A multi-award-winning annual six months Arts and Culture Festival held in the North-West Venues and online.
Our 2024 Programme is now finished and 2025 will be live soon!
We will be celebrating our past events on social media and our Newsletter, so stay tuned for amazing journey of memories and catching up, if you have missed any of our events.
MACFEST 2025 programme will be announced soon. Most of our events will be online and free so save your space now!
Muslim Arts and Culture Festival together with Muslim Women's Arts Foundation and Festival, presents to you a diverse selection of speakers, artists, cultures and more throughout our events! Our international festival line up takes you on an unmissable arts and culture journey from Manchester to Indonesia and beyond!
MACFEST, Muslim Arts and Culture Festival, in partnership with the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology at The University of Salford have initiated a new Arts Award programme that celebrates and raises the visibility of Muslim artists through an exhibition and Award Ceremony.
An artists open call was announced in March 2024 and 40 North West Muslim artists submitted up to 3 artworks under one of the following categories, Calligraphy, Drawing, Painting and Photography. From this initial submission 23 artworks have been selected and all Finalists will be featured in a curated exhibition at the University of Salford within the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology.
You will have an opportunity to see all the works selected under 4 categories, Calligraphy, Drawing, Painting and Photography.
The first chance to see the works will be at the Private Viewing between 5pm and 7pm on the 14th November in The New Adelphi Atrium exhibition space.
Please join us for refreshments, view the selected artworks and meet the artists.
The exhibition runs from the 14th through to the 29th November 2024.
The Award evening celebrates all the artworks submitted and will announce the winners of the 4 categories. The evening will be an opportunity to celebrate the talent across the 4 artforms.
"Taking part in this Year's Macfest 2023 Festival has been a very enjoyable and extremely supportive experience.
Their team is simply wonderful not forgetting Qaisra herself! I have been a huge admirer of Macfest, and an avid attendee of their brilliant past events, particularly their creative workshops. So to be able to take part in this year's Macfest activities as a visual artist, by delivering my creative workshop has been sublime"!
Amina.S Art & Design
We are delighted to announce, that Qaisra Shahraz MBE, our Director, a critically acclaimed novelist, culture champion, and award-
winning peace/gender activist won the Manchester Culture Award 2023 in the Category: "The Manchester People's Culture Award".
She was recognised for her initiatives, Muslim Women’s Arts Festival and MACFEST (Muslim Arts and Culture Festival), a ground-breaking festival that connects communities, tackles Islamophobia, and breaks down barriers. She is well known for her lifelong passion in championing and celebrating women, youth, community cohesion, & and building intercultural bridges through literature, arts and cultural heritage.
In the words of the host, 'This award recognized the work which showed dedication and contribution to creativity in Manchester and achievements taken place over several years.’
We aim to bring Muslim and non- Muslim communities together, promote social inclusion and overcome barriers.
Muslim Arts and Culture Festival will celebrate the diversity and the richness of Muslim heritage.
It will engage people of all ages and denominations, including school, college and university students and local communities.
Qaisra Shahraz MBE JP FRSA Founder and Executive Director of MACFEST
What Manchester Means To Me: why author, educator and festival organiser Qaisra Shahraz loves the city
We are delighted to announce that MACFEST is the winner of the 2021 Queen's Award for
Voluntary Service!
We have been chosen for connecting communities, promoting social inclusion and overcoming barriers. Thank you so much to all those who nominated us!
In recognition of contribution to social responsibility at The University of Manchester
The British Muslim Awards
In recognition of the amazing work in celebrating arts and connecting communities in Greater Manchester