CAP and I AM KARACHI present Karachi City of Lights Festival June 2015
The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) and I AM KARACHI are launching the Karachi City of Lights Festival. The festival is a celebration of art, design, film and photography that hopes to evoke memories of the city’s yesteryears. With the mission of reviving Karachi’s dynamism and spirit of acceptance, the festival is inviting artists, filmmakers, photographers and designers to re-create, revive and reimagine the city of Karachi.
Through a call for artists, 15 artists will be selected to create cultural spaces to explore the changing cultural landscape of Karachi within the context of the evolving visual culture of the city. These cultural spaces will be in the form of interactive cubic structures that will be displayed outdoors to create a park.
Karachi City of Lights Festival 2015
The festival will take place during the first week of June 2015. The event will showcase the work of the 15 selected artists, with work ranging from paintings to photography to film. The festival will bring to Karachi a space where visitors of all ages can learn about their dynamic city.
Each evening of the festival will also feature exciting performances revolving around Karachi’s history, culture and art.
About CAP
The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultural and historic preservation operating in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. We seek to educate the community, foster an awareness of our nation’s history, and instil pride in Pakistani citizens about their heritage. CAP has focused its attention on the tradition of oral storytelling in Pakistan, emphasising the importance of such narratives in a dialogue on national identity. Our organization has three main goals: to preserve and provide access to the archive, to build and support educational programmes, and to develop educational products based on the testimonies collected. We are passionate about sharing Pakistan’s stories through educational outreach programmes and various exhibitions and festivals that are attended by thousands of visitors. Our vision is to develop CAP as the foremost museum and heritage centre of Pakistani history, photography, culture, literature, and historical documentation demonstrating the strength and spirit of Pakistan from the perspective of a citizen.
About I AM KARACHI
I AM KARACHI is a campaign that inculcates hope, pride and ownership in the citizens of Karachi to collectively strive for a peaceful city. The objectives of I AM KARACHI are as follows.
Reclaim public spaces
Promoting social/cultural activities, reviving existing public spaces and cultural institutions for greater inclusion and engagement and creating fresh, safe public spaces promoting open interaction and positive exchange of ideas.
Bring civil society together
Create a common platform to enhance synergy and collaboration, share and strengthen existing resources, expertise and networks to maximize outreach and impact and Increase interaction and engagement between government and civil society.
Enhance public awareness and advocacy
Create awareness about the socio-cultural causes of violence and advocate for potential solutions, promote dialogues and conversations between people and communities within Karachi, lobby relevant stakeholders including government and media to advocate for peace and enhance awareness about the importance of public sphere/spaces for a vibrant and tolerant city.
