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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250913T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260111T170000
DTSTAMP:20250901T155359Z
CREATED:20250901T154950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T155359Z
UID:10000565-1757757600-1768150800@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:Ghafar Tajmohammad: If you throw a stone in the crowd\, someone’s going to get hurt
DESCRIPTION:Explore Ghafar Tajmohammad’s thought-provoking collection of paintings and hand-woven rugs\, called kilims\, reflecting on conflict\, home\, and the search for hope and resilience.\nBy combining painting\, hand-woven rugs\, and lived experiences\, Ghafar’s work responds to the ongoing global turmoil and its impact. Whilst seemingly distant\, such conflicts mark real lives\, especially those of civilians caught in the crossfire. Ghafar draws on his own experience of displacement as a British Afghan\, while also turning outward to wider struggles and shared hopes. \nCo-commissioned and presented as part of the Platforma Festival (October 2025)\, produced by Counterpoints Arts. \nAbout the exhibition \nThe exhibition’s title comes from a proverb shared with Ghafar by a fellow Afghan while talking about the bombings in Afghanistan. \nToday\, the phrase feels even more powerful against the backdrop of global conflicts. For Ghafar\, it reflects both feelings of helplessness and the hope that expressing the collective “crowd” might encourage solidarity and social connection. \nGhafar’s work talks about ideas like home\, belonging\, and migration of people moving from one place to another. \nHis art looks closely at the experiences of people from the Afghan community who have moved to new places\, especially to the UK. He uses painting in new and different ways to share these stories. \nFull exhibition details \nWhat to expect \nOne of the works in this exhibition is a collection of hand-woven\, painted rugs\, called kilims\, named “Love Letters.” This personal piece was inspired by a workshop Ghafar co-led with ArtRefuge at a refugee camp in the UK. \nDuring this workshop\, he invited participants to write and draw their initials using both Arabic and English letters. This simple act of writing one’s own initials became a powerful way for people to express identity\, memory\, and presence. \n“Love Letters” begins with these initials as a starting point\, not only to acknowledge the individuals who took part\, but also to open the space for others. \nAnother highlight is “Dirt Upon My Head”. It is made from one large canvas stretched over several square frames. Each frame represents a single home\, and together they suggest a neighbourhood or city frozen in a moment of impact. The canvas stretches out from the centre\, giving a feeling of breaking or tearing. \nAbout Ghafar Tajmohammad \nGhafar is of Afghan heritage and was displaced as a small child. He grew up in Southeast London\, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Painting at Camberwell College of Arts and works as a Curatorial Project Manager at the Migration Museum. \nAbout Firstsite \nFirstsite is the East of England’s contemporary visual arts organisation where you can experience the most exciting developments in contemporary art\, and explore the rich artistic legacy cultivated by the East of England’s unique landscape and character. \nImage: Homage to Najia\, Fall of Kabul by Ghafar Tajmohammad\, courtesy of the artist.
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/ghafar-tajmohammad-if-you-throw-a-stone-in-the-crowd-someones-going-to-get-hurt/
LOCATION:Firstsite\, Lewis Gardens\, High Street\, Colchester\, CO1 1JH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Platforma,Visual Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Homage-To-Najia-Fall-Of-Kabul.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251001
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251101
DTSTAMP:20250903T090308Z
CREATED:20250630T085619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T090308Z
UID:10000526-1759276800-1761955199@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:Platforma Festival 2025
DESCRIPTION:Our 8th Platforma Festival will take place in October across the East of England\, co-produced with local artists and organisations and also featuring touring work from across the country.\nPlatforma 2025 will include more than 35 arts events across music\, theatre\, film exhibitions\, and more. \nCo-produced by Counterpoints Arts in partnership with local artists and organisations\, Platforma is a festival that takes place every two years in a different part of England. The aim is to present work by\, with and about refugees to a wide audience\, build capacity and share learning. \nLocations this October include Cambridge\, Colchester\, Diss\, Ipswich\, Diss\, Great Yarmouth\, Lowestoft\, Norwich\, Peterborough and Snape. \nProgramme highlights include: \n–The Table – a new play by Aisha Zia\, directed by Suba Das at The Key Theatre\, Peterborough\n–Hearts\, Bodies and Words – in conversation with novelist Sulaiman Addonia at the National Centre for Writing\, Norwich\n-If You Throw A Stone In The Crowd\, Someone’s Going To Get Hurt – an exhibition of work by Ghafar Tajmohammad at Firstsite\, Colchester\n-A Community Takeover at Jerwood DanceHouse\, Ipswich\n-You Never Asked My Name – installation by Jill Eastland at Cambridge Junction\n-Penguin – a play by Hamzeh Al Hussein and Amy Golding touring to Norwich and Cambridge\n–MAS(S) – a new sound installation by Tristan Shorr and Rae Champion (CONCRETE) in collaboration with Lomond Campbell\, touring to Great Yarmouth\n-Palestine: Peace De Resistance – Sami Abu Wardeh’s new comedy show comes to Diss\n-Touchstones – a participatory photography and writing project led by Gillian Allard in partnership with Living Grief\n–A Think Tank on Music and Displacement with Britten Pears Arts in Snape \nFor the full programme visit: https://counterpoints.org.uk/upcoming-events/ \nFor more information contact Counterpoints Senior Producer\, Tom Green via hello@counterpoints.org.uk \nThe Platforma Festival takes place in a different area of England every two years\, produced by Counterpoints Arts in collaboration with local partners to present work by\, with and about refugees and to build capacity and share learning. \nThe 8th Platforma festival will take place across the East of England in October 2025\, following a series of meetings with networks\, artists and organisations over the past 18 months. \nIn 2023 the 7th Platforma festival was held over 5 weeks across the South West of England. A key part of the programme is connecting organisations and people across the arts\, migration and other sectors. We also seek to make connections between places\, within the region and with visiting artists and practitioners from across the UK and internationally. \nBy focusing on a different region every two years\, Counterpoints is able to spend time getting to know a wide range of new partners and to build and understanding of the context. Our co-commissions and overall programme are responsive to that\, with a view to capacity building for the longer term and creating collaborations that last well beyond the festival period.
