Event: A Taste of Persia: Ancient and Modern, Guildhall, Leicester, March 7-13 2011

The 14th century walls of Leicester’s Guildhall form a suitably ancient setting for this mini-festival of events steeped in a decadent history.

Iranian painting has a 7,000-year story, illustrated through traditional canvasses, miniatures and illumination in a convergence of Persian heritage, Islam and modernity linked by a shared spirituality which spreads through cinema, music and conceptualism.

Persian calligraphy on display is written in the notably beautiful script of Nasta’liq, written with “magical curvatures” and incorporated into the paintings of the Safavid period of the 16th century.

Classical Iranian films by leading directors will also be screened in a celebration of the country’s rich culture, and a series of workshops will offer the opportunity for visitors to work with precious and semi-precious stones, inlay and carpet weaving.

• Visit A Taste of Persia online http://www.leicester.gov.uk/persia for full details.