Press Releases

The Extravaganza is being held at the National Waterfront Museum and neighbouring Swansea Museum and showcases some of the activities and artworks created by local community groups.

The celebration of Islamic art and traditions has been made possible in Swansea by a number of partners working together to produce an exciting programme of events, displays and exhibitions that the whole community can enjoy. It is hoped that the event will help forge better links and an understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities

Activities at the National Waterfront Museum will take place from 11 am to 4 pm, 18 and 19 November and includes talks, seminars, exhibitions, art and craft work shops, music and dancing.

Swansea Museum will hold belly dancing and Kurdistan dance workshops between 12 pm and 3 pm on Saturday.

Speakers include Abdulla Yassin Mohammed, co-ordinator of Festival of Muslim Culture Wales, who will talk about Islamic inventions and Mohamed Ali from Arabic Aerosol who is involved in projects on Islamic Street Art.

Performances include the Qur'an recitation, Baraka music and Kurdistan dancing. There will also be community awareness stalls and Islamic art and craft exhibitions including contemporary art and glass work, Islamic street art, Ramadan community banners and Swansea Islamic Community objects.

Sue James, the Museum's Community Learning Officer, said she hoped the event would act as a springboard to other community initiatives. “This is a year-long celebration that seeks to improve understanding and appreciation of Muslim Cultures. So many grass root community groups have worked considerably hard on the festival and created some wonderful regeneration projects which will be beneficial to the community.”

National Waterfront Museum is part of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales which operates six other national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre and the National Slate Museum, Llanberis.

Entry to all Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.