Asia House

Connecting Cultures

Through a series of mini-festivals under the umbrella title of Connecting Cultures, we showcase the contemporary face of Asian countries through film, art, literature and design.

Connecting Cultures mini-festivals have included:

- Singapore Uncovered 2007 >
- Malaysia Now 2007 >
- Thai Contemporary 2005 >
- Korea Spring 2005 >
- Singapore Uncovered 2004 >
- Korea Contemporary 2004 >

Bagri Foundation Lecture Series

Asia House presents the Bagri Foundation Lecture Series by top speakers which explore the traditions of various Asian religions.

The Bagri Foundation Lecture Series have included:

Asian Mysticism 2007 >
Understanding Buddhism 2005 >
Understanding Hinduism 2003 >
Understanding Islam 2002 >

Asia House Festival of Asian Film 2008
5 UK premieres from Asia

Friday 22 Aug, 2008 - Thursday 28 Aug, 2008
Location: Other

Asia House presents the first "Asia House Festival of Asian Film".

Asia House launches the inaugural “Asia House Festival of Asian Film” in August. Dedicated to Asian film, it will premiere films from Singapore, South Korea, Iran, Indonesia and China. Organised and hosted by Asia House in partnership with Curzon Cinemas, “The Asia House Festival of Asian Film” celebrates the best in Asian cinema, showcasing films that have been critically acclaimed at recent film festivals and providing the first and possibly only opportunity to see these films in the UK.

Charlotte Pinder, Chief Executive, Asia House commented:

“We at Asia House are proud of our role to promote a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of Asia. The first Asia House Festival of Asian Film will provide an unmissable opportunity to see the finest films coming from Asia today.”

Film titles:

881, Singapore
22 Aug

Seven Days, South Korea
23 Aug

Night Bus, Iran
26 Aug

The Photograph, Indonesia
27 Aug

Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, China
28 Aug

Film Trailers:

To watch film trailers click here

Venue:

All screenings take place at 6.30pm at the RENOIR Cinema
The Brunswick, London WC1N 1AW.
Nearest tube: Russell Square
Click here for directions

Ticket prices:

Asia House Friends and Curzon members £8
(discount only available by phone or in person)
Others £10

Ticket bookings:

Tickets available from RENOIR Cinema only.
Please call on 0871 7033 991 or visit www.curzoncinemas.com

For Press Enquiries please contact Festival Programmer, Heng Khoo on 020 7307 5450, or Email

BIRKBECK Course
Chinese brush painting for Beginners
Course taught by Jia Li

Monday 29 Sep, 2008 11:00 AM - Monday 08 Dec, 2008 1:00 PM
Location: Asia House

Chinese brush painting has been practiced and admired for more than 2000 years. The emphasis of the course will be on practical work and will teach basic skills such as ink preparation, mastering the brush with ink and colour composition. We will also study many examples of Chinese painting from the beginning to the present day and will discuss some basic theories.

(Every Monday from 29 September – 8 December 2008
11am – 1pm)

Course fees £150, Asia House members and concessions £75

Each of these Birkbeck courses can be taken purely for interest and enjoyment or applied towards a certificate or diploma from Birkbeck College’s World Arts and Artefacts programme.

For further information and enrolment, please contact:
Tim Russell on 020 7631 6652 or email > or visit www.bbk.ac.uk

Asia House Trip 2008
Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon

Monday 13 Oct, 2008 - Sunday 26 Oct, 2008

Led by Zara Fleming
Price: £2940 per person from London.

Isolated by formidable mountain barriers, the tiny kingdom of Bhutan is one of the most spectacular countries in Asia and its architecture is stunning. The strict policy of seclusion operated by the Bhutanese government (visitor numbers are closely controlled) has ensured that this culture of Tibetan Buddhism has been preserved in its purest form.
This itinerary gives a perfect introduction to Bhutan, it offers a wide variety of experiences but in comparative comfort. There are days spent exploring dzongs, visiting villages, gentle walking and looking at the remarkable flora and fauna. This journey begins in Kathmandu surrounded by the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas and ends in Kolkatta (Calcutta) once the greatest colonial city of the Orient.

Zara Fleming is a cultural historian specialising in Himalayan history, art and culture. She has led a previous visit to the region for Asia House.

