There is a unique opportunity to celebrate Sudanese Culture in Newcastle this April, thanks to a three-day programme of activity, produced by Kaltouma Hassaballah.
Kandake is the result of ‘Kaltouma’s Cuisine’, a residency at The NewBridge Project during 2023, where she developed and explored her work as an artist, chef and community leader.
Kandake: Sudanese Sisters celebrates community, support and friendship, particularly between women in the local Sudanese and wider Arabic Community. Kaltouma worked with her family and artist Michael James McCormak to design and build a Sudanese Smoke Bath in the yard in her home. The Smoke Bath – which now offers a social space for Sudanese Women in Newcastle to gather in Kaltouma’s own home – will be central to conversations, themes and workshops hosted at NewBridge for Kandake.
Through her own work as an artist and organiser, Kaltouma articulates ‘we must fight against the loneliness and isolation experienced by women who now call Shieldfield their home. We must celebrate our unique cultures, share experiences, and empower the next generation to be proud.’
Kaltouma is an artist, chef and community leader based in Shieldfield. Kaltouma specialises in Sudanese cuisine and caters for numerous events in the local community often working in collaboration with businesses such as Big River Bakery. She also works for community co-operative Dwellbeing Shieldfield, where she leads a collective of local chefs made up from women who have moved to Shieldfield with similar experiences to her own. Kaltouma uses Henna, drawing, printing, oils and events as part of her artistic practice.
Throughout May 2023 – September 2023, Kaltouma was in-residence at The NewBridge Project. Kaltouma’s residency was the first of a series of residencies with local Shieldfield cooks, and featured events exploring food, music and art.
The residency is currently rolling on a flexible 6-month period to create a space in which local cooks can develop contacts, skills and experience in catering and wider creativity. This is an innovative and inspiring opportunity open to people living in Shieldfield.
Exhibition Dates: Thursday 18 April – Saturday 20 April 2024Open Times: Thursday – Saturday, 12pm – 5pm
The NewBridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1AL
More information: HERE
