SET Collective Residency
In May 2022 we awarded the SET Collective-Residency Prize: a year-long residency at SET Ealing, for a collective, group or organisation with a publicly-engaged art practice. We decided to award two spaces to two organisations. This includes the 1,700 sqft studio in the glass-fronted former Pawn Broker on The Broadway & a 1000 sqft office at the entrance to our studios.
The Afghan Academy International
The first Collective Residency Prize was awarded to The Afghan Academy International, a volunteer-run organisation serving the Afghan community. Set up in the early 1980s, The Afghan Academy works to promote peace and support the integration of the Afghan community. Their activities encourage education and cohesion, and include talks, seminars, art & culture workshops and exhibitions celebrating the heritage of Afghanistan. The Academy has had the pleasure of working with many prominent Afghan and non-Afghan academics, writers, poets, filmmakers, artists and civil society members, as well as other organisations and institutions.
Following the launch, there will be fortnightly Open House sessions and in-person events at the SET Ealing space. They will have an open call for Afghan-related books, and continue to welcome any submissions and contributions of artwork, poetry, creative writing, filmwork or performances and presentations, which creatives would like showcased in our display and space.”
“It is important that the world learns the other side of the history of Afghanistan and its people, who are hospitable and peace-loving. We invite everyone interested or curious in Afghanistan to join our forthcoming Afghan International Peace Conference and Festival, and to support us in establishing the first Afghan Library and Peace Centre in the UK. Together, let’s honour all those who have lost their lives throughout the last five decades of war and conflict, and applaud the long-term resilience of those who have still not lost hope.”
– Assiya Majgan Amini, Co-Founder of the Academy
Connect Contemporary Art Club (CoCo)
The second residency prize has been awarded to Coco, a collective who run art workshops with children from local state schools in their space in the old Pawnbrokers next to SET. If you would like CoCo to come to your school please email artclub.coco@gmail.com. If you have children who would like to join CoCo’s next free workshops, the next is Talisman making on Saturday 22nd October 12-3pm in their space.