As part of the Arab British Centre’s three-year visual arts and talent development programme 'As We Are, Might Have Been, and Could Be' (2023–2026), Palestinian architect-artist Dima Srouji has been selected for the residency 3oubour, A River Between Mountains. This residency focuses on engaging directly with the traditional craft and architectural heritage of Fez, Morocco.
During the residency, Srouji will investigate artisanal techniques such as zellige mosaic tilework, pottery, and wood carving, examining their role in shaping Fez’s buildings and landscape. Her work critically explores the relationship between inherited craft practices and architectural forms, highlighting how traditional methods can influence contemporary spatial design and innovation.
Aligned with the programme’s mission, the residency provides Srouji the opportunity to develop her practice by connecting her interests in memory, displacement, and cultural heritage to Fez’s living traditions. It supports experimentation with new media and approaches not often encouraged in institutional settings.
The initiative supports UK-based artists of Arab descent as they progress from emerging to mid-career, enabling collaboration with international partners. Srouji’s work, developed alongside archaeologists, anthropologists, and local artisans, views the “ground as a space rich in cultural weight,” reflecting on collective repair and architectural form across time and place.
Following the residency, the work produced through 3oubour will be exhibited in the UK, allowing broader audiences to engage with the dialogue between craft, architecture, and diasporic narratives central to Srouji’s practice.
This project is co-produced by The Arab British Centre, A.MAL Projects and Takafes, with the support of British Council Morocco, Henry Moore Foundation, Artsadmin, and Freelands Foundation. In partnership with Crafts Council.