For an in-depth itinerary with a day by day description of these journeys, please contact Distant Horizons on 0151 625 3425 or email >

BIRKBECK Course
Arabesque, The art of Islamic design
Course taught by Adam Williamson

Monday 19 Jan, 2009 11:00 AM - Monday 30 Mar, 2009 1:00 PM
Location: Asia House

Arabesque (Islimi), is one of the three distinct disciplines that underpins Islamic art (the other two being Calligraphy and Geometry). Arabesque represents the underlying order and unity of nature, it is evident throughout the Islamic world from Morocco to Malaysia. This practical module is an introduction to the various families of motifs and styles and their historic origins and symbolism, it outlines the techniques involved within the construction of a traditional composition and its unique underlying rhythmic structure. It also teaches the traditional painting techniques and how to make shell gold and finally how to apply the designs to other materials, for example: leather, plaster or glass.

(Every Monday from 19 January – 30 March 2009
11am to 1pm)

Course Fees £150, Asia House Members and Concessions £75

Each of these Birkbeck courses can be taken purely for interest and enjoyment or applied towards a certificate or diploma from Birkbeck College’s World Arts and Artefacts programme.

For further information and enrolment, please contact:
Tim Russell on 020 7631 6652 or email > or visit www.bbk.ac.uk

Asia House Trip 2009
A Journey through Central Asia and Persia: Samarkand to Isfahan

Tuesday 07 Apr, 2009 - Saturday 25 Apr, 2009

Led by Bruce Wannell
Price: £2960 per person from London.

This region is renowned for the beautiful art and architecture of its great kingdoms. The trip begins in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and continues to Samarkand where the group will visit the Registan, constructed over a period of 200 years and described as ‘the noblest square in the world’. There will be a visit to ‘Divine Bukhara’, a town of hundreds of mosques, madrassas and minarets all linked by crooked alleys which wind between the walls of clay built houses. The group will then cross the river into Turkmenistan and discover the ancient ruins of Merv.

In Shiraz, famous for its poets and exquisite gardens there will be a visit to the ancient ceremonial city of Persepolis built by Darius the Great and one of the world’s most inspiring archaeological sites. The journey finishes amidst the splendour and beauty of Isfahan.

Islamic scholar Bruce Wannell has lectured widely on Islamic history, culture and even cuisine! and was a lecturer in Isfahan University from 1978 – 1980. He has led several very successful visits to the region for Distant Horizons.

For an in-depth itinerary with a day by day description of these journeys, please contact Distant Horizons on 0151 625 3425 or email >

The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature

Monday 11 May, 2009 - Friday 22 May, 2009

The 2008 Asia House Festival of Asian Literature took place during 12-23 May. Among the authors and journalists participating were Amitav Ghosh, William Dalrymple, Michael Wood, Mohsin Hamid, Mohammed Hanif, Sarfraz Manzoor, Will Hutton, Rob Gifford, John Gittings, Charles Allen, Xinran, Duncan Campbell, Pankaj Mishra, Ma Jian, Shashi Tharoor, Diane Wei Liang and Chiew-Siah Tei.

To listen to selected events from the 2008 Festival click here

The full schedule for the 2009 Festival will be available by 1 March, 2009, but we will be updating this website regularly to keep you informed of news. Please keep checking for updates.

Sponsorship:
We are the first and only Festival in Britain, wholly dedicated to writing about Asia.

In this Asian century, we are proud to be able to offer a unique and interesting programme that opens the door to Asia and the Asian communities around us. We would not be able to do this without the support of our Sponsors and Supporters.

The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature offers Sponsors a unique opportunity to:

- Get involved with a rapidly growing series of events that is quickly becoming an important fixture on the literary scene both in Britain and in Asia,
- Reach a growing number of companies and individuals interested in the culture, politics, economies and events of Asia,
- Promote the understanding of the Asian communities that are around us in Britain, as well as those who we increasingly interact with as part of our changing world,
- Send your message to our Friends, Patrons and Corporate Members all of whom have a deep interest and involvement in Asia.

Volunteers:
The Festival would not be possible without the valuable time and effort contributed by our volunteers. We are seeking a number of volunteers / interns to help us with research, marketing and administration.

We have a specific need for a volunteer who has PR experience, to assist us with marketing of the Festival.

If you would like more to know more about Sponsorship and its benefits or about Volunteering, please contact Festival Director, Adrienne Loftus Parkins on 020 7307 5454 or via Email >

Our special events range from one off concerts, plays and films to mini festivals

Film Trailers:

Venue:

Ticket prices:

Ticket bookings: