Hunza Arts and Cultural Forum HAFC

The project started its operation in 1998 with its office in Mominabad, the artisan village of Hunza. The overall objective of the project was to serve as a catalyst to promote and develop the oral-heritage of music and performing arts of Hunza in an artistically and financially sustainable manner.

The major activities were closed during 2004 after forming independent musical and instruments making groups of the trained persons.

Main activities during the project phase included;

  1. Establishment of traditional musical instruments making workshop,
  2. Training in traditional music to the youth
  3. Organizing local festivals.

HACF had a dual approach/strategy of preservation and documentation and the revival through development and promotion of the traditional music. That means documentation, adaptation, research, training and production & marketing has dealt in an integrated way. The communities were involved in the project design and implementation through their representative organizations. However, where possible, local entrepreneurs were encouraged to takeover or initiate culture-based enterprises in the villages that support the overall project objectives. Training products were open for all on cost basis. However special preference was given to the new generation of the traditional musician community to take benefit from the project interventions.

The project intervention resulted in a radical change in the societal attitudes towards the artisan community in Hunza, as before this intervention, playing music was considered the job of a specific community only. The trainings resulted in formation of about 8 musical bands by youth outside this community. These bands are now earning precious money by playing music during marriages, festivals and for tourists in hotels.

The future vision is to establish a Culture Center and the programmes of the project would include;

  1. Musical education and training integration music education in schools,
  2. Strengthening and enhancing a instruments workshop,
  3. Initiating cultural exchanges within the region and outside and promotion of local festivals,
  4. Research and documentation of the oral tradition of the various ethnic communities and its archival and publication using multimedia tools.