Muslim Women Music Makers (MWMM) International Campaign

Dear Friends

I pray that you are all well, and that you are blessed with continued success and peace.

I am writing to ask for your help. As you know Ulfah Arts has worked tirelessly over the last four years to create opportunities for women in the Arts. We are now looking to develop the Muslim Women Music Makers (MWMM) International Campaign. Our aim is

·Bring Muslim women music makers from around the world together to form a network – to support, discuss and debate issues affecting them.

·To build an online resource of these singers/musicians that can be accessed internationally by audiences, press, agents etc.

·To make these artists available as role models for emerging artists and use this resource to raise aspirations in Muslim communities when it comes to expressing creativity, identity and intercultural dialogue.

·To bring these artists together under a banner to push for space at mainstream festivals and events, radio play, profile etc.

·To develop an audience development strategy so women only events can be supported – e.g. through partnership with an online radio station so world audiences can access this music.

Our first task in achieving the above is to map out how many Muslim women artists are out there and how they need to be supported. This is where I would be
grateful if you could forward to me any details of artists you many know of or if you could send this email to complete the questionnaire by visiting www.ulfaharts.co.uk (the link is on the right hand side of the screen). We aim to launch the campaign at the USA Embassy who are supporting us before we deliver a seminar/showcase at the World Music Expo in Seville in October. This we feel is an ideal platform for us to begin this work, with over 90 countries present and 3,000 delegates we believe we will gain much support for what we are trying to achieve.

Please can you get back to us by 30th September if possible.

I hope we can count on your support.

Salaams, peace

Naz Koser, Director