As we begin planning our 2026 programming, and as part of our commitment to those who live locally, we would like to pause and assess how accessible our programming is to those living in Balsall Heath and its surrounding areas.
Have you been interested in our programming but have been unable to visit due to costs or other factors? If so, would you like to be added to a priority list for free/subsidised events? Your answers will help us plan future activities and prioritise resources based on community needs.
This survey is quick, anonymous, and your voice really helps.
Survey deadline: 24th January 2026, 6pm
Link for survey in the bio/below:
https://forms.gle/NJ32S3rCdGMcD7Au8
Image Reference: Ceiling of the Tomb of Hafez in Shiraz, Iran. Wikipedia
#localcommunity #communitysurvey #artworkshops #heritagecrafts #gallery #heritagearts #birmingham #yourvoicematters
Happy New Year to all our followers and supporters 🥳. May 2026 be full of blessings and joy and put humanity on the path of healing from the horrors we have had to witness being carried out to our brothers and sisters around the world.
Thank you for all your support, well-wishes and prayers along the way. We are grateful that we are privileged enough to enjoy moments of joy and success and that we are part of a community that values our work.
The beginning of 2025 was difficult as we said goodbye to our apprentices Areeba and Iqra as they moved on to new ventures. They had helped set the rhythm of our programming since we opened and it was difficult to imagine MIAH without them, but we soon took on a new team, including a creative lead and an apprentice assistant curator who brought new skills. Alhamdulillah, 2025 has seen a new record in visitor numbers to the gallery - a 42% increase - which shows how much our work is needed. Our Arts & Textiles of the Hajj exhibition enjoyed a huge response from people from the region and across the UK. We introduced regular calligraphy courses as well as a wider range of workshops, including the art of illumination and manuscript decoration. 2025 also saw a massive response to our open call to contemporary artists inspired by the arts and traditions found across the Muslim majority world.
We hope you all continue to support us in our journey in 2026. Thanks also to the various partner organisations and artists who have worked with us including @unibirmingham@printandmatter@markazreview@p21_gallery@zawyeh@cadburyrl@creative_alliance@inspirehub.community@haseebah_prints@sofia_niazi@emerald.network@ramiramari_art@anotherartsyboii@haneefahusmani@artbynoori@soulective_treasures@circles.and.lines@ahafifa@danielle.krikorian@safiraarts@stiffpaintbrush@maryamdoesart_@anam.zafar.art@hira_kamil14@sarahbandspaints@ortgallery and many others.
#2026 #happynewyear
New workshop! ✨
This workshop is set to take place is at Museum of Islamic Arts and Heritage Gallery (@miahfoundation ) in Balsall Heath and for participants will be a blend of meditative reflection and artistic practice, particularly working with watercolour and the theme of ‘Gratitude flows’
Take some time to unwind, connect and create 🤍
A few early bird tickets are available- grab these now via the booking link. Scan the QR code or click the link on the IG bio for @Soulective_Treasures
#soulective_treasures #watercolourart #birmingham #islamicartinspiration #birminghamartworkshop
This workshop is being delivered as supportive programming for our upcoming in-house exhibition, 'Under the Sultan's Shadow', shown at the MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery.
Iznik art is distinguished by bold colours like cobalt blue, turquoise, emerald green, black and deep red. By the mid-16th century, artisans developed elaborate compositions such as flowers arranged in vases and spiralling scrolls with delicate leaves and flowers. In this workshop, you will paint a plate in the style of classical-era Ottoman pottery.
Age:
Suitable for adults and children aged 12+ years.
For safeguarding reasons, the accompanying adult for under 18's must remain in the building and be available and accessible throughout the session.
📅 Date: Saturday 9th May 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 Place: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery | 496
Moseley Road | Balsall Heath, Birmingham | B12 9AH
Tickets:
General Admission Fee: £15.00
Concessionary Fee: £12.50
Booking link in Bio!
This workshop is being delivered as part of the 'Balsall Heath Second Saturdays' programme - a monthly mini-festival celebrating creativity, community, local culture and the arts, held on the second Saturday of every month.
Image References: Tile, Iznik Cini; Tile, The Fitzwilliam Museum, C.14; Basin, The British Museum, G.66; Iznik Dish, The Met, 52.1.17
This workshop is being delivered as supportive programming for our upcoming in-house exhibition, 'Under the Sultan's Shadow', shown at the MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery.
