arts residencies

Art workshop for refugee children

Dr Mohsen Keiany in partnership with Women’s Federation for World Peace, conducted a day workshop for children of refugee families. The art workshop was assisted by another artist – and former Head Teacher – Marjorie Saunders.

Around 30 children from a number of different countries, and ranging in age from 3 to 16 years old, enjoyed the experience and all of them were able to produce a good end product, as shown below. Dr Keiany had to use all of his teaching skills to cope with such a wide range of ages, and Marjorie was a big help in that respect, having considerable experience with smaller children.

Art workshops for Birmingham Central Mosque

Art workshops for Birmingham Central Mosque
The series of art workshops were successfully delivered for Birmingham Central Mosque in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Nechells Green Community Centre, Sufi Trust Foundation, and Moshen Keiany Artist in residency on following dates:
Sunday 25th October
Monday, 26th October
Wednesday, 28th October
Sunday 1st November
The participants were including families, adults, and young people. It offered a series of art Techniques such as watercolour, collage, mosaic making with an especial focus on Islamic art. The term of “identity” within the Islamic arts can be reflected in the use of Islamic patterns, tiles, ceramic and miniatures paintings.
As a key issue, which was expressed in my initial plan of artist in residency with BCC, these days art workshops were seeking to engage the Muslim community and to value their traditional art as well as open up new avenues to art making as a means of increasing greater understanding and tolerance between community groups. It is also attempted to increase the level of understanding and respecting cultural and religious differences under the golden rule of “humanity to others” which can be found in any culture.
The art workshops were particularly focused on Islamic arts (Islamic Calligraphy and patterns) and it delivered in Central Mosque free of charge. Some magnificent pieces of art were created by participants. Birmingham Central mosque is planning to organise more similar art workshops for Muslim community in near future.

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