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 Saloua Raouda Choucair, the pioneering Lebanese artist whose work helped shape modern art in the region through her exploration of abstraction, geometry, and modular sculptural forms.

Following the storytime, artist Hana El-Sigini will lead a tactile studio session inspired by Choucair’s artistic language. Together, we will explore building, shaping, and experimenting with color through painting and clay, translating key themes from Choucair’s practice—such as form, structure, and composition—into our own playful creations.

Through this intergenerational learning experience, parents and their little ones will engage their senses, share ideas, and reflect on how art and creativity continue to shape our cultural imagination today.

Families will leave with a deeper connection to Saloua Raouda Choucair, and a hands-on exploration of painting and clay inspired by her work.

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

Hana El-Sagini is an Egyptian multidisciplinary artist with a Master’s in Fine Arts from the Academy of Art and Design, FHNW Basel, Switzerland. She has held solo and group shows across the Middle East, the Gulf, and Europe, including “Counting Fingers” at 421, Abu Dhabi, and “Adaptability” at the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art, Riyadh. She currently teaches at Zayed University and lives and works in Dubai.