A workshop jointly organized by Bengal Foundation and the American Center of the U S Embassy in Dhaka was held at the the Bengal Centre from 9th June 2014.

This two-sided workshop reunited both print – making and poetry artists around the common theme of The Urban Experience, a defining feature of contemporary life in Bangladesh. 1 print-making artist and 1 poet from the United States engaged with 30 Bangladeshi artists (15 print-makers and 15 aspiring poets). Together, they explored how their daily experience of city life influences their artistic practice.

On the print-making side, this workshop brought together 15 Bangladeshi print-makers and Mr. Andrew Saftel, a visiting printmaking artist from the USA. From Tennessee, Mr. Saftel (www.andrewsaftel.com) is a professional print-maker, painter and arts educator. He holds a degree in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. His works have been displayed in solo and group exhibitions throughout the US. The workshop was hosted in the premises of the Saffiudin Bengal Printmaking studio which is headed by Prof. Mahmudul Haque.

On the poetry side, the workshop brought together 15 aspiring poets from Bangladesh and Mr. Whitney Baker, a visiting poet from Tennessee whose work has been featured in various literary publications among which the renowned Holler Poetry Series (2009). Both Mr. Saftel and Mr. Baker conducted several workshops in Bangladesh in the past.

With this project, the Bengal Foundation and the American Center of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka continued their long term cooperation to the service and the development of the Arts sector in Bangladesh.

Workshop started on June 9 and continue till June 15, from 10 Am ‐ 6 PM at the Bengal Centre.