Blacktown City Council - Media Rlease - From A Tiny Seed Great Things Grow

MEDIA RELEASE

26 June 2018

Blacktown City Council shares the experience of
Afghan migrants through new artistic program

In what will be the first major artistic engagement with the

Afghan and Persian communities of Blacktown, The Leo

Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre presents Daneha, a multi-

faceted artistic program made up of a visual arts exhibition, 

artist talks, musical performances and theatre.

Daneha (“Seeds” in English) explores the displacement of

the Afghan community across the globe, and the cultivation

of roots in foreign, unfamiliar soil.

The program will transform The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts

Centre into a multi-functional space for the community.

Attendees will be able to engage with contemporary artists,

as collaborators, audiences and active participants in

reimagining identities.

“The Afghan community of Blacktown has grown by almost

40% since 2011,” Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP

said.

“I am proud that our arts centre is presenting Daneha, a

diverse program that offers unique opportunities to reflect on

the experiences of migrants and refugees, and explore the

challenges they face when settling in a new land.”

The program launches on Thursday 5 July with a visual arts

exhibition featuring new works by Avan Anwar (Melbourne),

Elyas Alavi (Adelaide), Zainab Haidariy (Germany) Gerrie

Mifsud (Sydney) and internationally acclaimed and

Blacktown-based artist Khadim Ali.

Khadim is an established artist who was awarded the NSW

Government’s 2016 Western Sydney Arts Fellowship and his 

work is held in numerous public collections around the world.

“I’m now a Hazara-Australian,” Khadim Ali said. “My work for

this exhibition focuses on how I am enjoying being an 

Australian, and how this transitional period of my life is 

changing my art, changing my perspective.”

The arts exhibition will also include works by members of the 

local group, Afghan Women on the Move.

“Afghan Women on the Move creates a radically safe 

platform for women as survivors of war and trauma, to 

gather and participate in arts and cultural programs, outside 

of religious and political influences,” the group’s coordinator, 

Maryam Zahid said.

Taking place in July, the women’s artworks will be developed

in workshops led by artist Nazanin Marashian, and will 

connect identity and culture through the use of personal 

signs and symbols.

The program also includes two Artist Talks. The first, on

Saturday 18 August, is moderated by Abdul Hekmat and will 

be an opportunity for audiences to connect with Khadim Ali, 

Elyas Alavi and Maryam Zahid (Afghan Women on the 

Move).

The second, on Saturday 1 September, is a discussion

facilitated by Paula Abood on work created with refugee

women and will include Maryam Zahid, Monirah Hashemi 

(international playwright/actor) and international theatre 

director, Lief Persson, from Teatre Dos.

The Daneha program will culminate with the Australian 

premiere of Sitaraha – The Stars, a moving one woman play 

which intertwines the stories of three generations of women 

living in Afghanistan. Navigating war and religious 

oppression, the women use songs, dance and storytelling to 

try and keep their stories alive. Taking place from Thursday 

6– Sunday 9 September, Sitaraha features Monirah 

Hashemi and is based on real conversations and research.

Daneha offers a unique opportunity for the people of 

Blacktown and beyond to come together to reflect on the 

experiences of migrants and refugees, and join with them in 

all the challenges and opportunities that present themselves 

as they regather in new lands.

The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre is open Tuesday to 

Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission to the visual arts 

exhibition is free.

Tickets for Sitaraha are available at sitaraha.eventbrite.com.au. General admission $30, concession $25 

(+ fees).