Ensemble Safaa UK performance at the IKON gallery Birmingham
The Birmingham Qur’an manuscript is said to be one of the oldest in the world, held at the Cadbury Research Library, part of the University of Birmingham. Soul City Arts has previously worked with University in bringing out the manuscript for various exhibitions and installations.
We are proud to be supporting the University of Birminghams Culture Forward programme, with a major part of is the heritage project ‘Qur’an In The City’, Soul City Arts Mohammed Ali has been invited to artistically lead the project which involves various partners in the city. One of the installations is a concept entitled ‘The Sleepers’ inspired by the Qur’anic verse of ‘The Cave’.
As part of the wider launch of Quran In the City, a performance from Ensamble Safaa UK takes place at the Ikon Gallery (see in the video). The performance was accompanied by a series of talks from academics and live art workshops.
King Edwards Edgbaston Boys Quran Study Day
As we get underway with the Quran in the City, The King Edwards Foundation hosted a Quran Study day at the King Edwards Edgbaston Boys School, inviting students from all schools within the foundation. There are various events that are part of the Quran in the City as the project grows with multiple partners delivering their own Quran-related events.
The day involved talks about the religion of Islam along with calligraphy workshops and commenced with a lecture from Soul City Arts founder, Mohammed Ali, about his journey as a visual artist and how he was inspired by his Muslim faith
The Sleepers
In September 2024, Soul City Arts is launched a new immersive art installation entitled the ‘Sleepers’.The project invited the public into an immersive arts installation at “Port Hope” in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. Guided by a host, visitors entered a cave-like setting with soundscapes that evoked a sense of isolation from urban life, transporting them from the industrial city center to a desert landscape.
