Abasin Arts Council

Abasin Arts Council (AAC) is an art gallery located behind the Peshawar Museum in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Established in October 1955 as Abasin Arts Society by Peshawar Commissioner Musarat Husain Zuberi, it was later renamed Abasin Arts Council in 1967.

Initially operated from a two-room space in Peshawar Cantonment before moving near Peshawar Museum in 1956. Relocated to Nishtar Hall in 1988, where it hosted exhibitions and nurtured artists like Ahmad Faraz, Qalandar Momand, and Ismail Gulgee. It also hosted early exhibitions for legends like Ustad Allah Bakhsh and international artists (e.g., a collaborative show with a Chinese artist in the 1950s).

Over the decades, the AAC has been a nurturing ground for artists, writers, and performers, offering a platform for exhibitions, literary gatherings, and theatrical performances.

The Council has been recognizing outstanding contributions in Urdu, Pashto, and Hindko literature. For instance, in 2024, awards were conferred upon poets and writers for their exemplary works, including Bushra Farukh’s Larkia Band Kitabo Jaisi and Waheeda Malik’s Mata-i-Sukhan.

Emphasizing the importance of Pakistan’s linguistic heritage, the AAC has been advocating for the preservation and promotion of various regional languages through literature and research.

In partnership with the Bank of Khyber, the AAC hosted an award distribution ceremony in July 2024, celebrating the achievements of local artists and reinforcing the Council’s role in cultural development.