Moja Kori Festival

Moja-Kori, translating to “Let’s Have Fun”, is set to be one of the most exciting festivals of the year, taking place on December 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2024 across multiple sites in Korail, Dhaka, with the  new public cultural space, Machan, at Ershad Maath of Korail, as the central venue. The festival is part of the Korail-City of Culture project funded by the Creative Economy Programme of the Federal Foreign Office in Germany, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, its local partner Paraa and international partner Floating e.V. The festival will explore the intersections of design, arts, climate change, accessibility, and sustainability through installations, workshops, performances, and discussions led by renowned local and international artists and designers.

The exhibition and program sites are not conventional gallery spaces but busy bazaar streets, rickshaw garages, community spaces, lakeside paths, waterbody or lake in Korail.

PRESS RELEASE:

Joyful Celebration: "Moja-Kori" Design Festival in December

On November 4, 2024, Paraa and the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh announced their upcoming design festival, "Moja-Kori." For the past four years, they have been working in Koral, a bustling neighborhood in Dhaka, with funding from the German Federal Office. This effort has evolved into the development of a cultural center for the local community, set to be built in the area’s only public space, Ershad Field. The festival is being organized to mark the opening of this new cultural hub.

At the conference, Tarannum Nibir, visual researcher from the architecture-focused organization Paraa, shared the journey of their research and collaboration with the Koral community. Nibir stated, “For four years, we have worked closely with the people of Koral to understand their needs and the kind of space they envision. This collaborative effort led us to design a model, which has now transformed into the cultural center we are unveiling today.”

Representatives from Koral Youth Volunteers—Asma, Joni, Enamul, and Hasan—also spoke, expressing their commitment to creating a welcoming environment for everyone in Korail. They emphasized that this center will play a vital role in education and skills development as well. With support from Paraa, they are forming a management board that will include local residents to guide the cultural center's future.

Frank Warner, the director of the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, highlighted a significant shift in their approach. “Until now, our work primarily focused on affluent groups. This is our first collaborative effort with the community, and we are all proud to be part of this inclusive initiative. We hope to continue this journey in the future.”

The grand opening of the cultural center and the Moja-Kori Design Festival will take place on December 6, 7, 13, and 14. The festival will feature over 50 events, including architectural design exhibitions, artwork displays, photography showcases, installation art, and performing arts, taking place at various locations in Koral, as well as at Dhaka’s Shala_Neighborhood Art Space, Gallery 101, and Alliance Française de Dhaka.

This festival is part of the Koral City of Culture project, funded by the Cultural Economy Program of the German Foreign Federal Office. Partnering in this initiative are Germany’s Floating EV, Paraa, and the Goethe-Institut, with strategic support from Hal Fashion. Additionally, event partners include the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Map Photo Agency, and Liberty Marketing Agency.

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More information coming soon. 

Contact: [email protected]