The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), and the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network opened the first Shahkaar Fankaar Alumni Artist Showcase on October 22. The new gallery is located inside the USEFP building and will feature work by alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
The first exhibition features Lahore-based artist Minaa Haroon, who took part in a U.S. Department of State cultural preservation exchange program. Her artwork explores how inherited jewelry and accessories connect families with their memories, identities, and history. The collection draws inspiration from her mother’s jewelry.
Heidi Smith, Director of Public Engagement at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, attended the opening alongside art professionals, exchange alumni, and members of the diplomatic community. As part of the event, Smith presented Minaa Haroon with a Certificate of Recognition for her artistic achievements and contributions as an exchange alumna.
Smith said U.S. educational and cultural exchanges have connected Americans and Pakistanis for decades through learning, innovation, and creativity. She added that Minaa Haroon’s experience shows how international exchanges can shape an artist’s vision and strengthen ties between the two countries.
Minaa Haroon is a visual artist and Assistant Director of Fine Arts at the Lahore Arts Council. In April 2024, she visited the United States as a scholar in the U.S. government’s Cultural Preservation Professional Exchange Program.
Minaa Haroon said her time in the United States deepened her understanding of cultural heritage. Visits to museums and galleries introduced her to different ways of preserving, interpreting, and passing on history and traditions.
USEFP Executive Director Dr. Peter K. Moran also marked the opening with a written statement. He highlighted how cultural and educational exchanges can challenge familiar ideas and introduce people to new perspectives. He described art as a way to explore these changes and encourage people to reflect on how they see the world.
The opening also featured a 3D projection of Minaa Haroon’s artwork on the exterior wall of the USEFP building. Islamabad-based Hoola Digital Pvt Ltd created the display. The company previously produced projections at the Pakistan Monument and Lahore Fort to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence on July 4, 2026.
The exhibition is open to the public until November 20 at the USEFP building in Islamabad. Visitors can view the artwork from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
USEFP plans to feature three more alumni artists in solo exhibitions at the gallery in 2027. Since its establishment in 1950, the foundation has supported educational and research exchanges involving thousands of Pakistanis and Americans.