Departure

The time to leave Pakistan has arrived. 

The Long March which dominated my last few days here has been resolved by the reinstatement of the judiciary.  Yet this represents only a part of its aim.  As anywhere, people here want justice and need ways to vocalise this in a framework which provides little opportunity for representation.  The Long March and the reinstatement of the judiciary was one way to highlight this need.  In SWAT this opportunity is rapidly fading, the Pakistani government having signed a 'peace treaty' which enables the Talibhan to operate Sharia Law. 

In this visit I have sought to explore how artists might respond to the political and social context and the purpose that art and creativity might serve - in enabling or facilitating other forms of leadership.  It has undoubtedly been an enormous learning curve and incredibly interesting experience.  I am grateful to my hostess, Salima Hashmi, for the time she has given me - as well as the countless (literally!) questions that she's answered.  I'm also grateful to Nima Poovaya-Smith and  Lola Young who established the Hot House programme as part of the Cultural Leadership Programme and thus provided me with this opportunity.    It's time now to reflect on and analyse the conversations that I've had, to think about feedback and responses and to explore how I can apply this learning.