Qur'an in the City

Remarkably, it is among the few early Qur’anic manuscripts globally to have undergone radiocarbon dating. Housed within the Mingana Collection, comprising 3000 Middle Eastern manuscripts, it is meticulously preserved by the Cadbury Research Library at the University of Birmingham.

Culture Forward has been increasing engagement through a variety of events and activities across 2024 with our rare and precious cultural assets in a project entitled ‘Qur’an in the City’, co-created and delivered by our partners. These events catered to diverse audiences both within and beyond the University of Birmingham campus.

Whether you are interested in theology and religion, history or art, there’s something for everyone. 

Culture Forward launched this project through Nomad: A Tent for Reflection during the Birmingham Festival 2023 which asked the public to share reflections on faith and how they relate to it. The Culture Forward team also reached out to the local community during the Eid in Kings Heath event to hear a range of perspectives on how people would like to engage with the Mingana Collection and Birmingham Qur’an in the future. The meaningful conversations resulting from these two events have informed the shape of the project and the list of events.

What followed was a diverse and unique programme, from sponsoring artists to create print responses to the Collection and workshops on inks and pigments at Winterbourne and Birmingham Botanical Gardens, to a Study Day for secondary school students and a city-wide transcription of the Qur'an.

As we continue to explore and celebrate the rich heritage embodied by the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript and Mingana Collection, Culture Forward remains committed to fostering deeper connections between this precious artifact and the diverse communities it inspires. Through ongoing events and initiatives, we invite everyone to take part in this shared journey of discovery and reflection.