MACFEST, Muslim Arts and Culture Festival, celebrates and raises the visibility of Muslim artists with Arts Awards. MACFEST’s first ever Muslim Arts Awards, will exhibit and award prizes to the finest work by North-West artists!
MACFEST Open Art Exhibition and Award Ceremony are in partnership with the University of Salford, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology.
MACFEST Arts Awards celebrate and empower the most outstanding practising Muslim artists in the North West. Every year we recognise 4 exceptional artists within the categories of Calligraphy, Drawing, Painting and Photography. There will be a winner in each category and an Overall Prize Winner Award recognised at the Awards Evening in November 2024. All shortlisted Artists will be featured in a curated exhibition at the University of Salford in November 2024.
Calligraphy, Drawing, Painting and Photography
MACFEST’s first ever OPEN art exhibition will exhibit and award prizes to the finest work by practicing North-West Muslim artists and is open to all regional Muslim residents, age 18 years and above.
· Artists may submit up to 3 artworks.
· Submissions must be entered via the online Google Form available on MACFEST website.
· All submissions are free of charge.
Entry is a Two-Stage process. Stage One is a digital submission and online application form. Stage Two invites Artists to submit physical artworks for shortlisting.
Stage One:
· Submit Images in Jpeg format (no larger than 10MB each)
· Applicants will be notified by 1st August 2024 and invited to submit the selected work for Stage Two.
Stage Two:
· Please deliver your artworks clearly labelled with name and contact details, to Reception, School of Arts Media & Creative Technology, New Adelphi Building, on the submission dates.
· All works must be FRAMED and mirror-plated so the artwork can be easily and safely secured to the wall.
· Artworks must be unpacked before they are submitted. Crates and packing materials cannot be stored by the University of Salford.
· All submissions not selected for the exhibition must be collected on the designated collection dates Monday -Friday w/c 9thand 16th September 2024. The University of Salford cannot store artworks.
· The selection of work for Stage Two will be undertaken by the seven judges representing experts from across the arts, education and creativity sector, brought together by MACFEST and the University of Salford: Sam Ingleson, Paul Vivian, Brendan Fletcher, Maaida Noor, Samir Malik, Siddiqa Juma, Qaisra Shahraz MBE FRSA
· The judge’s decisions will be final, and no discussion will be entered into with applicants.
· Shortlisted finalists will be announced via MACFEST website and by email and they will be informed of the final judging dates.
· Winners will be announced on the evening of the ceremony and will be published on the website after the ceremony.
· The organisers reserve the right to change the judging deadlines should circumstances necessitate.
· By entering the competition, applicants agree that their data will be held on the MACFEST database in accordance with GDPR.
· All finalists must agree to take part in publicity and promotional materials.
· Should for any reason the event be postponed, your entry will still be valid and will be carried through to the appropriate date.
Sam Ingleson: Associate Dean; Enterprise & Engagement. University of Salford
Sam Ingleson has worked in the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology since 2000
and is a Senior Lecturer in the visual arts, working in socially engaged arts practice and
creative education. Sam has previously designed and developed a Masters in Creative
Education, teaching on this course and becoming Programme Leader. Sam has also worked
on the BA in Fine Art and is an External Examiner for arts and education programmes in
South Wales.
In her current role as Associate Dean for Enterprise and Engagement, she is responsible for
the development of external relationships with Industry and the generation of new
commercial income streams into the School of Arts, Media & Creative Technology. Sam has
worked closely with MAC Fest over a number of years and leads on the new Arts Award
collaboration with MAC Fest on behalf of the School.
Subject Group Head Art & Design, Programme Leader Fine Art / Senior Lecturer, University of Salford.
Post Compulsory Education, Senior Fellow Adv HE, Director of Art and Design, University of Salford.
Trained in Classical Arabic Calligraphy in Damascus University in Syria, Samir has been producing Islamic Art as well as holding exhibitions and workshops since over two decades at prominent Galleries and Universities globally.
As an Artist, Calligrapher & Graphic Designer he has been commissioned by and worked with international organisations and corporations as well with Embassies, galleries and private clients and businesses across the world including Royalty. His art composes part of the UK National Collection.
He is acknowledged as one of the pioneers of the revival and reinvention of Islamic Calligraphy in the west, and his art, designs and photography have been featured on the web, in periodicals and books along with frequent appearances in television.
Submission process opens on 30th April 2024
Submission process closes on 30th June 2024.
The judging panel reviews the applications and shortlist the artists for stage two selection in each category.
Artists are notified by 1st August 2024 and invited to submit the selected work for Stage Two.
Artists submit physical works at New Adelphi Campus, Reception, School of Arts Media & Creative Technology, New Adelphi Building, University of Salford.
The judging panel reviews the submissions and selects the finalists.
All applicants will be notified by w/c 9th September 2024 and finalists will be notified of their place in the exhibition.
All submissions not selected for the exhibition must be collected on the designated collection dates Monday - Friday w/c 9th and 16th September 2024.
ACFEST Exhibition Opening: Thursday 14th November, 2024
MACFEST Exhibition Opening: Thursday 14th November, 2024
Exhibition Dates: 14th November – 29th November, 2024
MACFEST Awards Dinner and Prize Giving: Thursday 21st November 2024, 18:00 – 21:00
Artwork collection after the exhibition closes from Wednesday 4th December
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