Specialised art workshops in cooperation with the Department of Culture and Tourism
The Fujairah School for Arabic Calligraphy and Ornamentation recently conducted a series of specialised art workshops in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. These workshops are part of a cultural programme that included a number of sites in the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. These workshops came within the framework of joint cooperation aimed at providing practical artistic experiences focusing on Islamic arts and manuscript arts, and enhancing the cultural presence of these arts in society.
The programme included a range of diverse workshops, delivered by specialist instructors from the school. These covered gilding, classical illumination, botanical watercolour painting, miniaturism, and gold leaf techniques. These workshops provided participants with an opportunity to learn about traditional techniques associated with manuscript arts, alongside practical training that helped them to understand the fine details of each art form.
The first workshops kicked off on 12th October 2025 with the “Art of Gilding” workshop, presented by trainer Numarg in the Innovation Hall at the Main Zayed Library in Al Ain. Participants learned the basics of gilding and methods for using gold in traditional ornamentation. This was followed by the workshop “Botanical Watercolour Painting: Flora and Fauna” on 26th October, presented by trainer Shaivon in the Creativity Hall at the same library. This session focused on painting plants and natural organisms using techniques based on close observation and colour gradation.
On 16th November, the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation hosted the “Classical Illumination” workshop presented by trainer Namarq, where participants learned about the floral motifs used in decorating Islamic manuscripts and the methods for their execution. A workshop on “The Art of Miniature Painting: Drawing Trees in Miniature Style” was also held on 9th November in the Creativity Hall at the Zayed Central Library in Al Ain. It was presented by trainer Velez and focused on the principles of miniature drawing and building an artistic scene in a traditional style.
The series concluded with the workshop “Gilding Manuscripts and Gold Leaf Techniques” on 8th December 2025 at the Khalifa Park Library in Abu Dhabi, where trainer Namar presented hands-on training on using gold leaf to decorate artwork associated with manuscripts.
These workshops reflected the importance of cultural partnerships in supporting traditional arts and making them accessible to the public in a practical and direct manner. They also contributed to strengthening community engagement with Islamic arts and highlighting their cultural and aesthetic value within the UAE's art scene.
