Islamic Arts & Heritage Festival 2024 • Vision RCL

Islamic Arts & Heritage Festival 2024

This November, Vision RCL is supporting local communities to celebrate Islamic Arts and Heritage as part of Islamophobia Awareness Month. 

In Redbridge Central Library, the Islamic Arts & Heritage Festival aims to promote cultural understanding, shared learning, and community cohesion through exhibition displays, engaging families in arts and crafts activities, short film screenings, recommended book collections and much more. 

Everyone is welcome and invited to take part, to learn and gain a greater understanding of our borough’s rich cultural diversity.

Activities on the day: Sunday 17 November, 11am – 4pm

Performance – Children from Al Noor Primary School will open the festival at 11am with a recitation from the Qur’an. A school choir will also perform a song and demonstrate their drumming skills on traditional drums.

Studio 2

  • Geometric Stencil Designs – an interactive activity for children and adults to use various stencils of geometric design and create their own prints to take away.
  • Under 5s Activity: Decorate a Mosque – Children can choose from 3 different mosques to decorate. They will use coloured tissue paper, glitter paper, and lace. They will also learn where each mosque is located in the world. 
  • Famous Quotes – an interactive activity where participants match a quote with the famous person who said it. 
  • Exhibition – A small display showcasing the history and origins of coffee linked with the Islamic traditions. There will be facts and a timeline of the history as well as objects on display (i.e., coffee pots, cups, coffee grinder).
  • Exhibition – there will be an exhibition on the history of coffee
  • Redbridge Museum and Heritage Team invites you to watch a short film they have created about the local Muslim experience

Children’s Library

Short films -there will be two short films shared throughout the day

  • The Golden Age of Islam – showcasing Islamic inventions
  • The History of Coffee – examining the Islamic roots of this popular drink

Lab Central: 12:30pm – 3:30pm

Islamic Geometry Ornaments – Explore the rich history of Islamic architecture by tracing geometric patterns inspired by iconic mosques and holy sites across Europe and Central Asia. Learn the stories behind each design, connecting with centuries of Islamic artistry and its architectural legacy. Using air-dry glass paints and Posca pens, create a beautiful ornament that captures light and brings a touch of this historic art into your own home.

Outside Terrace

Soft Archery – Practice your target shooting by having a go at soft archery and learn its (little known) link to Islam. 

Two target boards located outside with bows – the bows are rubber ended.

Islamophobia Awareness Exhibition, Wednesday 13th to Monday 18th November – RCL Foyer, during library opening hours

The Islamophobia Awareness Exhibition highlights the positive contributions of Muslims, and the challenges faced by Muslims in tackling Islamophobia. 

You can also view the exhibition here: https://www.islamophobia-awareness.org/iam-exhibition/

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