Islington’s religious heritage featured at new exhibition in Holloway

December 20, 2013Anjali Mandalia Arts & Culture, Education, Events, Islington0

Contemporary ideas of faith in the borough explored by young people’s arts project, reports Anjali Mandalia

One of the photos, taken at Highgate Hill Murugan Temple. Credit: Andy O'Carroll — One of the photos, taken at Highgate Hill Murugan Temple. Credit: Andy O’Carroll

Rowan Arts Project launched The Young Person’s Guide to Religion at an event last Wednesday [11 December] which showcased films made by volunteers aged 11-25 and featuring members of local churches, temples, mosques and synagogues.

The project, which ran for 12 months from October 2012, was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Young Roots’ scheme and aims to boost young people’s awareness of different religions in the borough.

The two films screened last Wednesday included a 10-minute video in which 11-15 year olds used stop-motion animation techniques to express their ideas around faith.

The second film, made by 14-25 year olds was a 20-minute documentary titled ‘Questions of Faith: Exploring Religion in Islington’, made over a period of six months.

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“We learnt camera skills together and we practiced them and we went out and filmed various interviews with different people from different faiths,” said Sasha Hoare, project leader for the filming.

The short documentary film was entirely researched and shot by the young volunteers, who were also given training in oral history.

Mother Florence and Mother Linda of the Refuge Apostolic Church in Holloway. Credit: Haley Ma

The exhibition, which features the volunteers’ photography and research, brings the work to a wider audience, explained Hoare. “It’s also to make people aware in the area that there’s this really fantastic website where you can watch the film and come across a whole other range of resources and loads of information.”

The website contains information about religious beliefs, as well as the biographies of those involved and the history of the places of worship that were visited.

Zena Gani, board member for the Rowan Arts project, described how the project has brought together young people through their beliefs: “I think it’s a great thing to have young people involved in religion and to be proud of who they are as well whether it’s their culture or their religious values as well.”

The exhibition will run until 9 January 2014 at the Resource for London in Holloway.

More information at http://www.guidetoreligion.com.

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