ABOUT US
WAW Creative Arts is the world’s first Muslim creative arts school for kids aged 6-16. Currently located in East London, WAW teaches Drama, Singing/Poetry and Art. We currently run classes in Ilford on Saturdays and in Whitechapel on Sundays - please see our location page for map and directions.
WAW, which stands for ‘Who Are We’, was founded by Nusaiba Mohammad Timol (@iamnusaiba) in 2019 to help promote and develop positivity and self-confidence in faith through creative expression.
WAW provides a safe space for students to engage in creative activities, within an environment that inspires them. We teach Drama, Singing/Poetry and Art - our syllabus derives from Islamic history.
WAW is open to children from all faiths. We endeavour to be the source of motivation for the next generation, to become more expressive, self-confident and assured to deal with life's challenges both inside and outside of the school. WAW has a mission to be a bridge between Islam and modern society, by displaying how Islamic values are shared across several faiths and can act as a vessel for unity and peace.
WAW also undertake lots of community outreach work. We hosted a Kids Creative Zone at Muslim Shopping Festival, Eid in the Square (Trafalgar Square), London Eid at Westfield and London Halal Food Festival. These events offered kids the opportunity to enjoy calligraphy, poetry, storytelling and drama workshops - as well as provide a platform for our students to perform to live audiences.
WAW has also written, produced and directed our own live theatre play, showcased in collaboration with Arts Council England and London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The show, titled 'A Curious Journey Through The Golden Age', shone a spotlight on Muslim contribution to modern society. A feature-length performance delivered by the young and next generation.
In April and December 2020 we held two online festivals, a creative festival and wellbeing festival. Both were focused on bringing the Muslim community together through free workshops carried out by influential Muslim creatives globally. These included Zain Bhikha (Singer), Omar Regan (Actor & Director), Ilyas Mao (Vocal Only Producer & Singer), Omar Esa (Vocal Only Producer & Singer), Hassen Rasool (Artist), Mennel (Singer, The Voice, France) and Lauren Booth (Actor, featured on I'm A Celebrity..Get Me Out Of Here!). Our online workshops were attended by people aged 4 – 65, from all faiths!
Our Founder
Nusaiba Mohammad Timol, Founder & CEO
Nusaiba is a multi-disciplinary artist working across the faith, fashion and education industries. Nusaiba launched the world's first Islamic creative arts school in 2019 called WAW Creative Arts – which challenges stereotypes around Muslims and is a bridge between Islam and modern society, by displaying how Islamic values are shared across different faiths and can act as a vessel for unity and peace. As a creative professional, Nusaiba has worked with many brands within the Modest fashion industry, as a stylist, producer and writer. She was also the first female Quran Reciter to win the National Quran Competition at the age of 13 (in 2006) which was televised on Islam Channel.
Nusaiba’s work as a Quran teacher, reciter and a leading female voice for the Muslim community has been featured in 2020 on BBC World Service and all international BBC platforms. This was a great honour of her hard work and contribution to the Muslim community and the community at large. Most recently, in May 2021, VICE Arabia published an in-depth interview with Nusaiba on her journey through faith and fashion and becoming a role model for young female Muslims.
Nusaiba was also the first from the Western hemisphere to be featured on the 2015 cover of Hijab Fesyen Magazine, Malaysia’s top modest fashion publication - this was an 8 page spread of how she has navigated her faith through fashion. Nusaiba has also written an article for Disorder Magazine (UK), titled ‘Why So Modest?’ - about her experiences as a Muslim creative working to incorporate faith-inspired ideas into the fashion industry.
Nusaiba’s work in faith and fashion interested many mainstream media platforms, she was featured in BBC, Channel 4, Vogue, VICE and Evening Standard in the UK, and various mainstream platforms across Middle East, Switzerland, Denmark and Malaysia. These are all showcased on her Instagram profile, @iamnusaiba.
Nusaiba has also been teaching Quran to kids and adults of all ages. Her 1-1 classes have become increasingly popular due to the unique nature of it and has recently reached new audiences outside of the Islamic faith. Nusaiba is currently teaching Quran to Peter Oborne, a prominent British journalist and broadcaster.
Nusaiba has dedicated her teenage and young adulthood to building a bridge between western culture and the Islamic Society, to demonstrate what it truly means being a Muslim and particularly a Muslim woman. Her work from the age of 13 to this day has made her a highly recognisable figure within the Muslim community.
