MY QALAM ACADEMY PRESENTS
A unique team-building experience rooted in Arabic calligraphy. Your team scripts individual segments that come together in a surprise final composition.
Serving the Greater Toronto Area and Beyond
Perfect For:
What Makes This Different
The Mystery Element
The full artwork isn’t revealed until the end, keeping everyone curious and engaged. Each participant masters one exclusive segment in a different colour, turning individual practice into a moment of personal responsibility. As more coloured segments appear, the anticipation builds and the team becomes eager to see how it all connects.
Deep Interdependence
No segment exists in isolation. Each person’s accuracy sets the stage for the next, and even a small mistake can ripple through the entire composition. This creates a real sense of mutual reliance, not theoretical teamwork, but visible cause-and-effect. It builds trust, reinforces accountability, and shows the team how much their individual contributions matter to the collective result.
The Live Finale
Every teammate takes the stage, adding their perfected segment to the final canvas. With each stroke, the once-mysterious composition starts taking shape. The excitement builds as the full phrase slowly emerges. This 20–30 minute reveal will become one of those rare moments a team remembers and revisits for months.
The Experience
1. The Assignment
After splitting into smaller breakout groups of 4-5 individuals, each participant receives a detailed instruction sheet for their exclusive segment. This segment may be a small part of the big puzzle, but only they will be the masters of this segment. Without the individual's expertise, the final piece will be incomplete. At this point, no one knows their group word or final phrase.
2. The Mastery
Your solo stage begins here. For 20-30 minutes, you practice your segment with close expert guidance until you can execute it cleanly and consistently. This may be the only independent moment in the entire workshop, but it is also the most crucial. Your segment shapes your group’s word, and every stroke you make affects the team that follows you. The shared composition only works when each person returns ready to deliver their part with confidence.
3. The Mini Reveal
Your break-out group regathers and begins to assemble the word you’ve been working toward. Each participant contributes their perfected segment, and piece by piece, the word starts to reveal itself. This is a collaborative checkpoint where everyone evaluates the flow, spacing, and proportions. The team refines, adjusts, and supports each other to make sure the entire word is consistent and polished. It’s the first moment where individual work transforms into a shared achievement.
4. The Construction
Break-out groups come to the front one after another. Within each group, participants take turns adding their mastered segments to the final canvas. The composition builds in a precise sequence, revealing more of the hidden phrase with every stroke. The entire room leans in as the artwork grows, and the suspense increases as each team member contributes their part.
5. The Revelation
The complete phrase appears, and the team can finally see the bigger picture. What once looked like a simple, isolated segment now proves to be a critical part of the design. Every contribution matters. Remove even one segment and the entire composition falls apart. This is a powerful demonstration of how individual roles, no matter how small they seem, shape the overall success of a team.
6. The Keepsake
Your masterpiece is finished and ready for the office wall. It stands as a powerful symbol of what your team accomplished together — individual segments forming one cohesive design. As it hangs in your space, it becomes a daily reminder of teamwork, trust, and the impact of shared effort. It captures a moment your team created with their own hands, preserved for everyone to see.
Choose Your Experience
Ideal for 25-30 participants (we can accommodate other group sizes).
The Unity Experience
$1,500 CAD
Duration: 2 Hours
- Complete mystery-to-masterpiece experience
- One collaborative composition
Group refinement sessions - Dramatic live finale (20-30 min)
- All materials included
- Professionally mounted final piece
- Expert instruction throughout
From Mystery to Mastery
$3,000 CAD
Duration: 4 Hours
- Everything in the Unity experience plus…
- Extended collaborative composition (more complex piece)
- Deeper cultural context and historical background (We focus on the artistic and historical evolution of Arabic calligraphy as a visual art form, presented in a way that’s accessible and engaging for all backgrounds)
- Individual mastery session: Each person recreates the entire phrase as their own take-home piece
- Two take-home pieces: team masterpiece + personal artwork
- More granular skill development
Additional Options
- Custom Phrase: Want a specific phrase meaningful to your team? Available with 2+ weeks notice (+$500)
- Rush Booking: Need us within 2 weeks? Rush service available (+$500)
- Travel: Based in GTA, willing to travel to your location
- Deposit: 50% deposit required at booking to secure your date
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We understand plans change. We offer flexible rescheduling options; details will be outlined in your confirmation.
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What's Included in Your Workshop
We Provide
- Expert facilitation by Omar Uddin (10+ years, 10,000+ students taught)
- All calligraphy materials (markers, paper, instruction sheets, 36x36 blank canvas)
You Provide
- Room with groups of desks/tables (4-5 people per group)
- That's it!
Why Teams Love This Experience
The Learning Outcomes
- Deep Trust Building: When one person's work directly impacts everyone else's success, trust isn't optional.
- Radical Accountability: Your segment matters. There's nowhere to hide, and everyone sees your contribution.
- Patience Under Pressure: Watch your teammates work knowing you're dependent on them.
- Cultural Enrichment: Exposure to ancient Arabic calligraphy traditions and art forms.
The Lasting Impact
- A Physical Reminder: Unlike escape rooms or cooking classes, your team's masterpiece hangs in your office permanently.
- Visual Proof: The rainbow of colored segments shows exactly who contributed what.
- Conversation Starter: Visitors ask about the artwork, giving your team another chance to relive the experience.
- Shared Language: "Remember when we built that calligraphy piece?" becomes shorthand for interdependence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need any calligraphy experience?
What if someone makes a mistake?
Can we choose what phrase we create?
What's your cancellation policy?
How far in advance should we book?
What size groups do you accommodate?
Do you only serve the GTA?
Is this appropriate for diverse/multicultural teams?
Check Availability
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