Inks, Pigments & Plants at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the MIAH Foundation and the University of Birmingham are delighted to invite you to a day of exploring how plants and nature inspired the colour palettes and materials used by medieval artists from the Islamic world. You will learn about how artists used plants, rocks and minerals to create inks, pigments and dyes to write and decorate Islamic manuscripts through demonstrations, creative activities to explore art and design of Islamic manuscripts, and a supported trail through the Gardens to find plants that were used to create dyes and pigments.

This event is being supported by the University of Birmingham's ⁠Culture Forward initiative, which aims to bring the University, the City, and Birmingham’s cultural organisations into closer and more creative collaboration.

There are sessions being run. You select the session with which you will start during registration and groups will then rotate through the activities. There are sessions being run. You select the session with which you will start during registration and groups will then rotate through the activities. At the end of each session, you will be directed to the place of the next session. PLEASE ONLY BOOK THE ONE SESSION THAT YOU WILL START WITH - at the end of each session, you will be directed to the place of the next session.

SESSION A –Inks, Pigments & Plants: Learn how the colour palette of medieval artists was inspired by nature. Dr Neelam Hussain (curator of of Middle Eastern Manuscripts at the Cadbury Research Library) will give an interactive talk with demonstrations on the process of ink-making and making pigments from plants, earth and even rocks.

SESSION B – The Qur’an & Calligraphy: explore the calligraphy and patterns used in the Islamic manuscripts, see a replica of the Birmingham Qur’an Manuscript, and contribute to the copying of the New Birmingham Qur’an [INSERT LINK].

SESSION C – Explore the Gardens: Explore plants within the Gardens that have been traditionally used in creating an array of beautiful botanical dyes - from lush yellows to deep blues. Pick up a free trail- our friendly Conservation Ranger, Sila, will be in the glasshouses and the Gardens throughout the day to help you find these special plants.

Please note: Registration for this event covers all three sessions. By selecting your ticket type, you are choosing the activity you will start with. Groups will then rotate through the activities. Please only register for one session – this is the session you will start with before rotating to the other sessions.

Tickets: Free - this event is being funded by the University of Birmingham. To ensure that resources are not wasted, we ask that you only sign up for this event if you are sure you will be able to attend. The ticket allows you free access to the Gardens after the event finishes at 2pm. Make it a day: why not bring a picnic to enjoy with your friends and family? Gardens are open until 6pm.

Time: 11am – 2pm.

Please arrive at 11am. Each session starts on the hour and will last 45 minutes.

How to get there: visit How To Find Us - Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We advise you to use public transport. If you are driving, please note that there is a flat-rate parking fee of £3 (pay on exit)

Meeting Point – Green gate at the back of the car park, a member of the team will be there to greet you.

Access requirements? Disability And Access Guide For Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Media Consent: Please be aware that photography and filming are taking place and by registering for this event you are giving your consent to this. If you prefer not to appear in filming and/or photography, or if you change your mind, please inform the photographer at the beginning of the session being photographed/filmed.

You can find out more about upcoming events with the MIAH Foundation here: Upcoming Events at the MIAH Foundation

Host or Publisher The Museum of Islamic Arts & Heritage (MIAH) Foundation, Birmingham