The V&A Families team is running a bumper weekend of activities on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June to mark Refugee Week 2015. We have taken inspiration from the beautiful objects and panels in our display, A Room from Damascus, on show in the Islamic Middle East Gallery.
If you would like to make something to take home, come up to the lunchroom on Level 3 anytime between 10:30 and 17:00 on Sunday to join our Drop-in Design event. Artist Natalie Ryde will help you to make your own miniature room that reflects your interests and personalities. You can use a range of drawing and collage materials to make a precious room inside a box. All materials provided and free of charge.
If you fancy a spot of story-telling, join Alia Alzougbi and Louai Alhenawi from Diwan for our Pop-up Performances at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 on both days. Performances will be located in the Islamic Middle East Gallery (near the Grand Entrance) and last 25-30 minutes each. The heart of the traditional Damascene household was the diwan, a place where discussions were shared and stories were told. Alia and Louai will share interactive stories and music from Syria. Prepare to take part in telling the stories yourselves! Free of charge and all ages welcome.
Bethnal Green Museum; August – September 1929.
Alia Alzougbi is a producer, performer and educator. Louai Alhenawi is a Syrian musician, teacher and composer. The Diwan Foundation which is a London-based non-profit organization with a focus on music, storytelling and dance from the Eastern Mediterranean, Western Asia and North Africa.
Natalie Ryde is an artist specialising in drawing and participatory projects with children and families in museums, galleries and historic buildings. Her studio is in Hackney Wick where you can visit on the 27th and 28th of June 12-6pm as part of the Hackney Wick DIY open studios event.
Behind-the-scenes – if you would like to know more about the ‘A Room from Damascus’ display, we have a series of interesting blog posts that will take you through the curatorial process – from initial research to installation.
Curator Mariam Rosser-Owen tells the amazing story of how the Damascus Room entered the V&A collection in the 1890s and its mixed fortunes since then – HERE
Conservator Charlotte Hubbard explains how panels from the room were prepared for display – HERE
Exhibition Designer Kate Beaumont leads us through the process of designing a display – HERE
The display being installed in April 2015 – HERE
