MIAH Foundation is delighted to announce the opening of their new exhibition, Fabric of Faith: the Arts & Textiles of the Hajj. This exhibition explores how the annual pilgrimage of Hajj has inspired pilgrims, artists and art over the centuries through historic artworks, textiles including the kiswa of the Ka'ba, ephemera, and the memorabilia of pilgrims from the West Midlands.

Bringing together objects from private collections to be displayed together for the first time, some of the highlights of the exhibition include: a stunning mahmal (processional palanquin), which accompanied the new kiswa for the Ka'ba and led the pilgrim caravan from Cairo to Makkah during the rule of the Ottoman Sultan, Abdülhamid II (r. 1876-1909); textiles from the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah, including an embroidered section of a kiswa from the Ka'ba dated 1796-7 and the kiswa of the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad; old photographs of pilgrims and the holy sanctuary; historical objects and artworks that were inspired by the holy sites, and a few selected contemporary works of art. These will be displayed alongside personal objects of memorabilia and ephemera from the local community.