WELCOME to SALIDAA’s February newsletter. SALIDAA
News.
Check out reviews of recent events in the
Voicebox
, and see the
Spotlight
on featured
artists. Get
In the Picture
about recent book and film
releases and browse the
February Events Listings
. View
information for students, researchers, academics and arts practitioners in
Calls for papers /Opportunities
.
Launch of the Back Chat Anthology at the Museum of
London
SALIDAA would like to warmly thank all those who attended
the recent launch of the Back Chat Anthology which was held at the Museum of
London. On the night, the writers reading their creative responses to materials
held on the digital archive included Moniza Alvi, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Suniti
Namjoshi and Marina Warner. Moniza’s poem “Illuminations” was inspired by
images from the film “Bhaji on the Beach” while Abdulrazak used dance images
from the Sampad collection to prompt memories of the Indian cinema in Zanzibar.
Suniti produced her own digital response with a poem presented next to the
paintings of Amal Ghosh which inspired it. She also “wrote back” to Samena
Rana’s evocative photograph “Wheelchair Woman” and the music of Baluji
Shrivastav, who was present to convey his own personal response to her poem.
Marina was inspired by images of the dancer Ram Gopal and the beautiful
androgyny depicted in the photographs of him held in the archive. Although
Kamila Shamsie could not be present, Lakshmi Holmström presented her
reflections on “Stargazer”, a sculpture by Juginder Lamba. The evening ended
with a mesmerizing performance by Kuljit Bhamra which he called “a short
journey from the Punjab to Southall.” To read the creative responses and to see
the images that inspired them
click here
Do you have a review of a recent event, book or film that you’d
like to share with the SALIDAA community? We invite you to sound out the
Voicebox for yourself. Write in with 200-300 words to sharanya@salidaa.org and
let us hear your voice. Please write in before the 21st February 2007 for
March’s issue.
Miti ki Gadi – Photograph, 1986
Tara Arts (1976 -
)
Copyright: Chris Ha
In this scene from Tara Arts' 1986 production of
Miti ki Gadi, the courtier and the king's foolish brother-in-law are engaged in
conversation. The actors from left to right are Bhaskar Patel and Yogesh Bhatt.
**SALIDAA IS MOVING! **
From 1st February
2007 SALIDAA offices will be located at the historic Toynbee Hall in London’s
East End. Please note that our new contact number is 020 7092 9990. Our new
address is 28 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LS.
Researcher’s Directory:
We aim to provide a
forum for ongoing engagement with our collections, and invite all those
interested in South Asian Diaspora literature and arts to contribute to a
Researcher’s Directory that will appear on our website. The list may be used as
a point of contact for those interested in debate, discussion and collaboration
with others and it will foster a research community around the SALIDAA digital
archive. If you are interested in being included in the directory, please send
your name, affiliation, areas of research/interest, and email address to
sharanya@salidaa.org.uk.
Forthcoming Events
: If you would like the
SALIDAA Newsletter to list your forthcoming events please email
sharanya@salidaa.org with all details including Event Title, Dates and Times,
Location, Description (max. 200 words), Admission Fees. Please notify us about
your forthcoming event by the 25th of each preceding month, i.e. to have your
event listed in March’s newsletter, please send information by 25 February.
South Asian Writers in Twentieth Century Britain:
Culture in Translation by Ruvani Ranasinha (Oxford
University Press, February 2007)
South Asian Writers in
Twentieth-Century Britain is the first book to provide a historical account of
the publication and reception of South Asian anglophone writing from the 1930s
to the present, based on original archival research drawn from a range of
publishing houses. This comparison of succeeding generations of writers who
emigrated to, or were born in, Britain examines how the experience of migrancy,
the attitudes towards migrant writers in the literary market place, and the
critical reception of them, changed significantly throughout the twentieth
century. Ranasinha shows how the aesthetic, cultural, and political context
changed significantly for each generation, producing radically different kinds
of writing and transforming the role of the postcolonial writer of South Asian
origin. The extensive use of original materials from publishers' archives shows
how shifting political, academic, and commercial agendas in Britain and North
America influenced the selection, content, presentation, and consumption of
many of these texts. The differences between writers of different generations
can thus in part be understood in terms of the different demands of their
publishers and expectations of readers in each decade. Writers from different
generations are paired accordingly in each chapter: Nirad Chaudhuri (1897-1999)
with Tambimuttu (1915-83); Ambalavener Sivanandan (born 1923) with Kamala
Markandaya (born 1924); Salman Rushdie (born 1947) with Farrukh Dhondy (born
1944); and Hanif Kureishi (born 1954) with Meera Syal (born 1963). Raja Rao,
Mulk Raj Anand, Attia Hosain, V.S Naipaul, and Aubrey Menen are also discussed.
Kali TalkBack Festival 2007
Kali is looking
for innovative and inspiring short and full length theatre scripts by Asian
women for the TalkBack Festival 2007. Submitted plays must be original works
and not previously performed or performed professionally. For more information
visit
www.kalitheatre.co.uk
Deadline: 02 February 2007
Gallery Director, Arts India
Group
Established in 1999, Arts India is one of the largest
galleries for contemporary Indian art worldwide. The gallery has two locations,
in New York and San Francisco. It is going to open a London gallery on Heddon
Street. The gallery represents all major Indian artists, manages two art
investment funds, and works actively with museums. We seek a Gallery Director
for London. We seek an ambitious, entrepreneurial, goal-driven person who can
aggressively drive sales and marketing and efficiently oversee staff. There are
opportunities to grow within the company. This is a full-time position starting
February 15, 2007. Candidates should have a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent.
Previous experience in the art world or knowledge about Indian art is a plus
but all candidates with marketing and managerial experience, are actively
encouraged to apply. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with
experience and knowledge.
Deadline: 14 February
2007
Rayne Fellowships for Choreographers
Seven
new Rayne fellowships for Choreographers worth up to £15,000 each have been
announced with a special call for applications from choreographers working in
the commercial sector and the ballet world. The Rayne Fellowships, established
by the Rayne Foundation in partnership with Arts Council England, encourage and
support artists to connect more strongly with society and to act as bridge
builders. The fellowships are an imaginative move to address the growth of
intolerence, incomprehension and insularity in society by utilising the strong
communication skills of choreographers. The first Rayne Fellowships were
awarded in May 2006 to four choreographers: Adam Benjamin, Laila Diallo, Luca
Silvestrini and Sue Smith. Since winning they have each established
relationships with organisations that will widen their intellectual and
emotional curiosity and help to develop their entreneurial skills. This is the
FINAL CHANCE for Choreographers to apply for the Rayne Fellowships. In the
future the Rayne Foundation will be continuing the scheme in other areas of
culture and society. Ultimately, the Rayne Foundation intends to build a
network of Fellows enabling them to use their influence to find solutions to
the problems and needs facing society today. A brochure and application form
can be downloaded at
www.raynefoundation.org.uk
Deadline: 15 February 2007, 17:00
DIY Marketing and Publicity Seminar for dance
professionals, 17 February 2007, 10:00-14:00
A unique seminar for
emerging and established dance professionals. Seminar devised and led by Allan
Parker. The seminar will be held at The Council Chamber, Hampstead Town Hall,
213 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 4QP. To book contact Kerry Veitch
kerry@akademi.org.uk or 020 7691 3210. Admission is £10.
Please note: This archived version of the SALIDAA
newsletter does not contain the monthly events listings. If you would like to
be signed up to receive the full newsletter please email
sharanya@salidaa.org.uk.
