An illuminated nomadic tent

Founding partner Soul City Arts brought to life the Culture Forward sponsored event 'Nomad: A Tent for Reflection' as part of the Birmingham Festival '23. This profound installation was showcased on Thursday 3rd August 2023 at the University’s Exchange building in Centenary Square and welcomed over 300 visitors.

The immersive experience featured a futuristic nomadic reflection space surrounded by an installation of prayer mats first seen during Waswasa. The public were also able to write their most cherished thoughts and du'as (prayers) on their own prayer mats.

Attendees were encouraged to step inside and reflect on what faith means to them and the times when they lost faith, which was captured on camera. These clips were deftly compiled into a same-day-edit short film which illuminated the giant LED screen in Centenary Square at 6:45 pm.

Nomad: A Tent for Reflection’ not only continued the University of Birmingham's commitment to fostering cultural engagement but also underscored Soul City Arts' dedication to creating meaningful experiences that resonate with the community.

Prayer mat installation
Member of the public looking at prayer mat installation.

Culture Forward is a new initiative that aims to bring the University, the City, and Birmingham’s cultural organisations into even closer and more creative conjunction.