Running from April to June, the award-winning Muslim Arts and Culture Festival offers an eclectic and enlightening programme of online and in-person workshops for all ages and abilities across various Greater Manchester spaces, from silk painting and calligraphy to carpet patterns and candle-making.
The following saturday, artist and educator Alaa Zalat leads a free online creative recycling workshop, dedicated to giving old objects a new lease of life.
In the one-off evening class, Alaa will teach the process of making a self-portrait candle, showcasing individual personality with colours and scents. Afterwards, participants will learn how to preserve family memories for a lifetime through unique pieces of art made from your various beloved items.
On Sat 26 Apr, Aysha heads to Bolton for another edition of her silk painting workshop, where guests from around the region can learn about the history of silk and utilise both painting methods and fabric applications to create their own pieces.
This workshop is beginner-friendly and suitable for children 7+ years of age ( accompanied by an adult if 7-11 years old).
Book your spot below.
Over at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, you can discover the wonder of Arabic calligraphy with a free afternoon class on Tue 27 May.
Throughout the workshop, esteemed calligraphist Farzana Patel will share her passion for the historic form while showing guests how to make their own enchanting pieces with style and creativity.
On Sat 28 Jun, MACFEST stages a captivating Turkish/Ottoman illuminated floral arts workshop with artist and illumination student, Ashfia Ashrif.
Following last year’s immensely popular class, returnees and first-time artists alike are invited to join Ashfia and Oldham Library, where she’ll showcase the magic of illuminated art and discuss her stellar career.
Later in the afternoon, Didsbury Library welcomes freehand specialist Lizzie Hobbs to lead a whistle-stop tour of patterns and designs from the Silk Road, before guests will make their own bookmark inspired by carpet designs.
Over two hours of joyous creativity, you’ll learn how to construct Persian carpet patterns and paint in your drawings for a vibrant, intricate piece to take home with you.
macfest.org.uk
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Thu 6 Mar 2025
On Sat 12 Apr, multidisciplinary artist and creative practitioner Aysha Yilmaz hosts a fascinating silk painting workshop at Central Library, in which guests will use motifs and designs from the ancient Silk Road trade route to create a spellbinding artwork to take home.
Throughout the session, Aysha will expound on the origins and production of silk and the history of various motifs, before demonstrating how to apply the designs to silk fabric and demonstrating techniques of filling in with silk paints.
Book your spot below.