What we do
Global
Through partnerships across Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Cyprus, and beyond, we’ve proven that meaningful cultural exchange doesn’t require capital city locations.
Local stories. Global horizons.
A world within reach
For over fifteen years, Peshkar Productions has transformed from a community arts organisation in Oldham into a significant voice in global cultural collaboration. Our international journey, spanning multiple continents and securing significant European cultural funding between 2010 and 2023, has created life-changing opportunities for young people from Greater Manchester. Through partnerships across Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Cyprus, and beyond, we've proven that meaningful cultural exchange doesn't require capital city locations - just vision, determination, and belief in young people's creative potential. As artist Bill Duffy reflected: "The chance to learn new things - new words, new artists and musicians I would otherwise never have heard of... It showed that a much larger world outside of the UK was within reach."
Confidence beyond borders
The true measure of our international work lies in the transformed horizons of the young people we've worked with. For many participants, these experiences were their first time abroad, their first encounters with different cultures, and moments of realising their creativity had value beyond their immediate community. Toby Holden- Locke captured this perfectly: "The project being based in another country allowed me to gain both skills and experiences during the travelling phase... This has given me the confidence to go travelling with friends to multiple countries and allowed me to experience even more cultures as a result." Our recent exhibitions in Asia, presentations at international symposiums, and continued partnerships despite political changes demonstrate our unwavering commitment to ensuring young people's access to global creative opportunities.
Our evolving global canvas
Looking forward, our international ambitions remain strong as we develop new partnerships worldwide and explore innovative models of youth artist exchange. What makes our work distinctive is its grounding in local community needs - every international project benefits our local area while taking local stories to the world. As our Chair Abdul Malik Ahad states: "Our Global Canvas continues to evolve, and we remain committed to creating meaningful international opportunities for young artists. No matter the obstacles, we will continue to forge pathways that make global artistic exchange a reality." Through continued determination and creativity, we're ensuring that international cultural collaboration is accessible to all young people, regardless of background or circumstance.
“Our time in Berlin during Global Canvas 2025 was a transformative experience... Berlin's rich art scene has provided us with invaluable insights that will shape our future projects.”
Madison Hawley, James Dobbs, and Joshua Tarinson
Peshkar Global Canvas Artists