Nur Shkembi is a Melbourne based contemporary Muslim artist and the current Arts officer at the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV). The ICV is the first Islamic federal or state council to officially develop an Arts Portfolio in Australia. Nur is actively engaging herself in the community to discover and nurture the newly emerging and unique expression of Australian Islamic art and the growing community of Australian Muslim artists. Nur is also the Muslim representative on the Arts and Culture Committee of the Parliament of World's Religions, the largest Interfaith event in the world. She is also a member of a various other committees dedicated to the arts and has co-curated, consulted and written for a number of Melbourne based exhibitions. The ICV recently had its inaugural exhibition “You Am I: An Exhibition of Contemporary Australian Muslim Artists” in February 2009.     

1. What is the link between your spirituality and your creativity?
The human soul and the mind’s heart is inextricably linked to our ephemeral existence. Creativity is a natural and joyous function of our worldly communication. Our creativity is part of an undefined and open, living volume of thought processes, emotions , intimate spiritual and life experiences.  

2. Where do you draw your inspiration from? My inspiration for the most part comes from a deeply internal and spiritual dialogue that is of course part of the serenity I feel when I am creating something that is in praise of Allah. I also create from what I call my ‘empty space’, much contemporary art is a statement or plea by the artist and is usually a direct expression or response to their intellectual, spiritual, social and physical environment.             

3. What will you be hoping to take away from the CSP event? I hope to exchange ideas and be challenged intellectually and creatively.  I, of course, also hope to connect with other creative and spiritual artists both personally and professionally.   

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