T2F The Second Floor

T2F, formerly “The Second Floor” is the first project of PeaceNiche. A community space for open dialogue, T2F provides citizens with a platform for social change through rich cultural activities, public discourse, and advocacy using progressive ideas and the new media. PeaceNiche, a not-for-profit NGO, registered under the Societies Act of 1860, is committed to becoming a vibrant centre of Pakistan’s developing civil society. As part of our on-going commitment to creative expression and discourse, we are delighted to announce the launch of Faraar – A Playground for Creative Expression, a multi-purpose new media and visual arts space for artists, photographers and graphic designers.

Since its relocation, T2F has expanded its café offerings, and new items are added to the menu frequently. Our coffee is freshly brewed, our sandwiches and wraps are delicious, and we bake sweet and savoury treats every day. The ingredients used in creating our menu items are handpicked, fresh and mostly local. By buying local we ensure freshness and support for the local grocer whilst reducing our carbon footprint. Some of the most popular items on our menu include our Cappuccino, Chocolate Cupcakes, Brownies, Granola, and the Panini. Our freshly baked goodies include banana bread, lemon poppyseed bread, cookies, peanut butter chocolate bars, cinnamon rolls, and random experiments that are baked fresh at the café daily.
Our goal is to provide you with the freshest possible foods at affordable prices. Good food is not a privilege, it is a right, and we hope that you will come by to enjoy our culinary delights and support our cause. The café also includes an off-beat selection of books and magazines for browsing, as well as board games and puzzles. Wi-Fi is free and there are lots of power outlets to charge your gadgets les. Wi-Fi is free and there are lots of power outlets to charge your gadgets conveniently.

DISCOUNT BOOKSHOP

T2F’s bookshop stocks hundreds of English and Urdu titles covering South Asian fiction, current affairs, politics, film, music, graphic novels, women’s issues, science, philosophy, gender, etc. In addition to English titles, a comprehensive selection of Urdu prose, poetry and compilations are also available. Supporters of PeaceNiche regularly donate books, magazines, and journals which are then made available to the public at discounted prices.

FARAAR - A PLAYGROUND FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Faraar, which means ‘escape’ in Urdu, is a visual arts and new media space that was set up to incubate and showcase the work of emerging artists across a broad spectrum of genres. We are especially interested in compelling themes that raise questions and create opportunities for debate. Faraar provides a space for emerging artists, folk artists, graphic designers and photographers, especially those who take risks and experiment with mixed media and technology.

FARAAR SHOP

We are super excited to announce the Faraar Shop, a thela stocked with funky t-shirts, mugs, posters, art post-cards, chamak-patti notebooks and sketchpads, unique CDs, and a range of hand-painted truck art lamps, kettles, cups, and boxes.

RENTAL SPACE

The Faraar gallery space is a highly sought after venue for all kinds of events, from corporate product launches, to blogger meetups, talks and performances. Our AV-equipped Conference Room is ideal for small offsite meetings, and a quiet studio space, designed specially for entrepreneurs, researchers, writers, and creative people, is rented out on a monthly basis. E-mail us at info@peaceniche.org for rates and facilities.

Since its inception in May 2007, PeaceNiche, through its first project, T2F, has hosted several hundred events such as poetry readings, talks, discussions, film screenings, theatre performances, activist art, photo, and design exhibitions, and music sessions.
Personalities such as Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ardeshir Cowasjee, Ayesha Siddiqa, Justice Retired Javid Iqbal, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Attiya Dawood, Sehba Sarwar, Zeeshan Sahil, Khalid Ahmed, Musadiq Sanwal, Dr. Saad Shafqat, Wajid Jawad, Tina Sani, Asif Farrukhi, Sara Suleri, David Barsamian, Arshad Mahmud, Uzma Aslam Khan, Muneer A. Malik, Sheema Kermani, Intizar Hussain, Shuja Nawaz, Zehra Nigah, Mohammad Hanif, Salima Hashmi, Kamila Shamsie, Adil Najam, Ruhi Hamid, Jacqueline Novogratz, Rasa Chughtai, Shandana Minhas, Muneeze Shamsie, Madeeha Gauhar, Sania Saeed, Alice Albinia, Beena Sarwar, Salman Hameed, Fahmida Riaz, and Basharat Peer, have delivered talks, renditions, and readings at T2F. The informality of the space and the non-conventional, yet tightly managed approach to events ensure intense audience interaction and engagement with speakers.
To further its objectives of sensitizing people through the arts, PeaceNiche has, from time to time, offered a range of workshops in photography, art, design, tabla, guitar, and eastern classical singing. More workshops will be added in the future, and include sitar, drawing, dance, social media, and technology for activism.

Come and have a coffee at T2F, and while you are here, swap a story, play a game of chess or Boggle, share an idea, read, blow your own trumpet (or any other instrument you bring along), check out our funky murals, and make your own art on our bathroom blackboard.

PeaceNiche is committed to cultural and intellectual poverty alleviation. As a not-for-profit NGO, we count on the generosity of our supporters to enable us to continue our work. Each penny we make is used to enhance our cultural and educational programming, initiate new projects, and meet operating costs.
By purchasing coffee, food, books, t-shirts, and artwork from us, you will make an invaluable contribution to the sustainability of PeaceNiche.