Scotland in 1996 and gained an MSc in Human Ecology from Edinburgh University, focusing on music and identity. The challenge of articulating identity has been a driving force in her life for as long as she can remember and she hopes to explore these ideas creatively through the New Work, New Directions residency.
“During this residency I will create work that explores aspects of the Sri Lankan Diaspora experience using archive sound recordings of spoken word and news footage, original music and visual stimuli. I intend to explore collaborative possibilities with a filmmaker and as well as other artists. I am very interested in making heard the stories of migration and exile that may otherwise be hidden. To this end, I also hope to use her work as a stimulus for creative outreach work with other communities.”
If you are interested in finding out more about this programme and/or discussing how you or your organisation might get involved then please contact Liam Sinclair, Director, Edinburgh Mela, directly on liam@edinburgh-mela.co.uk
Please return here for our latest news on the residency, which will appear on the right hand column.
This programme has been funded by The Scottish Arts Council.
