International Networks and Local Landscapes was the culmination of a 3-year exchange programme called Inspire. Each year, between 2012 and 2015, an artist from The Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan, would stay in Pendle. With delegates from Pakistan, London and Texas this three-day symposium event included an art exhibition ‘Right Here–Right Now,’ at The University of Central Lancashire, which  developed from an international postcard exchange (between the UK and Pakistan) from 2010 called ‘Lancashire to Lahore.’

 

Taking place at Brierfield Library, the exhibition displayed over 200 handmade postcards from artists in the UK, Lahore and Houston, Texas, USA. Speakers at the symposium were:

Dr Virginia Whiles, who has worked as a critic, curator and lecturer in art history and cultural studies for over 40 years in the UK, France and South Asia. She was invited to set up an MA programme in theoretical studies at the National College of Art in Lahore (1999-2002).
 

Rosie Cooper is a curator who has worked on projects including the Liverpool Biennial. Currently Head of Exhibitions at De La Warr Pavilion, Rosie has also held positions such as Public Programme Curator at Barbican Art Gallery, whilst also teaching at institutions such as Central Saint Martins, Goldsmiths and Leeds University.

Rick Lowe lives in Houston. He has exhibited and worked with communities nationally and internationally. He has exhibited internationally at institutions including Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles, Neuberger Museum, Purchase, New York, Phoenix Art Museum, Kwangji Bienale, Kwangji, Korea, the Kumamoto State Museum, Kumamoto, Japan and the Venice Architecture Biennial. President Barack Obama appointed Rick to the National Council on the Arts in 2013.

Elaine Speight is a curator whose practice explores the relationships between art, people and place. Since 2005, she has co-curated In Certain Places an ongoing programme of temporary public artworks, talks and events based in Preston CityCentre. She has also curated public art projects for Liverpool Biennial and Buddleia in Manchester. 

Maddi Nicholson has over 20 years of experience as an artist, company director, educator, and creative consultant working freelance within the Industry, Business and the Public Sector. In 2002, she set up Art Gene, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, with Stuart Bastik. As Artist, Co-Founder Directors they lead the company, which is an independent international research facility and agency engaging artists and architects in design-led regeneration.

Risham Syed is a Lahore-based art-maker. Completing her M.A. at The Royal College of Art, London and her BFA at The National College of Arts, Lahore. Risham has won several awards including the prestigious 2011 ABRAAJ Capital ArtPrize, the ‘Charles Wallace Trust scholarship’, UK. Cite’ International des Arts, Paris,France.