Educational

In 2008, husband and wife team of Canadian artist Drew Harris and Malaysian born artist/educator Sharifah Mazwari
started AWAS ART/DESIGN and AWAS ARTWORKS/ARTSPACE in Penang Malaysia. Situated in the heart of Georgetown,
Penang, AWAS is a 1700 sq' fully integrated design studio, fine art workshop and education facility emphasizing a
multi disciplinary arts environment.

The AWAS mission is to assist in educating and to help build a broader understanding of the arts today both from a
national and international perspective, thus allowing students to fully appreciate and understand how arts and culture
play a very important role in the lives of Malaysian families.

The approach that AWAS takes is a tactile, hands on approach to education, our philosophy is to have our students
understand “why” art and culture is important in their respective lives and through this understanding, build upon their
individual creative strengths and abilities that each student inherently possess.

Sure, we can teach a student to draw and paint, however, it's our mandate to have our students understand “why” as
opposed to “how”. Once an individual understands the “why”, the “how” follows close behind.

AWAS is not only a teaching centre, we have created an environment that stretches well beyond the normal classroom
type of education. Film nights that concentrate on arts related issues, studio tours and discussions with local and
international artists, field trips to local galleries and museums, inventive exhibitions for our students that will have them
“look outside the box” and challenge conventional ways of understanding, viewing and presenting their art.

AWAS is a resource centre with an extensive library for student's of all ages, where one can sit quietly and immerse
themselves in the rich history of arts and cultures internationally.

AWAS is a fully wireless studio, encouraging our students to engage in the internet and the expansive database on arts
and arts related matters the this electronic medium has to offer.

As educators and practicing artists, we understand what the challenges may be in the lives of our youth and we believe
that through art, communication and dialogue, some of our students questions and personal concerns can be answered
and new discoveries made through art.

We welcome an open and honest dialogue with our students and encourage each individual to approach their creative
expression in an environment that is safe, secure and most of all, encouraging for all who participate in our programmes.

Sincerely,
Sharifah Mazwari and Drew Harris,
AWAS Directors