Are you interested in Islamic art and textiles and based in Kensington and Chelsea?
Join artist Nour Hage in a series of 5 workshops where you’ll learn new skills and co-create a textile artwork inspired by Leighton House’s Arab Hall and their newly acquired textile collection. The artwork will be displayed as part of Kheit, an upcoming exhibition exploring the threads connecting Britain and the Arab world in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Participants will also have the opportunity to shape the curation of the exhibition through contributing to texts, digital display and event ideas.
No experience required to take part but a willingness to learn, share and create with a group is a must!
Who we’re looking for
Adults aged 18 and over based in Kensington and Chelsea
No previous textiles experience is required
Enthusiasm for textiles and Islamic art
Open to people of all backgrounds, however we particularly encourage applications from people of Arab heritage due to the focus of the project
Workshop and Application Details
8 spaces available
Participants must be able to attend all workshop dates
Sessions will be run in English
Participants will receive a £25 fee per workshop (5 workshops total)
All workshops held at Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London, W14 8LZ
Workshop Dates
Saturday 21st January 2023; 10am – 1pm
Sunday 22nd January 2023; 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
Saturday 28th January 2023; 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
How to apply
Participants can apply by submitting an application form by Sunday 4 December at midday.
Electronic application forms – please fill in the form here.
Paper application forms can also be found at Leighton House Welcome Desk and at libraries around the Borough. Please send completed application forms by post to: Charlotte Villiers, Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ or drop them at Leighton House to the attention of Charlotte Villiers.
Any questions? Please contact Charlotte Villiers on Charlotte.Villiers@rbkc.gov.uk or info@arabbritishcentre.org.uk
This project is a collaboration between the Arab British Centre and Leighton House, supported by the Barakat Trust’s Hands on Islamic Art Grant, made possible by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
About the Project Partners
Nour Hage is an award-winning British-Lebanese artist and designer, working across textile and digital. Her practice is centered on the exploration of Middle Eastern identities, culture, history & storytelling with a particular focus on the role of women, the supernatural and mental wellbeing.
The Arab British Centre is a London-based charity which works to further understanding of the Arab world in the UK. Arab Britain is our programming theme that sets out to explore and document the history, achievements and experiences of Arabs in Britain. Through exhibitions, commissions, and community engagement programmes we aim to overturn preconceptions and challenge prejudices, retrace the ways the Arab world has influenced and shaped British culture and society, and celebrate the contributions of Arabs in Britain, past and present.
Leighton House is the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The highlight of any visit is the extraordinary Arab Hall which reflects Leighton’s fascination with the Middle East and presents an extraordinary collection of Islamic tiles and mosaic floors. The museum has recently completed a major redevelopment which has provided additional gallery space, a new café, improved facilities and a dedicated learning centre. Both the restored wing and the historic house are now step-free access for the first time.
The Barakat Trust was founded as a UK charity in 1987 and operates for educational and heritage purposes focusing on the heritage of the Islamic world. We provide scholarships and grants for study and research projects at the world’s most respected academic and cultural institutions at post-graduate and post-doctoral level. We support conservation and documentation work, travel for research and education, training programmes, including the training of conservation professionals and curators. We fund publications, and the digitisation of significant collections, and support other projects that preserve the heritage of the Islamic world, raise awareness, and engage with diverse audiences.
They work in partnership with a wide range of institutions who share common interests.
Over the past 30 years, they have invested resources in building the skills of heritage professionals and supporting projects in 40 countries. Many of our 750 grantees have long-standing relationships with The Trust, developed over decades.
The Barakat Trust is an international non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian and independent charity based in the United Kingdom.