Frequently asked questions
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1. Is Shisha a funding agency?
Shisha is the UK’s internationally acclaimed agency for contemporary South Asian craft and visual arts. It is not a funding agency; however it supports South Asian artists and offers free advice to build their careers as aspiring artists.
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2. When was Shisha set up?
Shisha was envisioned, conceived and planned by Alnoor Mitha and incubated at Arts Council England (formerly NWAB) as a project in 1998 in conjunction with Fareda Khan and Barney Hare Duke. Shisha then became a new viable and successful business model following a period of business planning at its nascent stages with a proto board. It was established in 2001 as an independent registered charity (no 1088702), based in Manchester. Emerging at a timely period, it addressed many issues raised in the No Difference No Future report written by Richard Blanco and commissioned by ACE. The report advocated the potential benefits of diversifying agencies: small, expert, organisations that could help “mainstream” venues to diversify their programme. The word “Shisha” means either mirror or reflection in Urdu as well as Hindi and reflects the work of artists of South Asian descent.
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3. Who funds Shisha?
Shisha is an Arts Council England Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO) and also receives core grant funding from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA). However, Shisha also seeks funds for projects through its partnerships with other organisations and undertakes targeted fundraising campaigns.
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4. What expertise does Shisha have in the context of South Asian art?
Shisha has accrued over twenty years expertise in the South Asian arts sector and is an award nominated agency. It has promoted work by local South Asian artists, as well as internationally renowned artists. Shisha has considerable experience in building strategic links with arts organisations, developing ideas and promoting discourse on South Asian visual culture, as well as working with artists and curators on a local global level.
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5. What kind of support will Shisha provide for me as an artist?
Shisha supports artists through one-to-one artist surgery sessions by providing advice on developing their art practice. Surgery sessions are held regularly with the Director and Deputy Director.
Shisha is an office-based agency and has no gallery space. It is therefore outward-looking and reliant on forming partnerships with other venues such as museums and galleries to develop exhibitions, artist residencies, education projects and international exchanges. Shisha usually works on programming long-term projects several years in advance.