The best of Shubbak Festival’s Friday Late takeover at the V&A Museum
The Arab arts event celebrates its 15th anniversary with a special night at one of London’s most prestigious cultural institutions
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London will transform into a celebration of contemporary Arab and South West Asia and North Africa (Swana) creativity on 31 July as the Shubbak Festival takes over its monthly Friday Late.
Marking the festival’s 15th anniversary, Friday Late x Shubbak: Body as a Vessel will see artists, musicians, designers and performers take over galleries across the museum for an evening exploring the body as an artistic medium for wisdom, resistance, healing and joy. From live music and fashion to immersive installations, the programme will give visitors the chance to engage with contemporary Arab culture through a range of art forms.
Here’s a selection from the programme you don’t want to miss.
Arabic rock band TootArd
One of the night’s biggest draws is live performances from TootArd, a duo made up of brothers Hasan and Rami Nakhleh from the occupied Golan Heights. Their music blends Arabic quarter-tone melodies with pop, funk, disco and dance music inspired by Swana traditions.
Step inside a virtual reality performance
Visitors looking for something more intimate can sign up for Nazar, a one-to-one virtual reality experience created by Lebanese artist Lara Habib Kobeissi. The experience combines live performance with VR, drawing on rituals surrounding protection from the evil eye passed between the artist and her mother during years of conflict and separation in southern Lebanon.
Experience Arab bridal traditions through fashion
British-Yemeni artist, curator and designer Kazna Asker presents Through the Eyes of a Bride, an outdoor installation bringing together dance, fashion and music. Known for incorporating traditional regional textiles into her work, Asker explores identity, migration and family heritage from the perspective of an Arab bride.
Join a conversation on 15 years of Arab arts in the UK
As Shubbak marks its milestone anniversary, the evening includes a panel discussion reflecting on the evolution of Arab arts and culture in the UK over the past 15 years. Shubbak executive director Dr Dima Mekdad will be joined by playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak, artist Aya Haidar and V&A curator Rachel Dedman to discuss their thoughts on the changing cultural landscape.
Explore Arab memory through art and storytelling
Baraka Obscura, an installation by artist Yasmeen Ayyashi, uses the black nigella seed — described in Islamic tradition as “a cure for everything but death” — to explore its cultural significance through storytelling and sensory experiences.
Meanwhile, Athar: Notes in the Margins of the City invites visitors to contribute to a living archive of Arab life in London through oral histories, photographs, textiles and personal objects, preserving stories from communities across the capital.
Wind down with the Shubbak festival team
The Shubbak Sofa Sessions invite visitors to meet and chat with members of the festival team over tea and dates, drawing on the traditions of Arab hospitality and helping guests learn more about the event.
Create your own scented pouch
Visitors can create their own scented pouches using spices, herbs and dried flowers in a workshop led by the V&A Youth Collective, inspired by memories and traditions from across the Arab world.
Friday Late x Shubbak: Body as a Vessel takes place at the V&A South Kensington on Friday 31 July from 6.30pm until 10pm. All events are free, and experiences operate on a first-come, first-served basis unless stated otherwise.
