NETWORK OF CULTURE AND MEDIA
New International Program from Angels Gate Cultural Center

The NETWORK OF CULTURE AND MEDIA launched on May 8th, 2004 at three locations around the city with a series of educational events, panel discussions, performances and a film showing. Internationally renowned artist/journalists and free speech activists Goenawan Mohamad of Indonesia and Shahid Nadeem of Pakistan, with discussions on the history, geography and role of democracy in the South Asia and Southeast Asia regions.

On May 8, a daylong outdoor festival took place in the Sierra Quad at California State University at Northridge, with recent stage works by Mr. Nadeem and Mr. Mohamad performed by members of the local Asian community. The day also included: live South Asian music, the screening of a new film written and directed by Mr. Nadeem, and interactive public discussions, lead by the artists from the stage, on the geography and geopolitics of Indonesia, Sufism, and issues of artist mobility across borders.

On Wednesday evening May 12, a distinguished panel presented "The Role of Democracy in South and Southeast Asia" in George and Sakaye Aratani Central Hall at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. Mr. Nadeem and Mr. Mohamad was joined by authors Dr. Jack Miles, and Dr. Mehran Kamrava, Islamicist Dr. Karen Leonard. Dr. Amir Hussain, of the CSUN Religious Studies Dept., moderated.

The following evening, the series concluded at Angels Gate Cultural Center in the Harbor area, with the presentation: ART + IMMEDIACY: a public discussion of the interweaving roles of art and journalism, moderated by Steven Leigh Morris, theater editor of the LA Weekly. Mr. Mohamad and Mr. Nadeem shared their experiences as working artists, social commentators and journalists both in and outside their home countries.

This residency was made possible by a generous grant from the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Dept., with support from California State University at Northridge and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, an educational institution of the Japanese American National Museum opening Spring 2005.

Contact:
Linda Pollack, Director, Network of Culture and Media


Nathan Birnbaum, Executive Director, Angels Gate Cultural Center


www.cultureandmedia.org
Phone: 310-407-3529

Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10 am - 5 pm