In 2024, Emily Sarsam, Nour Amrani from Mouhit, and I, with support from Safa Mesrati from British Council Tunis, co-developed the idea of a residency in a vibrant neighbourhood of Tunis to explore play-based art and creativity with local children and families. Our shared goal was to see how these ideas might land in a context Mouhit was deeply rooted in. Surrounded by local schools, Mouhit was keen to experiment with a workshop for children—and for me, this was an opportunity to grow both as an artist interested in sensory, child-led play, and as a learning curator committed to working across cultures and communities.
The preparation was as layered and rich as the experience itself. Planning with British Council Tunisia and Mouhit meant carefully considering the cultural specificities, logistics, and rhythms of working with a local school. I also immersed myself in the material side of things—buying supplies in the Medina, learning Arabic words related to play, and letting the sensory language of the city guide the direction of the project. Even the sky played a part. Though often bright blue in Tunis, during my time there we had clouds—perfect for what would become a central metaphor in the workshop: We Are All Clouds.
This idea—lightness, movement, and transformation—became the heart of our creative play. Inspired by the unpredictable dance of clouds, we explored the freedom and softness inherent in child-led exploration. Together with Tunisian artist Aziz Aissaoui, we built open-ended structures: tunnels to crawl through, fabric to float with, and balloons filled with hibiscus-coloured water and pearls to throw, roll, and balance. Materials like sieves, thin fabrics, and vivid paints became playful invitations, with meaning found in the tactile, the ephemeral, and the imaginative.
Artists Nia Fekri and Chahine Fellahi brought incredible energy, helping shape the workshop during their visit to Tunis. Nour from Mouhit played a crucial role in connecting us with local families and designing a warm, shared meal after the play session—a moment of rest and community that brought everything full circle. The team was a beautiful match, and together we created a space where joy, trust, and spontaneity thrived.
On the day of the workshop, we welcomed many children into the space. What unfolded was magical: running, hiding, brushing, dripping, breakdancing, throwing, and imagining themselves flying with wings we’d made for them. Each movement felt like an act of claiming and transforming the space. There were surprises at every turn—new games, new rhythms, new stories unfolding through play.
I feel very proud to have led the workshop creatively, to have worked alongside Mouhit in deepening its relationship with local families, and to have witnessed such joy and creativity emerge so naturally. Thanks to the support of British Council Tunis, I know this is just the beginning. The workshop ended but the spirit of creativity lingers, and I look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to evolve into new collaborations, new forms, and new horizons.