Under Suleiman’s patronage, the Ottomans developed their own style of tilework. By the 1530s, artisans added pale purples and greens to the Chinese blue-and-white colour scheme, and designs had become increasingly flowing and naturalistic. The artform peaked by the mid-16th century, and Iznik tiles now featured stronger colours that included a deep red, black outlines, and a range of flowing motifs developed by the nakkaşhane. In this workshop, you will paint a plate in the style of classical-era Ottoman pottery.
Age:
Suitable for adults and children aged 12+ years.
For safeguarding reasons, the accompanying adult for under 18's must remain in the building and be available and accessible throughout the session.
📅 Date: Saturday 9th May 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 Place: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery | 496
Moseley Road | Balsall Heath, Birmingham | B12 9AH
Tickets:
General Admission Fee: £15.00
Concessionary Fee: £12.50
Booking link in Bio!
This workshop is being delivered as part of the 'Balsall Heath Second Saturdays' programme - a monthly mini-festival celebrating creativity, community, local culture and the arts, held on the second Saturday of every month.
Image Reference: Iznik Dish, The Met, 52.1.17
#iznikpottery #ottoman #islamicart #pottery #blue #turkish #flowers #moseley
The course offers a practical introduction to the Naskh script, the traditional script used for copying the Qur'an.
Participants will learn the art of Islamic Calligraphy, mastering basic strokes, pen angles and letter construction, moving from the use of calligraphy pens to the qalam/reed pen. Through hands-on guidance, participants will explore techniques and traditions, learning the rules of proportion for all Arabic alphabet letters.
The course is open to people of all abilities and backgrounds. No knowledge of written or spoken Arabic is required. Participants with some prior experience in calligraphy or an interest in improving their letter formations may also attend.
Suitable for ages 14+
📅 Date: Saturday 6th June - Saturday 27th July 2026
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
📍 Place: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery | 496
Moseley Road | Balsall Heath, Birmingham | B12 9AH
Tickets:
Early Bird Course Fee (available until 13th May 2026, 11 PM): £125
Standard Course Fee: £150
Installment Option: If you would like to pay by two equal installments, you can reserve your space with the first payment. The second payment will be due by 22nd May 2026. We will email you a link for the second payment.
Ticket link in bio!
Image credits: Naskh calligraphy by 18th-century master Mehmet Sevki Efendi.
#calligraphy #naskh #islamicarts #quranicscript #moseley #birmingham #gallery
The MIAH Foundation is excited to announce the launch of our new in-house exhibition, Under the Sultan's Shadow: How Imperial Identity Shaped Ottoman Life and Culture. The exhibition will explore how the Ottomans consciously layered their identity onto the cultural, historical, and religious legacies of the lands they ruled. That identity shaped the empire’s institutions, arts, and public life, leaving a lasting impact across society.
Few Muslim dynasties capture our imagination quite like the great Ottoman Empire. The exhibition is designed to tackle our preconceptions head-on, as we explore the Ottomans on their own terms through exhibition text, as well as their illustrated manuscripts, mapwork, and artwork. This includes a facsimile of the menazilname, Ottoman statesman Matrakçı Nasuh's illustrated account of sultan Suleiman's campaigns in Iraq, the famous maps of explorer Piri Reis, and a 16th century Ottoman Dome of the Rock tile that once adorned al-Masjid al- Aqṣā.
📅From 14th May 2026 (Thursdays - Saturdays)
⏰ Time: 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Place: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery | 496
Moseley Road | Balsall Heath, Birmingham | B12 9AH
*STEP FREE ACCESS*
Please use the front doorbell or call us at 07737609025 and a member of staff will assist you with step-free access via the back entrance.
Booking link in bio! (We strongly advise pre-booking your tickets. Walk-ins will be accommodated where possible).
Image reference: Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66), The Met Museum, 38.149.2.
#ottoman #exhibition #sultan #moseley #birmingham #islamicartsgallery #turkish #tughra #blue #gold #signature #history #arts #culture #society
From paintings in manuscripts and albums to the surface decoration of monumental architecture, the Mughals are well known for their interest in painting detailed studies of flowers. Flowers symbolised beauty, paradise, and divine perfection. While the flowers were painted to look realistic, they were drawn in a unique style with a distinct colour palette and became known as Mughal Flowers.
In this workshop, you will study Mughal flowers and create your own flower painting on canvas in the style of 17th-century albums from Mughal India. You will
learn painting techniques used to paint these flowers, such as flooding and layering, dry-brush painting to add details and fine outlines. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop offers a creative journey into the intersection of art, history, and botany.
All materials are provided.
Age:
Suitable for adults and children aged 12+ years.
For safeguarding reasons, the accompanying adult for under 18's must remain in the building and be available and accessible throughout the session.
