Escape the City and Journey into the Cave

The University of Birmingham’s Culture Forward Project proudly sponsored ‘Sleepers,’ the latest immersive art installation by Soul City Arts. Held at Port Hope in Sparkbrook, Birmingham - from late September to early October - this unique experience transported visitors from the bustling city into a serene, desert-like cave setting.

Guided by a host, participants explored the cave through two distinct experiences. Daytime visits allowed groups to immerse themselves in the environment, while nighttime sessions offered an extended stay, encouraging visitors to disconnect from modern life by handing over their phones and watches.

Professor Ewan Fernie reflected on ‘Sleepers,’ stating ‘it’s a challenge to us all to find new and more creative and more authentic ways of being together today.’ Hear more in the video below.

‘Sleepers’ was supported by Culture Forward as part of the ‘Qur’an in the City’ project. The installation drew inspiration from the Birmingham Qur’an, one of the oldest Qur’an manuscripts in the world housed at the University’s Cadbury Research Library. The Birmingham Qur’an includes extracts from the Chapter of the Cave (Surah Kahf) in which the story of the Seven Sleepers is told.

Professor Sara Jones, Academic Director of Culture Forward, commented ‘The Sleepers is the final piece in Culture Forward’s Qur’an and the City project. As such, our ambition for it was to bring communities in Birmingham closer to the ancient Qur’an fragment housed in the University of Birmingham’s collections. In my view, the installation achieved that and more.

The shift in sensation and emotion as you moved from the noisy, busy street to the quiet of the cave was powerful. It made you feel disconnected from the world outside and encouraged you to take at least a few moments of reflection and meditation. […] The waiting and isolation from the outside world also fostered the formation of a community inside the cave. People were striking up conversations with people they did not know previously and talking about the shared experience. The actor performance was excellent and engaged people with the story of the sleepers in the cave on different levels, both religious and secular.’

The installation drew hundreds of visitors over ten days, creating a powerful and positive atmosphere. The Sleepers from the local community reflected that people ‘from all walks of life, faith, and ideology’ were welcome and included, and that this was ‘an experience about human stories.’ You can hear more about their experience in the following Vox Pop Compilation.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their open hearts and minds, and to Soul City Arts for creating this visually stunning experience and making this event a resounding success.