Children’s Programming

Immerse yourself in the story of a beloved cultural figure from the Arab world through storytelling, play, and hands-on making in this family-friendly Noor’s Heroes™ storytime and studio session.

This spring, families with children of all ages are invited to join us for Noor’s Heroes, an interactive storytime and studio series inspired by the children’s books by cultural strategist, editor, and writer Myrna Ayad. Together, we’ll discover influential figures from the Arab world through a live reading with the author, followed by a hands-on studio activity led by artists from the 421 community that invites us to creatively explore the ideas, practices, and legacies highlighted in each story.

In this session, we will explore the life and legacy of Mahmoud Darwish, the celebrated Palestinian poet whose words continue to shape conversations around identity, memory, and belonging across the Arab world and beyond.

Following the storytime, artist Karim El Atrache will lead a tactile studio session inspired by Darwish’s poetic world. Together, we will explore the art of Arabic calligraphy, experimenting with typography, ink, and pattern-making to create our own Arabic letters and visual compositions. Through drawing, writing, and play, we will translate themes from Darwish’s poetry into visual forms, discovering how language can move from the written word into expressive design.

Families will leave with a deeper connection to Mahmoud Darwish and with hands-on experience with Arabic calligraphy and ink.

Accessibility & Participation

Lunch will be provided.

Suitable for families with children of all ages

Language: English

About Noor’s Heroes

Noor’s Heroes™ is a children’s book series by cultural strategist, editor, and writer Myrna Ayad, celebrating women and men from, or influenced by, the Arab world whose lives have left a lasting mark on culture, knowledge, and community. Inspired by the author’s daughter Noor - whose name means “light” - the series was created to celebrate remarkable figures from the Arab world, from the past and present, who followed their path with courage, creativity, and conviction. Each book is a beautifully illustrated journey into the life of an inspiring individual, brought to life through engaging storytelling and visuals by designers from across the Arab world. Published in separate English and Arabic editions, Noor’s Heroes™ nurtures curiosity, cultural pride, and imagination - encouraging children to see themselves in stories of possibility and to believe they, too, can shape the world around them.

About the Instructor

For over two decades, Myrna Ayad has authored, edited, and contributed to several books, magazines and dailies on visual art and culture from the Arab world and Iran. A frequent panellist, jurist, and moderator, her role as an independent cultural strategist allows her to work on projects within the luxury sector, government entities, private companies, and non-profit organisations. She is the founder and author of Noor’s Heroes™, a series of illustrated children’s books focused on Arab greats. Based in the UAE for over four decades, Ayad is a graduate of the American University in Dubai and lives in Dubai with her husband and two children. 

About the Artist

Karim El Atrache is a self-taught Lebanese Artist with a focus on Arabic Calligraphy, Typography, Graffiti and Illustration. 

Among DAZED MENA's TOP 100 Creatives of 2025, the 26 year-old wishes to ignite public engagement with the Arabic language as an art-form.