Learn the basic techniques of kilim weaving and explore how to translate a design into a woven textile with Shorsh Saleh.

A kilim is a traditional flat-woven textile created by interlacing warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads. Known for its vibrant colours, bold geometric motifs, and expressive patterns, kilim weaving is both a highly skilled craft and a distinctive form of textile art. In this short workshop, participants will learn the basic techniques of kilim weaving and explore how to translate a design into a woven textile. Through hands-on practice, they will develop an understanding of the relationship between pattern, colour, structure, and the weaving process. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have created a finished woven piece and gained the fundamental skills and confidence to continue weaving independently.

Led by Shorsh Saleh.

Age requirement: 15+

Please note that doors will close shortly before the advertised time so we request that you arrive 15 minutes before the start time.

About Shorsh Saleh

Shorsh Saleh is a painter, carpet designer, and weaver born in Kurdistan. His practice explores migration and identity, combining symbolic motifs from traditional Persian carpets with the visual language and techniques of miniature painting in a contemporary context.

He holds an MA in Traditional Arts from The King’s Foundation, School of Traditional Arts, London, where he has taught carpet weaving and geometry since 2015. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at Buckingham Palace and the Imperial War Museum, London, and is held in collections including the Royal Collection Trust, British Museum, and Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

Saleh has also taught weaving at institutions including the V&A, Horniman Museum, Migration Museum, and Museum of Islamic Art, Doha.

About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts

The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk (http://cfia.co.uk).

Description supplied by the event organiser.