Up-and-coming Dundee student co-curates new festival

Before embarking on her postgraduate studies at the University, Londoner Hanifah Sogbanmu knew little about the Scottish art scene. In fact, she had never even visited Scotland before.

Now, after months of immersing herself in the local cultural scene, she’s charged with curating a programme of creative activities for a modern take on an ancient Gaelic festival – Lughnasadh – which historically marked the beginning of the harvest season.

The inaugural Lughnasadh Music & Art Festival, launched by Forgan Arts Centre and Big Rock Records, takes place on Saturday 3 August, from 14:00-21:00, on the grounds of Forgan Arts Centre in Newport-on-Tay, Fife.

The festival promises a wealthy showcase of Scottish talent, with a variety of live music acts accompanying Hanifah’s programme of creative events.

Activities selected and organised by Hanifah include relief printing, collective art making and, inspired by the history of Lughnasadh celebrations, a garden tasting tour.

She also commissioned artist, composer, and Forgan Art Centre studio holder, Andy Truscott, to create a new sonic artwork in response to the themes of the festival.

“The activities are all based around the theme of harvest and land, and the different responses to those themes,” said Hanifah. “It’s a busy programme, and I’m looking forward to people engaging and enjoying it.”

Forgan Arts Centre garden 

DJCAD course having an immediate positive impact on local arts scene

Hanifah’s curatorial role within the festival is part of a placement at Forgan Arts Centre, which allows her to develop final work for her course.

She is among the first cohort of students set to graduate from the Curatorial Practice MFA at Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD).

“This isn’t an opportunity I otherwise would have had, not on this scale,” Hanifah continued. “All I had known about was specifically in London, so I was intrigued as to how arts activities were organised and produced in a more local and rural setting. 

“The DJCAD course and placement with Forgan Arts Centre has allowed me to immerse myself in the cultural landscape, build practical skills, and build connections with not only institutions, but practicing artists and different types of artworkers.

“I believe it enriches the cultural scene a bit more. It benefits us as students because we're learning through testing things in real time, but it's all also bringing fresh ideas and perspectives.

“Scotland has been all I've expected it to be, if not more. My intention is to be an integrated part of the great work already happening here, and I’m keen to be an asset to support local talent. I feel like there's so much more that I can do, and more opportunities to grow and learn about Dundee and Scotland in general.”

Jennifer White, Director of Forgan Arts Centre, said, “It has been a privilege to work with Hanifah. We're really proud of the programme she has developed, she is an extremely talented and conscientious curator. I am delighted to see DJCAD's first year of the Curatorial Practice MFA going so well as it's exactly the sort of course needed to ensure Scotland continues to have a thriving art and cultural scene. 

“Having Hanifah as curator-in-residence as part of her course placement has been generative and the benefits and impact of her work are more than we could have imagined. 

“It has affected our future plans and we now intend to develop long-term opportunities for curators to work with us year-round.”

Judit Bodor, Programme Director of the Curatorial Practice MFA at DJCAD, added, “Hanifah has done brilliantly. Her success is a brilliant example of partnership working with Forgan Arts Centre.

“We make sure that we connect our students with as many different types of organisations as we can to introduce them to a range of routes and options to employment, meanwhile the organisations get to know new and emerging talent.

“In the first year of running the course, we have set up eight placements. These organisations opened their doors to us and took our students under their arms in the most generous ways, providing invaluable experience that will undoubtedly support their employability in the future.”

The full line up for the Lughnasadh Music & Art Festival and ticket booking can be accessed via the Forgan Arts Centre website.

Hanifah will present the commissioned sonic artwork and art created at the festival at the DJCAD Masters Show 2024, open to the public from Saturday 24 August – Sunday 1 September.