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VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260401T153220Z
DTSTART:20260423T110000Z
DTEND:20260423T130000Z
SUMMARY:Research Café - Religion\, Culture and Community
UID:{http://www.columbasystems.com/customers/uom/gpp/eventid/}k1q2-mm24ag
 8n-iss9d3
DESCRIPTION:Join Creative Manchester and the Manchester Museum for an inf
 ormal research café exploring the ways in which cultural institutions an
 d faith spaces bring people together.\n\nAs societies become increasingl
 y polarised\, cultural institutions and faith spaces have a vital role t
 o play in bringing people together\, building understanding\, and nurtur
 ing a shared sense of belonging. Over the past six years\, Manchester Mu
 seum has developed its Manchester Museum Celebrates programme\, grounded
  in collaboration and co-curation. The word celebrate derives from the L
 atin celebratus\, meaning “to assemble to honour” - an idea that perfect
 ly captures the spirit of these events. Created in partnership with fait
 h leaders\, charities\, community organisers\, researchers\, and others\
 , they have brought thousands of people from across the city together in
  moments of connection\, friendship\, and shared joy.\n\nIn the aftermat
 h of the summer 2024 riots\, institutions are increasingly reflecting on
  their influence in shaping public discourse. Against a backdrop of risi
 ng Islamophobia\, Manchester Museum has hosted a community Iftar since 2
 019\, continually striving to be braver and more ambitious in creating e
 xperiences that reflect the diversity of both its collections and its co
 mmunities. The programme has since expanded to include annual celebratio
 ns marking Lunar New Year\, Vaisakhi\, Africa Day\, Diwali\, and Christm
 as\, offering safe\, welcoming spaces for people of all ages and backgro
 unds.\n\nOn St George’s Day\, following a well-attended session at the M
 useums Association Conference 2025\, Creative Manchester and Manchester 
 Museum will host a follow-up discussion. This will include an introducti
 on to the context and history of the St George's flag by Cathy Hirst\, R
 esearch and Editorial Officer at Manchester Cathedral.\n\nBringing toget
 her cultural professionals\, researchers\, and religious and community l
 eaders\, this event will explore why facilitating dialogue is so crucial
  in times of deep polarisation\, and the role that cultural institutions
  and faith spaces have to play in this.\n\nChair:\nNusrat Ahmed\, Lead C
 urator\, South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum\n\nPanellists:\n· Sukhb
 ir Singh\, Chair of Trustees\, Manchester Sikh Foundation\n· Naz Asghar\
 , Strategic Advisor\n· Nidhi Sinha\, Founder\, Sangha and member\, Great
 er Manchester Faith and Belief Panel\n· Dr Luciana Lang\, Research Assoc
 iate\, University of Manchester
STATUS:TENTATIVE
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
LOCATION:Manchester Museum\, Oxford Road\, Manchester\, Phone: 0161-27526
 48\, Email: museum@manchester.ac.uk
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