Meeting Islam

St Ethelburga's

Centre for Reconciliation and Peace

faith is a source of conflict... and a resource for transforming conflict

meeting islam

This series of events takes an experimental approach to deepening the dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims in Britain. Moving away from traditional meeting formats, we invite maximum participation and seek to draw on our collective wisdom. We will make space for a wide spectrum of beliefs and opinions and offer an opportunity to listen deeply and speak honestly. Our aim is to delve beneath the surface issues and generate genuine and sustainable relationships that value our differences.

spring / summer 2008

The Network of Islamic Artists, in collaboration with St Ethelburga’s, presents a series of meetings to explore the role of faith and spirituality in arts practice.

Meetings will involve presentations from artists drawn from a number of disciplines (including music, poetry, fine arts, ceramics, traditional arts, writing) and different backgrounds and faiths. Following the presentations, a panel-led discussion and then open questions will lead to time for reflection and meditation.

The meetings aim to establish a forum for arts practitioners on a spiritual path to present work, and to discuss and exchange ideas; to establish an intellectual platform dedicated to exploring the relationship between arts practice, faith and spirituality in the contemporary setting.

Two related ideas underpin this initiative:
Firstly, the importance of art as a medium through which notions of difference can be explored in order build bridges of understanding and appreciation across cultural and religious divides in Britain today. And secondly, recognition of the, often-conflicting, role that the self plays as the medium through which both arts practice and spiritual practice are realised.

First meeting:

Wed 4 June 7pm at St Ethelburga’s

Our first speakers are Baluji Shrivastrav (World renown Hindustani classical musican) and Abdul Mateen Sansom (a UK-based Muslim sound artist and musician).

Network of Islamic Artists

The intention (niyat) of this network is to create a space in which to explore the role of spirituality in relation to arts practice, and through this dialogue to make a unique contribution to current debate in the arts and society.

NIA Aims & Activities
1. Curate exhibitions
2. Organise conference and events
3. Maintain a website with online resources and an artist database 4. To provide a forum for Muslim artists, and those on a spiritual quest, working within the creative industries to:
a) Discuss and exchange ideas
b) Present work

For more info contact Matthew Sansom.

Sufism and Islam: Adab

Wed 6 Feb ~ 6.30pm

Remembrance: Sufi stories, songs and dhikr

Wed 12 March ~ 7pm

Islam in Pakistan: McDonald's vs the madrassa

Thurs 3 April ~ 6.30pm

Journalism of the soul: Islam & Judaism in the media

Tues 22 April ~ 6.30pm

understanding islam

Authoritative and accessible training seminars are offered by Dr Chris Hewer, St Ethelburga's Fellow in Christian Muslim Relations. You can find out more here.