Yasmeen Lari awarded 2022 AFIELD Fellowship for the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan

KARACHI: Yasmeen Lari needs no introduction, and she certainly isn’t short of awards and accolades either. One of the most prolific architects in the country, Lari’s work has been recognized on many national and international platforms: In 2006, Yasmeen Lari was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for her contributions to heritage conservation, while in 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Jane Drew prize, which celebrates the brightest female and non-binary in architecture.

This year, Lari adds another feather to her cap: She has been awarded the 2022 AFIELD Fellowship for the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, an organization working to conserve historic art and architecture while providing large-scale humanitarian aid to local communities across Pakistan. Lari is one of the three fellows this year, along with choreographer Analida Galindo from Panama, and designer Basel Nasr from Palestine.

The AFIELD fellowship takes the form of a $7,000 grant awarded annually to three artists and cultural practitioners who have initiated social projects catalyzing change and empowering their communities in long-term and tangible ways. This year, the AFIELD network nominated 24 projects for their contribution to the development of society. 28 members peer-reviewed the applications and collectively elected Yasmeen Lari for her contributions in conserving historic art and architecture while providing large-scale humanitarian aid to local communities across Pakistan.

Contemporary dancer, choreographer, teacher and cultural advocate Analida Galindo, was recognized for Enlaces Program, a community-based child protection program aimed to create opportunities through dance, access to cultural goods and non-formal education, for 350 children at risk in Santa Ana, Panama.

Designer, producer and animator Basel Nasr, was recognized for masna alrusoom almutaharrikah (Almasna), The Animated Workshop, to encourage collective production practices and motivate young people to acquire animation skills as a powerful tool for storytelling and self expression, in Ramallah, Palestine.

The AFIELD network is now composed of more than 80 members across the world. They are artists, curators, philanthropists, cultural managers and social entrepreneurs, who learn and exchange experiences in solidarity with one another. The organization is a network of cultural changemakers anchored in the fundamental belief that artists are essential to the fabric of society, as thinkers and visionaries.