Milton Keynes arts campaigner to have his photo in National Portrait Gallery

Anouar Kassim MBE is the founding director of Milton Keynes Islamic Arts, Heritage and Culture (MKIAC) and lives in Shenley Brook End .

His portrait will appear in a digital exhibition which marks the first time in history eight of the UK’s most iconic art galleries have joined forces.

They include London’s National Portrait Gallery, Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and The MAC in Belfast and the British Film Institute (BFI) -

The collection is titled ‘The National Lottery’s 2020 Portraits of the People’ and celebrates individuals who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to bring creativity, enjoyment and enrichment to people in new ways

Thirteen powerful and poignant portraits have been created by Chris Floyd, who normally photographs celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mo Farah and Victoria Beckham.

The exhibition was born out of National Lottery insights which indicate a ‘domestic renaissance’ in people enjoying the arts at home with more than 60 per cent saying it helped their state of mind during the crisis.

“We promote contemporary and traditional Islamic arts and culture through education,” said 52-year-old Anouar, who set up MKIAC in 2002.

He added: “We work with schools, communities and artists in developing programmes that engage people together to tell a story. A story that has a social impact and brings change. We also work on overcoming mental health. Covid has played a huge part. It has deepened social deprivation.

“This organisation brings people and communities together by creating stories other people haven’t been able to engage in.

“Since we set it up after 9/11, we have survived and if it hadn’t been for Arts Council support over the years we wouldn’t have been able to create those great stories that resonate in society in Milton Keynes. The highlight so far was in 2018 when we received the Queen’s Jubilee Award. It was a huge achievement for our volunteers and board members, particularly our volunteers from schools and colleges."

Lockdown posed a challenge for MKIAC but in March they set up the project Digital Light: Codemakers, an initiative that aimed to bring together key cultures and histories in the form of British and Islamic arts, mathematics and digital culture.

The project worked in partnership with Bletchley Park, digital and calligraphy artists, local schools, colleges and community groups and pivoted towards digital platforms to help disseminate their message.

“We focused on where mathematics comes from in civilisation, engaging young people through education,” said Anouar.

“Islamic arts is mathematical. Breaking code using algebra, which is from the Islamic civilisation. “We brought education and business communities on board and the Arts Council were very excited.

“It fitted in with creating new kinds of art. This is all about digital. Why? Because BAME communities haven’t caught up, so we wanted to introduce a digital element to the society and link it to creating artwork.

“We have had to think outside the box strategically. We were caught off guard, we hadn’t thought about digital work.

“Skills development, training of the staff and getting emergency funding to work digitally was huge and we are very grateful, otherwise we would have struggled.

“It is more pressurised emotionally on Zoom. When you have a face-to-face conversation, you get inspired.

“Digitally, you know what people are saying but you don’t get inspired in the same way as you do face-to-face. You can’t replicate it.

“The conversations we were having with artists – you can describe things, but you can’t replicate emotions. It is challenging.

“When you are dealing with communities, they thrive on emotional feedback. As human beings, we are designed to share emotions. We need that connection.”

National Lottery players raise £30 million a week for good causes around the country, funding thousands of projects that make a huge difference to people’s wellbeing.

“Look what we have developed. We have developed an inclusive platform for emerging artists and given hope to young people suffering with their mental health from different societies and backgrounds,” said Anouar.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do that without that financial support, emotional support, mentoring and also the way they listen to us and our vision. It is not just one element of delivery – there are many dots we connect together.

“There is hope that together, collectively, we can continue to deliver great stories through great programmes as long as we keep emerging artists engaged.”

The digital exhibition in which Anouar’s portrait features can be visited on the websites and social media of: The National Portrait Gallery, The National Museum of Wales, The MAC in Belfast, IKON Gallery in Birmingham, Summerhall in Edinburgh, Ty Pawb, Ruthin Craft Centre in Wales, The Photographers’ Gallery in London and The British Film Institute. The portraits will also be on display at BFI Southbank in London.

The works aim to create a ‘moment in history’, preserving the work of these unheralded champions for posterity and encapsulating the varied and innovative ways art can be expressed.