Photo Story and Fine Art Workshop

A photo story and fine art workshop is being organised from 24th December 2008 to 4 January2008 by Maldivian Photographers Association, Heritage, Utiopian Culture and Atholhu - Platfrom for Artists . The instructors at the workshop will be Umair Badeeu, a Maldivian student presently studying photojournalism at Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington, USA and Christopher Krohn, also a student at Corcoran College. The event is funded by Heritage and Canon. 

For more information on the workshop, please call: 00 (960) 7774043 or 00 (960) 7771458

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Discussion Forum on the Arts

Discussion forum on Maldivian Art, 4 December 2008

Atholhu discussion forum, 4 December 2008, Male

Atholhu discussion forum, 4 December 2008, Male

The first event organsied by the Atholhu - Platform for Artists was a discussion forum on Maldivian art. The event took place at the Social Center, from 1600 hrs to 1800 hrs on 4th December 2008. The discussion was centred around 4 themes/questions: 1)What is the relationship between art and society?, 2) Does the state have a role to play in nurturing the arts?, 3) What is the role of art in the development of a society?, and 4)What is the future of Maldivian Art? 

As a primer to the visual arts of the Maldives, Atholhu founder member Mamduh Waheed also made a presentation on 'the Visual Arts in the Maldives'. Some of the keys issues raised and discussed include the following.

1.       Summary of discussion

a)      The relationship between art and society

-          The need for a foundation art school was mentioned and elaborated by Ali Saeed (Topi)

-          Art does not necessarily have to be functionless/purposeless

-          There can be art with function and purpose

b)      Government intervention (in the arts sector)

c)       The public should know what the purpose of an ‘art gallery’ is.

d)      Art awareness

e)      Workshops and other similar events among Maldivian artists

f)       Programs to create awareness on art for the public

-          Lack of an understanding and appreciation of art

g)      More activities to encourage students to take art seriously

-          Through regular competition and exhibitions and other similar activities

h)      Rewards and Awards for artists could be the opportunity to live as an artist – through grants, fellowships, etc.

i)        Exploring various sectors as potential sources and sites for art

*   *   *

      A report of the discssuion is being compiled and will be emailed to all those who attended th event. The report will also be avaiable upon request to anyone interested. You may email your requests to: atholhuplatform@gmail.com

Atholhu Registered

Atholhu - Platform for Artists was a registered as a not-for-profit NGO/Association at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Maldives in August 2008. The founder of the association are: Afzal Shafiu Hassan, Fathmath Zuhura, Mariyam Omar and Mamduh Waheed.

Atholhu – Platform for Artists

Atholhu was established in 2008 by a group of Maldivian artists to facilitate visual art production, artists’ exchange and networking. The necessity for an independent platform for visual artists was felt due to the various factors including the lack of initiative and facilitation in the nurturing of the visual arts sector in the country.  

The core aims and objectives of Atholhu are:

1.     1. Facilitate innovation and experimentation in the visual arts while acknowledging traditional practices that fall within the domain of visual art

2.     2. Facilitate the development of visual artists through networking among local and international artists

3.     3. Facilitate exchange opportunities between Maldivian and international artists, especially from artists working in the South Asia region

4.     4. Facilitate research and documentation of visual arts in a Maldivian context

5.     5. Explore traditional craft practices with a view to establish links and continuity with contemporary arts practices

6.     6. To use art as an integral part of social development

7.     7. Introduce new media and technologies into the visual arts sector