The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), and the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network have opened the first Shahkaar Fankaar Alumni Artist Showcase, highlighting the work of Pakistani artists who participated in US government-sponsored exchange programmes.
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The exhibition opened on October 22 at a new gallery space inside the USEFP building in Islamabad. The gallery will showcase the achievements of alumni from US educational and cultural exchange programmes, with additional solo exhibitions planned for 2027.
The first exhibition features Lahore-based visual artist Minaa Haroon, whose work explores the connection between inherited jewellery, cultural identity, memory and family history.
Minaa Haroon’s Artwork Explores Cultural Heritage
Haroon’s solo exhibition presents inherited jewellery and accessories as objects that carry memories, identity and family lineage. Her work begins with jewellery inherited from her mother and examines how personal belongings can preserve cultural and family histories.
Haroon is a visual artist and Assistant Director (Fine Arts) at the Lahore Arts Council. In April 2024, she travelled to the United States as a visiting scholar under the US government’s Cultural Preservation Professional Exchange Program.
Speaking about the experience, Haroon said visits to museums and galleries in the United States deepened her understanding of cultural inheritance and exposed her to different approaches to preserving, interpreting and passing on traditions.
The exhibition reflects how international cultural exchanges can influence artistic practice and encourage artists to explore heritage from new perspectives.
US Embassy Highlights Cultural and Educational Exchanges
Heidi Smith, Director of Public Engagement at the US Embassy in Pakistan, attended the opening and highlighted the role of educational and cultural exchanges in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Smith said such programmes had brought Americans and Pakistanis together for decades through learning, innovation and creativity. She added that Haroon’s work demonstrated how an exchange experience could shape an artist’s vision and strengthen connections between the United States and Pakistan.
Smith also presented Haroon with a Certificate of Recognition in appreciation of her artistic excellence and achievements as an exchange programme alumna.
Other attendees included Asma Rashid-Khan, Director of Satrang Gallery and programme advisor for the showcase; Sarah Rajper, the exhibition’s curator; representatives of the US Department of State; members of Pakistan’s art community; exchange programme alumni; and members of the diplomatic corps.
USEFP Says Art Encourages the Exchange of Ideas
USEFP Executive Director Dr Peter K. Moran also marked the gallery’s opening with a written statement highlighting the transformative role of cultural and educational exchanges.
Moran said such programmes could challenge established perspectives and encourage people to reconsider how they understand the world. He described art as a platform for exchanging ideas and exploring different ways of seeing and interpreting experiences.
The opening event also featured a three-dimensional projection of Haroon’s artwork on the exterior wall of the USEFP building. The projection was created by Islamabad-based Hoola Digital Pvt Ltd, which has also produced projections at the Pakistan Monument and Lahore Fort.
The company created those earlier projections to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence on July 4, 2026.
Exhibition Open to Public Until November 20
The Shahkaar Fankaar Alumni Artist Showcase is open to the public until November 20, 2026, at the USEFP building in Islamabad.
Visitors can view the exhibition from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Three additional alumni artists are scheduled to present their work through individual exhibitions at the USEFP gallery in 2027.
Founded in 1950, USEFP has supported educational and research exchanges involving thousands of Pakistanis and Americans. The new gallery aims to provide a platform for alumni artists to share their work and demonstrate the lasting influence of international educational and cultural exchange.
