Since 2022, I have successfully worked on several freelance roles and projects which are local to Manchester and Greater Manchester. These have included designing and curating programmes with diverse artist and communities in both outdoor and indoor settings. Work includes programming live music, theatre, festivals, conversations and workshops.

Sundook, translation: suitcase/trunk/chest, is a community project collecting and preserving memories of migration to Burnley by South Asian men aged 60+. Participants understood art and history through unpacking culture, collecting objects, resulting in a beautiful portrait exhibition and film. Sundook is a heritage and place-making project which promises to preserve local cultural narratives and stories in a modern chest of memories which will live on for generations.

A ten year project that saw the introduction of grass-root community projects and festivals with BAME artists and communities to increase representation and engagement in the arts sector as well as address health and well-being and community engagement priorities. Projects included workshops, exhibitions, live performances and collaborations with wider projects in Lancashire, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.

Developing and delivering a groundbreaking project called 'Festival in My House' across Manchester and Greater Manchester. This involved co-designing and co-curating each micro-festival in homes and neighbourhoods with diverse communities and abilities. Supporting the wider vision of MIF/Factory International to ideate, produce and deliver a more diverse programme and outlook in the city in particular with South Asian and Muslim communities across Manchester.

Developing a community programme and strategy for business customers across the city. Delivering a full, authentic and inclusive community programme tailored to business, creative and social needs of individuals and organisations that occupied new and old Bruntwood buildings in the city centre. This included digital and physical design of all content and connectivity across several key buildings in the city and a regular community programme for business customers to experience and network.

Rizwan is the lead curator and director for Salaam Festival which explores the future of Islamic art from around the world. Through the festival he aims to curate a platform for diverse artists and performers to showcase their work in music, dance and visual art, to inspire the next generation of audiences and increase the representation of artists and communities from minority ethnic cultures.