Decolonizing the Page: A Forgotten Golden Age of Arabic Book Arts (1950s-80s)
14 November 2026, 3-6pm

Join us for a special launch event of Decolonizing the Page: A Forgotten Golden Age of Arabic Book Arts (1950s–80s), a new online exhibition and archival resource exploring a remarkable period of Arabic book arts emerging from the artistic, political, and intellectual ferment of decolonization across the Arab world.

The launch will start with a panel of presentations featuring researcher and curator Zeina Maasri, the design team, Sophie Demay, Jana Traboulsi (joining remotely) and Erik Hartin, alongside Daniel Lowe from the British Library. This will be followed by a conversation chaired by Venetia Porter. Highlights include a screening of Kais al-Zubaidi’s short Testimony of Palestinian Children in Wartime (1972, 18’).

Bring a book from your own library and participate in a show and tell curated with Maqam Books before we celebrate with refreshments.

This event is a collaboration between University of Bristol, British Library, Maqam Books and Mosaic Rooms.