Rethinking The Mosque

Working with local communities in Rome, Shagufta K facilitated collaborative participatory arts workshops to support research aimed at improving interfaith communication and cross-cultural dialogue within urban planning contexts.

A series of workshops, Re-imagining the Mosque: Sacred Spaces and the City, invited local stakeholders to engage in discussions around sacred spaces and their role in the urban landscape. Held in a familiar community space, the workshops created a welcoming, multilingual environment that encouraged contributions from a wide range of participants. Drawing on poetic traditions from Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and English - with Italian translations - participants explored the deep connections between people, place, and the meaning of safe and sacred spaces.

The sessions also included walking tours, inviting participants to reflect on the intersection of geographical landscapes and personal migrant histories. These experiences inspired participants to create poetic responses that wove together physical spaces with their own personal and community stories.