“Muslims in the North”: Maria Hussain showcases the trailblazing success of notable Muslim figures in a new exhibition.

Supported by the Cultural Institutes’ Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund, jointly delivered with Leeds Museums and Galleries (LMG).

Maria Hussain, Lecturer in Management and Organisations at Leeds University Business School, was awarded funding by the Cultural Institute to collaborate with Leeds Museums and Galleries (LMG) and curator Adam Jaffer to disseminate her LITE research findings visually.

This display presents innovative ways in which research can engage with civic spaces in becoming more accessible to local and diverse stakeholders more.

As Maria approaches the conclusion of her project, she meets with us to discuss her motivations for applying to the fund and looks forward to highlighting a key milestone in the project on 6 March.

Thank you for joining us today, Maria. Let’s delve into your experience with the project and the upcoming exhibition.

What attracted you to apply to the Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund?

At the time of applying, I was coming to the end of my first year of my Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence Research Project, which focuses on attitudes and perceptions on value of cultural diversity. The world is changing and so is the world of work. It’s more important than ever to nurture diversity of thought. Covid-19 has shown us that a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not create equitable outcomes for all. To tackle global challenges, we need everyone’s perspectives to be considered. As such, I was drawn to the fund as it offered a unique way to disseminate research beyond traditional academic circles, to engage my research with the public through key civic spaces.

The visual foregrounding of my research outputs coupled with the collaborative opportunity provided through the Cultural Institute at the University of Leeds was very exciting! Being able to work closely with a museum and gallery curator, and a design team to bring to life your findings was an opportunity I just could not miss!

Working for a leading civic institution in the North, I also felt a strong moral obligation to positively impact our amazing public spaces in Leeds.

Tell us about what the project is, and what are its aims?

The dissemination project, “Muslims in the North,” aims to highlight the significant contributions of often overlooked groups within the Muslim community, particularly in the northern region of the UK.

The research project looks at showcasing the stories of trailblazing individuals from Muslims in the North, focusing on 4 key areas; commerce, healthcare, law and research.

Unfortunately, many marginal or minority groups are often subject to deficit modelling. This contemporary positive framing of the display hopes to challenge common and entrenched stereotypes, in promoting greater inclusion and equity within civic spaces and the wider society.

The projects underlying objective is to showcase the value of cultural diversity and intercultural working within the region.

In doing so, we hope to contribute to work towards decolonising civic spaces; becoming more inclusive and representative of our diverse communities. And most importantly, to inspire the next generation in continuing to nurture diverse cultural perspectives required to navigate an increasingly complex world!

How has working with a museum collection and a curator informed your research in this area? Are there any new learnings you would like to share?

Working with a museum collection and curator has allowed me to think more creatively about how to disseminate research findings. It has shown me the power of storytelling as a tool to reach diverse audiences and work within civic spaces that historically haven’t been representative of the people they serve. Collaborating with the museum has provided a unique platform to engage with the public and inspire future generations.

I have also learned about the power and influence of civic spaces such as museums on the next generation, inspiring and motivating them to nurture a more equitable future for all.

Additionally, I’ve learned the importance of dynamic forms of communication; cross-cultural communication is at the heart of my LITE research, and working with this fund has opened up further avenues.

What objects from the collection have you come across that you’re particularly excited about?

So, my project with LMG has focused on a mixture of community-loaned objects and anecdotal accounts from public figures from the Northern Muslim ‘talent pool’. I’ve learned so much about their sheer resilience — rooted in their faith-based determination to achieve ‘excellence’ or ‘ihsaan.’ Ihsaan along with the pursuit of knowledge, or ‘ilm’ are key Islamic principles. For example, Muslims are encouraged from childhood to pursue any beneficial knowledge that they can, anything that benefit society.

Hearing the accounts of the notable people I profiled, I was able to see how strongly that principle has been enacted, which is very inspiring. They say that a picture speaks a thousand words, well one of the objects that stands out to me is a photograph that encapsulates a pivotal moment in the life of a public figure I was profiling. It’s a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit when-enabled in what wonderful things can happen and that most importantly positive change starts with us!

What do you have in the pipeline? Tell us, what’s happening on 6th March?

On the 6th of March, at 16.00–18.00, we’ll be launching the exhibition, “Muslims in the North,” at Leeds City Museum. The exhibition profiles notable individuals such as Nazir Afzal OBE, Former Chief Crown Prosecuting Officer for the NW and current Chancellor of Manchester University, Dr. Mumtaz Patel, Consultant Nephrologist, Professor Ghazala Mir, Professor of Health Equity and Inclusion at the University of Leeds and Mohsin and Zuber Issa CBE, Co-owners of ASDA.

Some of the notable figures will be in attendance and will speak at the launch, together with the Lord Mayor of Leeds.

The event is public and open to all to attend. Please sign up in advance if you would like to come.

The exhibition will be open for at least 12 months, providing ample opportunity for the public to engage with these inspiring stories.

About the Fund

This project was funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund, co-delivered with Leeds Museums and Galleries. Since last year, the fund has rebranded as the Collections Research Fund, applying more focus on presenting innovative perspectives and research approaches to the collections in ways not seen before. The fund is currently live on the Cultural Institute website. Deadline to apply is 19 April.

About the Cultural Institute

The Cultural Institute is a bridge between the cultural sector and the University of Leeds. We support and develop research opportunities for academics across the Universities to work with the cultural sector. Find out about more opportunities for academics, artist and/or art organisations on the Cultural Institute website.