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/platforma-festival-2025/
CATEGORIES:Platforma
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Platforma-2025-Website-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251004
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251102
DTSTAMP:20251014T122103Z
CREATED:20250902T092007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T122103Z
UID:10000566-1759536000-1762041599@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bridging Landscapes II
DESCRIPTION:A group exhibition curated by Aisha Zia.\nPresented and co-commissioned as part of the Platforma Festival (October 2025) produced by Counterpoints Arts. \nOpening Hours:\nTuesday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM\nClosed: Sunday & Monday\nAdmission: Free\nNo booking required \nFollowing its successful run at French Riviera Gallery in London and the Rich Mix in Bethnal Green\, Bridging Landscapes II comes to Peterborough Museum. \nThis powerful group exhibition features South Asian and MENA artists from across the UK\, including Zaineb Abelque\, Sarah Ali\, Mohammed Adel\, Aya Haidar\, Haroun Hayward\, Sofia Karim\, Rehan Jamil\, Kalpesh Lathigra\, Amak Mahmoodian\, Mohammed Tariq and Anusheh Zia. The exhibition explores the emotional and cultural impact of migration—whether through lived or inherited experience—and the deep\, diasporic threads that shape memory\, identity\, and belonging. \nA book accompanying the exhibition\, Carry the Shadows Home\, is available now\, published by 62 Gladstone Street and Pendle Press. \nImage: Will Not Protect Against Drowning\, by Aya Haidar \nAbout Platforma in Peterborough \nPlatforma 2025 in Peterborough is produced by 62 Gladstone Street\, a community-rooted arts space in the heart of Peterborough with a particular focus on supporting South Asian and MENA artists. Through exhibitions\, residencies\, and public programmes\, it provides a vital platform for underrepresented voices and fosters meaningful dialogue between artists and the wider community. \nPartners: Counterpoints Arts\, Landmark Theatres\, Peterborough Cultural Alliance\, Metal Peterborough\, Peterborough Presents\, Peterborough Museum\, HELP Charity & the Aziz Foundation \nDedication: “Our programme is dedicated to the innocent men\, women\, and children who have lost their lives\, those who have been displaced by war\, and all those seeking a safe place to call home.” \n62 Gladstone Street’s Platforma programme is supported by Arts Council England as and presented as part of the wider Platforma Festival across the East of England\, produced by Counterpoints Arts.
