Nour Festival Of Arts

Now in its fourth year, the Nour Festival is a celebration of the very best in contemporary Middle Eastern and North African arts and culture. Nour, which means light or illumination in many Middle Eastern languages, springs to life each October and November in venues across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and challenges preconceptions, sparks debate and provides insight into culture from across the MENA region.

The festival’s highly acclaimed programme of art, film, literature, music and performance has established Nour as a crucial meeting point for East and West. With long-term leadership provided by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Nour is the ever-exuberant expression of a growing family of partner organisations, and in 2013 Nour welcomes new partners such as the Royal Albert Hall, Chelsea Theatre, Kensington and Chelsea College, the Gate Theatre and the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha.

This year’s programme offers an amazing array of attractions, boasting six art exhibitions, sixteen film screenings, fifteen thought-provoking talks and debates, fourteen performances across dance and drama, music and poetry, four evenings of special events, three cookery classes, eight workshops, a Souk and a Tour Bus. Explore the Nour Festival programme, find your own highlights, and take an unforgettable journey into the region, its cultures and art forms.


Events include:

Persian Art workshops for children
Thursday 31 October
Join artist Amber Khokhar and be inspired by a centuries-old artistic tradition. Using paints and paper tiles, participants will create beautiful designs that can be taken home or used to shape a Kashan-inspired Tiled Panel.

4th London Iranian Film Festival
2 - 10 November
This is a showcase of both established filmmakers and emerging filmmaking talent, celebrating the best in Itanian feature film, documentary, animation and short film making. It offers compelling viewing for anyone with an interest in alternative world cinema.

An Evening With Sami Tamimi: Dishes from Jerusalem
Thursday 7 November
Sami Tamimi and Yotam Ottolenghi opened the original Ottolenghi in Notting Hill in 2002. Since then, Sami has been at their helm. This unique event showcases a selection of the finest dishes from Jerusalem, cooked by from Ottolenghi’s renowned Head Chef.

A Journey to Algeria: London Algerian Ballet
Friday 8 November
The London Algerian Ballet will deliver a theatrical performance, depicting different dances from the Algerian regions, all set within a chronological narrative of key events.

Nour Tour Bus
Saturday 9 November
Get on board the special Routemaster bus for a unique tour of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The tour visits venues that have made a mission of showing the diversity of Arab art.


See official website for full schedule of events.