The Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham hosted a special multi-faith Iftar on Monday evening, bringing together guests from across the city to mark the holy month of Ramadan with food, prayer, and shared reflection.
Now in its second year, the community event welcomed invited guests and their families to break fast together at sunset, before joining in shared evening prayers. The celebration was broadcast live on BBC Midlands Today, highlighting the growing significance of the MAC’s role in inclusive cultural programming.
As part of its Ramadan celebrations, the MAC also commissioned Birmingham-based printmaker Haseebah Ali to create a mural inside the venue, offering a visual tribute to the season. Her work, which draws on themes of spirituality and belonging, will be on display throughout the month.
“It’s really important for my work to reflect the diversity of the community who visit the MAC,” said Ali. “People deserve to see artwork they can connect with something that makes them feel welcome and seen.”
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, marked by fasting from dawn until sunset, charity, prayer, and self-reflection. The fast is traditionally broken with dates and water at Iftar, the evening meal, often shared with family and community.
With mosques across the city also opening their doors to the wider public throughout Ramadan, events like the one at MAC show how cultural spaces can help foster understanding, togetherness, and shared celebration in Britain’s richly diverse cities.