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/bridging-landscapes-ii/
LOCATION:Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery\, 51 Priestgate\, Peterborough\, PE1 1LF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Platforma,Visual Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Will-Not-Protect-Against-Drowning.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251029
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251109
DTSTAMP:20250830T204200Z
CREATED:20250813T085833Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250830T204200Z
UID:10000545-1761696000-1762646399@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:Touchstones
DESCRIPTION:Touchstone is a participatory arts project designed and led by artist Gillian Allard and funded by The Arts Council England and Suffolk County Council. \nPresented as part of the Platforma Festival (October 2025) produced by Counterpoints Arts. \nThe project is for anyone who feels ready to explore their feelings towards someone who has passed. Participants will use an unusual creative activity alongside the written word to help you create a personal tribute. There will be an art exhibition of the work for the Platforma Festival in Ipswich \nSt Elizabeth Hospice’s bereavement service LivingGrief\, will be partnering with Gillian for the project\, providing support throughout from trained volunteer bereavement counsellors. Writer Roua Horanieh and film-maker Hossam Fazulla will also work on the project. \nMore information is available from Gillian’s website. \nThe project begins in August 2025 and an exhibition of work created will be displayed at Custom House in Ipswich from 29 October – 8 November. \nFull programme\, including exhibition details\, coming soon. \n \n  \nGillian Allard is a photographic artist and educator from Suffolk\, with a passion for storytelling. Her background is in Photojournalism and she has a Master’s degree from the Royal College of Art. In 2017 she became the winner of Sky Arts Master of Photography – a television contest based in Rome. Her journey has led her to create meaningful connections within communities\, including work with the Ipswich refugee community on the theme of ‘Belonging’ for the PhotoEast Festival. Her art invites participants to share their stories\, blending photography and personal narratives into powerful visual experiences using alternative photographic techniques. Her projects include landscape and still life that help her connect with herself and her own thoughts and feelings. \nImage: Mina by Gillian Allard
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/touchstones/
LOCATION:The Old Custom House\, Key Street\, Ipswich\, IP4 1BZ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Photography,Platforma
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Touchstone-beachcover.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251029T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251029T170000
DTSTAMP:20250912T160714Z
CREATED:20250716T094252Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250912T160714Z
UID:10000537-1761728400-1761757200@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination: Creative Exchange 2025
DESCRIPTION:An immersive training day to share insights\, reflections and experiences of how creative practices can expand and enrich how we understand belonging.\nFrom Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination. Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. Presented as part of the Platforma Festival (October 2025) produced by Counterpoints Arts. \nCambridge Curiosity and Imagination (CCI) is an arts and well-being charity founded in 2007. They are a creative organisation that works to inspire and enrich communities across the region. Though children and young people are at the heart of all their work\, they design ways for people of all ages to develop their own curiosity and imagination by inviting them into playful environments and giving them the permission to express their own ideas. \nFull information and free booking \nAbout the event\nOn Wednesday 29th October 2025\, Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination will return to Storey’s Field to co-host an immersive\, creative\, training experience that will build knowledge\, skills and understanding of how elements from Artscaping can help us enrich and expand how we understand belonging across our diverse settings. \nWhat is Artscaping?\nArtscaping is an established arts-in-nature programme\, with a growing body of research-led evidence underpinning it\, that supports creative learning\, mental health and well-being. It places creativity and imagination at the heart of a practice that connects children and communities to their local environments and landscapes. The practice has been co-created with artists\, children and young people\, and those who support them by arts and well-being charity Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination. \nAs we all know\, the prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people has risen from 1 in 9 in 2017\, to 1 in 5 in 2023\, with the mental health gap between the poorest and wealthiest children increasing. Substantial benefits for well-being are derived from contact with nature\, however children now spend less time outdoors and are less well connected to the natural environment. Artscaping goes beyond traditional forms of arts (e.g.\, drawing) towards an experiential connection with nature\, bringing positive impacts for everyone involved – children\, young people and the adults who support them. \n“Don’t worry about starting\, it’s fun and there are friendly people… And don’t worry about not being good at it\, just try. I’ve been surprised because I thought I wasn’t very good at craft.” Tobias\, 6 years old. \n“I got a lot from this work. I felt like we were really caring for families\, not just showing them a website or putting them on a waiting list.” Lynda\, family support work. \n“This has helped me to take a moment for myself.” Jade\, primary school teacher. \nWork with Fullscope and Cambridge Acorn Project\nArtscaping is an integral part of the work of Fullscope\, a consortium of organisations united by a vision of positive mental health for all\, but especially for children and young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Parts of the programme have been delivered with family therapy charity Cambridge Acorn Project. Since the programme began in 2016\, we’ve learnt how Artscaping can enable communities to become safer and more supportive places for children\, offering an early intervention strategy for emerging mental health concerns and support for children who may not be eligible for other programs. \n“I spend most of my day thinking where am I going to get help for these children. The need is so high. The link between CCI and CAP is really positive. The parents really notice and appreciate it. They come and thank me and say this is just what their children need. It fills me with joy to talk about it.” Stella\, SENCO lead. \nThis day has been planned to explore ways in which the Artscaping practice might be relevant to colleagues in the wider system supporting children\, young people and their communities. \nThe day\n40 delegates will work in small groups with CCI artists and CAP therapists\, receiving support in designing principles and practical steps to act upon in the following weeks. The evidence base for the work will be highlighted by our academic colleagues\, and a concluding plenary will gather reflections from across the day. \nDelegates will experience and reflect on how creative experiences can open up how we understand and support belonging. \nEach delegate will receive an Artscaping reflective guide and be invited to join a series of follow up work-in-progress webinars for ongoing support and learning. In addition\, delegates will participate in the evaluation of the event\, from which findings will be shared with every participating organisation. \nThis Creative Exchange has been made possible through generous funding from the National Lottery Communities Fund. The support allows us to offer each place at a heavily subsidised rate of £25. Bookings can be made on the Eventbrite platform through this link: \nImage (C) Gabrielle Arenge 2024
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/cambridge-curiosity-and-imagination-creative-exchange-2025/
CATEGORIES:Learning,Platforma
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG-20250714-WA0012-2.jpg
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