We’d like to formally introduce you to our Arab Britain Curator! đź‘‹ Jessica El Mal (find her on Instagram: @jessica_elmal) is a British-Moroccan curator who first worked with us on a project called Jarda during lockdown. Her style blurs the line between artist and curator, and focuses on care and community as the foundation of any activity. She is also a co-director of A.MAL Projects, an art and research initiative between North Africa and Europe, and is a PhD candidate at Leeds University. Watch this space for some exciting events, features and sessions from Jessica!
With thanks to Freelands Foundation for their funding and support. It will enable us, and Jessica, to spearhead a 3 year vision for the visual arts element of the project; including 6 commissions, a community curator programme and a large-scale visual arts and heritage exhibition of Arab Britain in 2025.
Read on for a Q&A with Jessica:
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what brought you to the Arab British Centre?
My path to the Arab British Centre was a little uncouth, actually. Years ago, like maybe 2018 or 2019, I applied to one of the Arab British Centre’s ConnectMe residencies and didn’t get it. Disheartened, I emailed to ask for feedback and was told having a portfolio would help. So I created a portfolio and applied to the next opportunity the following year, only to be rejected again. I was so sad and disappointed, until I got a message explaining how although I didn’t fit for that particular residency, could we meet about working together another way. And this is how Jarda came about – a co-curated project with women of Arabic descent in Manchester, with workshops in natural spaces and an exhibition in People’s History Museum. When I saw the open call for this Arab Britain Curator position some two years later, I knew it was something I wanted to apply to.
This is why I always tell people not to be too disheartened by rejections, as applications do mean that people on the panel are seeing your work and you never know when your name might pop back into their heads for another opportunity!
You hosted the first event as Arab Britain Curator on 12 July, how was it?
The first event was called Re-Writing History, where artist Chahine Fellahi provided a bunch of resources after a research residency at The Portico Library in Manchester and an online subscription to the British Newspaper archive. The source materials noted Arabs presence in UK society as far back as Victorian times, which was nice to explore in the context of Leighton House as a counter narrative to the colonialist voyaging to the Arab world and bringing things back.
What are you most looking forward to during your tenure with us?
I am most looking forward to meeting and working with artists, and building new networks of solidarity, support and knowledge sharing.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
People who don’t know me or who have never been to one of my events would be surprised to know that I love to dance! I might not be very good at it, but put on some loud music and I’ll dance like no one is watching everytime.
What’s the most recent cultural event you’ve been to, and how was it?
It’s been a very busy month for arts and culture, with SAFAR Film Festival (which is run by The Arab British Centre), Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Manchester International Festival and over at A.MAL, July saw our programme Eating the Archive come to fruition in Longsight, Manchester, with a public programme of food related events.
The last and most interesting cultural event I attended purely as a guest, however, was probably the Sheba Arts round table on decolonising museums. It was a great panel of industry leaders and emerging stars, and the audience too was super interesting. What transpired was a big sharing about the very real harm institutions can inflict on quote on quote ‘communities’ they work with, and it opened up pathways for imagining better and more careful practice.
I also have to mention the play Tremors by Nikki Mailer which was a really great watch.