THIS week sees the launch of Touchstone’s Weaving Women’s Wisdom exhibition.

Weaving Women’s Wisdom is an interfaith project, encouraging women to form and deepen friendships, and empowering them to engage in creative activity.

Launched in Bradford last autumn, Weaving Women’s Wisdom has worked alongside 20 groups in Britain and Pakistan, to enable women to converse differently about matters of life and faith. Each group has been asked to consider four questions: Who are the wise women that have influenced my life? What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? Who are the wise women in my holy text and faith tradition? and What is the wisest piece of advice I have been given or read from one of the wise women we have discussed?

In the light of this conversation, each group has been provided with a starter pack of materials and the invitation to make a rug.

The rugs have used many traditional techniques from the UK and Pakistan, including ‘rag rugging’ and ‘locker hooking’ as well as some inventive designs! Groups have included interfaith forums, schools, Girls Brigade groups and even a book group. The results are stunning. Stephen Williams MP, Minister for Communities, who recently visited Touchstone to see the project, said: “It was fascinating to hear about how the project has developed into something much more than just inspiring interfaith friendships; how it had developed into forums where women could find a safe space to speak about issues which were of concern to them.”

On Wednesday, April 22 the exhibition is open to the public, between 10am - 6pm, inside Bradford City Hall’s Banqueting Suite. Individual rugs will be put together inside the Touchstone yurt to form a ‘Carpet of Wisdom’, and Touchstone is inviting the public to view this vibrant and colourful exhibition. The Carpet of Wisdom will then be making a tour of the UK during 2015 and be exhibited in mosques, churches, cathedrals, schools and possibly even the Houses of Parliament.

In the light of current rises in religious tensions across the world, the Weaving Women’s Wisdom project is a tangible demonstration that women of all faith can work creatively together for peace and produce something beautiful.

DIARY DATES

Tuesday, April 21- Between April 21 and May 2, Baha’is celebrate Ridvan, the most important Baha’i festival. It was in these 12 days that Baha’u’llah declared himself as the Promised One prophesied by the Bab.

Thursday, April 23 - St George’s Day. St George is the patron saint of England.