With the exhibition “Inspiration SWANA”, the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg presents a multifaceted approach to the cultural, historical and creative traditions of the SWANA region (Southwest Asia and North Africa) and its diaspora. The façade banner, designed by fashion label Habibi in collaboration with the MK&G, welcomes visitors and uses Arabic script to symbolise visibility and positive social discourse. This artistic intervention symbolises the exhibition’s intercultural aspiration to address current issues of identity, social change and the multi-layered connections between Hamburg and SWANA.
The exhibition specifically invites active participation: an open call is aimed at artists, designers, craftspeople and collectives who want to explore the region’s motifs, materials, techniques and narratives or open up new contemporary perspectives. From paintings, designs and ceramics to digital works and audio formats — the creative space is as diverse as the region itself. The selected works will be shown for around six months from October 2025 and will be remunerated with a small fee. The programme will be supplemented by group visits and guided tours, which will enable an in-depth encounter with the content of the show and promote intercultural exchange.