📅 Date: Saturday 11th April 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
📍 Place: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery | 496
Moseley Road | Balsall Heath, Birmingham | B12 9AH
Tickets:
- Standard Ticket: £15.00 (+ ticket fees)
- Concessions (students, low-income, over 65s): £12.50 (+ ticket fees)
Ticket link in bio!
Image: Taj Mahal, Asitjain / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
This workshop is being delivered as part of the 'Balsall Heath Second Saturdays'.
#artgallery #thingstodoinbirmingham #mughalflowers #mughalindia #mughalalbums #art #painting #drawing #flowers #balsallheath #balsallheathsecondsaturdays
HELP US KEEP OUR GALLERY OPEN
The Museum of Islamic Arts & Heritage Foundation, or MIAH, is a community-based, non-profit gallery based in Moseley, Birmingham. We celebrate the rich history, arts, and traditions of the Islamic world.
Over the past 2 years, we have done some AMAZING work! We hosted 9 exhibitons, delivered over 130 workshops and collaborated with over 30 organisations in Birmingham.
The exhibitions were accompanied by creative programming to promote heritage traditions such as, Tatreez, an embroidery technique recognised as an important symbol of Palestinian cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2021. The embroided motifs reflect a woman's journey and regional identity. The participants stitched their own motifs.
Despite the tremendous growth over the last 2 years, however, we still operate without any long-term funding.
If you have ever enjoyed any of our events, please consider donating to our Launchgood campaign (link in bio).
We have raised over £800 so far. Every contribution makes a big difference. If you cannot donate, please share the campaign with your network; we are relying on your support.
Your support helps keep this space alive for our community.
#islamicartgallery #artgallery #museum #heritage #islamicarts #moseley #birmingham #muslim #history #tradition #tatreez
HELP US KEEP OUR GALLERY OPEN
The Museum of Islamic Arts & Heritage Foundation, or MIAH, is a community-based, non-profit gallery based in Moseley, Birmingham. We celebrate the rich history, arts, and traditions of the Islamic world.
Despite the tremendous growth over the last 2 years, however, we still operate without any long-term funding.
If you have ever enjoyed any of our events, please consider donating to our Launchgood campaign (link in bio).
We have raised over £650 so far. Every contribution makes a big difference. If you cannot donate, please share the campaign with your network; we are relying on your support.
Your support helps keep this space alive for our community.
#islamicartgallery #artgallery #museum #heritage #islamicarts #moseley #birmingham #muslim #history #tradition
Drop-in at the MIAH Gallery to create your own Eid cards inspired by Islamic geometry.
In this drop-in workshop, we will be drawing a famous 8-petalled rosette geometry pattern that is used all across Islamic architecture on a card, that can then be given to a friend, family, or loved one as a wonderful, hand-made Eid gift!
As a drop-in class, participants can arrive and take part at any point during the session. However, each card will take around 45 minutes to make, so please allow enough time to complete your design. All materials will be provided.
The sessions are designed for families with children aged 7+.
Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the session in the gallery. Therefore, please book an additional ticket for the accompanying adult.
For safeguarding reasons, the accompanying adult for children over 11 must remain in the building and be available and accessible throughout the session.
📅 Dates: Saturday 14th March 2026
⏰ Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
📍 Place: MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery | 496 Moseley Road | Balsall Heath, Birmingham | B12 9AH
Tickets: (excluding Eventbrite fees)
Standard Fee: £3.50
Ticket link in Bio!
#eid #celebration #eidcard #birmingham #islamicarts #thingstodoinbirmingham
HELP US TO KEEP OUR GALLERY OPEN!
We have done so much amazing work here at MIAH over the past two and a half years. Through our courses, workshops, and exhibitions, we have raised the profile of Islamic arts and heritage, teaching so many from diverse backgrounds and experiences in the process. We are the UK's only community-based, non-profit Islamic Arts & Heritage gallery.
We have grown and grown over the years - seeing record visitor numbers in 2025, establishing ourselves as a valued community space, and we now have connections with schools, educational groups, and diverse communities from all across Birmingham.
However, we operate without any long-term funding. Without your support, the MIAH Foundation may close as soon as April. If you have ever enjoyed any of our events, or want to support us to secure our long-term future, please donate to our Launchgood campaign (link in bio). Swipe left to see some of the amazing perks we have devised for the donors! If you cannot donate, please share the campaign with your network; we are relying on your support.
LINK IN BIO ❤️
#launchgood #fundraising #donations #artgallery #heritage #islamicarts #moseley #birmingham #islamicartsgallery
