Raqs Art

Raqs Art RAQS Art exists to reclaim cultural voice, authorship and belonging through community-led arts practice . Artistic Director Mona Qazi.

22/06/2026

It was inspiring to join the Healing Arts Birmingham Opening Ceremony at Symphony Hall today.

It was wonderful to see such a diverse creative community come together alongside colleagues from public health, artists, cultural organisations, leadership teams and partners who are championing the role of creativity in health and wellbeing.

For many of us who have been advocating for creative health for over a decade, it was especially meaningful to witness this growing movement taking centre stage. The arts are not an add-on. They are essential to how we connect, heal and support healthier communities.

At a time when loneliness, mental health challenges and health inequalities continue to affect so many lives, we need creative health more than ever. Seeing Birmingham embrace this through such a significant city-wide initiative gives hope for the future and strengthens the case for creativity to be recognised as part of everyday wellbeing.

Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible. This feels like the beginning of something important.

And now the festival begins — a celebration of creativity, health, connection and joy. Here's to inspiring conversations, shared experiences and plenty of fun along the way.





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CommunityWellbeing Birmingham CreativeCommunities HealingArts HealthInequalities

21/06/2026

As part of Stitching Stories, we are revisiting the memories and traditions of henna as we prepare for our final production. For generations, henna has been part of our celebrations, bringing colour, joy and a reason to gather.

Participants reminisced about childhood days spent with mothers, grandmothers, aunties and cousins, waiting for the henna to dry while stories, songs and laughter filled the room. From Eid and weddings to simple evenings at home, these memories sparked conversations filled with warmth, humour and nostalgia, revealing how deeply these traditions continue to shape our lives.

Listening to these stories and seeing memories come alive through conversation has been a reminder that some of the richest histories are carried not in books, but in people. As we move towards our final production, these voices, memories and shared experiences continue to inspire the stories being created.





Intergenerational OralHistory CreativeHealth SouthAsianHeritage CommunityArts RAQSArt Bethak StoriesThatConnect

20/06/2026

Creativity has always been part of how communities heal, connect and thrive.

On Tuesday 23 June 2026, from 10am to 2pm, we open the doors of BETHAK for a day of storytelling, folk music, healing arts and shared experiences.

Creative health is not an extra. It is about creating spaces where people feel connected, where culture is valued and where wellbeing is nurtured through creativity and community.

📍 Bethak, 21–25 Grantham Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham B11 1LU

Shameem Akhtar
ACP The Family Wellbeing Centre
Birmingham City Council






18/06/2026

Music has a wonderful way of bringing generations together.

Our intergenerational sessions bring older and younger people into the same space, where songs, stories and memories are shared. Through singing, gentle movement and familiar tunes, we see smiles, laughter and moments of connection that words alone cannot always bring.

For people living with dementia, music often opens doors to memories and encourages movement, while younger generations gain something just as valuable by listening to stories, learning traditions and spending time together.

These are simple but meaningful moments, where different generations come together, support one another and remind us that we all have something to share.
birmingham


CommunityWellbeing

18/06/2026

Some moments stay with you.

A familiar song, a shared memory or the sound of laughter can bring so much comfort. Through our sessions, older members of our South Asian community come together to sing, tell stories and enjoy being in each other's company.

What we do goes far beyond filling time. These gatherings create friendships, strengthen connections and offer a space where people feel valued, included and understood.

Music and memories have a remarkable way of bringing people together. Seeing someone smile, hearing voices join in and watching confidence return reminds me that the smallest moments often have the greatest meaning.

This work is deeply personal to us. It is about preserving culture, honouring lived experiences and making sure that everyone has the chance to feel connected and part of something.

Because sometimes, making a difference starts with simply sitting together, sharing a song and reminding one another that we still belong.

.birmingham

CommunityWellbeing Storytelling KeepingMemoriesAlive

16/06/2026

Our storytelling space at Bethak is vibrant with stories, memories and shared experiences. Through engaging storytelling sessions led by our wonderful storyteller, Catriona, we are helping to revive the tradition of oral storytelling in this increasingly digital age.

Stories have always been a way of passing on memories, wisdom and culture from one generation to the next. They keep our heritage alive, allowing voices from older times to continue to inspire and shape new creative work for today.

At Bethak, the old and the new come together. Traditional tales are reimagined through contemporary approaches, creating a living connection between past and present. In a world moving ever faster, taking time to listen, reflect and share stories has never been more important.

Bethak is a space for connection, creativity and belonging. If you would like to join us, we would be delighted to welcome and host you.

Storryteller
BETHAK .birmingham

Intergenerational CreativeHealth CultureMatters AshianaCommunityProject RAQSArt

09/06/2026

Today at Bethak, our heritage space was filled with the voices of women sharing folk songs passed down through mothers, grandmothers, sisters and friends. Songs that carry pieces of home, memories of another time, and stories that were often never written down.

As we sang together, I was reminded that folk music has always been a language of its own. Within the melodies are messages, emotions and experiences that have travelled across generations. Stories of love, longing, strength, celebration and everyday life, carried from one voice to another.

What I love most about these gatherings is how quickly strangers become familiar. A song begins, someone remembers a verse, another joins in, and suddenly the room is connected by a shared memory. Age, background and circumstance seem to matter less. The music does the talking.

In a world that moves so fast, there is something powerful about sitting together, listening, remembering and singing. These songs are part of our heritage, but they are also part of who we are today.
Bethak continues to be a space where stories are shared, traditions are celebrated and women build connections through culture, creativity and conversation.

🎤
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CulturalHeritage CommunityArts CreativeHealth OralHistory WomenSupportingWomen PakistaniHeritage RAQSArt AshianaCommunityProject

🌿 Bethak Healing ArtsWomen's Storytelling & Creative Health Event.Bethak Healing Arts is a free women's creative health ...
02/06/2026

🌿 Bethak Healing Arts

Women's Storytelling & Creative Health Event.

Bethak Healing Arts is a free women's creative health gathering bringing together storytelling, folk music, healing arts, henna and meaningful conversations in a warm and welcoming space.

Join us to connect, share experiences, celebrate culture and support wellbeing through creativity and community.

Tuesday 23rd June 2026
10:00am – 2:00pm
Bethak, Ashiana Community Project
21–25 Grantham Road
Sparkbrook
BirmB11 1LU

✨ Free Event | Refreshments Provided

📲 Limited spaces available – booking essential.
WhatsApp or call: 07583 086 987





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Arts

01/06/2026

A woman is not a portrait,
though we try to frame her.

She is the colour that refuses
to stay inside the lines.

She carries whole generations
in the curve of her hands,
stories stitched into silence,
dreams tucked beneath her sleeves.

Today, she dips her brush into light,
and paints herself back into the world.

Not perfect.
Not finished.
Not needing permission.

Just a woman
becoming,
again and again,
her own masterpiece.

✍️ Mona Qazi
🎨 Shameem Akhtar
ACP The Family Wellbeing Centre
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CommunityArts WomenSupportingWomen

27/05/2026

From all of us at , Eid Mubarak 🌙✨

May this Eid bring peace, connection, creativity, and joy to our communities and homes.

Wishing everyone moments of togetherness, reflection, and celebration with their loved ones.

Thank you for continuing to support art, culture, and storytelling that bring people together.

🌙🕌❤️

Address

22 Shutlock Lane
Birmingham
B138NZ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+447458034194

Website

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