Upcoming Events
Upcoming events.
Stay updated with the latest happenings and join us for an array of exciting events! From pop concerts, to stained glass exhibitions, to animation movie screenings, to murals Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture’s arts programming, community outreach programs, there's something for everyone. Check out our events calendar below to see what's coming up next!
Nibal Malshi Concert
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is thrilled to announce an extraordinary evening of live music featuring acclaimed Palestinian vocalist and multidisciplinary artist, Nibal Malshi, in concert on December 6th, 2024, at 7:00 PM at The Rotunda, located at 4014 Walnut St.
Known for her rich, expressive voice and dynamic artistry, Nibal Malshi will bring her signature blend of traditional and contemporary Arab music to Philadelphia. Accompanied by an ensemble of talented local musicians, including Gideon Forbes (woodwinds), Bashar Farran (bass), and Gilbert Mansour (percussion), the evening will be directed by the celebrated kanun player Firas Zreik.
“As an artist, I see my work as more than just a profession; it’s a platform for positive change and a message of peace and humanity. My creative journey is not only about expressing myself through art & preserving the Arab music, but also using my voice and influence to connect people and make a meaningful impact on society.” - Nibal Malshi
Tickets are pay-as-you-wish, with a suggested donation at $20.
About Nibal Malshi:
Nibal Malshi is a distinguished Palestinian artist, hailing from the city of Haifa in Palestine. From the tender age of 5, she embarked on a musical journey, dedicating her life to the art form and drawing inspiration from renowned Arab artists. Her performances, spanning both her homeland, Europe & the USA, include notable venues such as the Institute de monte Arab in Paris. Nibal's artistic journey extends internationally, with significant collaborations such as a month-long dance workshop in Ramallah & Beir Zeit partnered with Al- Qattan Foundation and KVS from Brussels, participation in Voice for Peace projects in Germany, and involvement in musicians' programs in London. Nibal has graced numerous events including the Arab American National Museum Grand Gala, Arab Cultural Center Gala in Houston TX, Arab America Summit in Washington DC, Rene Moawad Foundation DC,Palestine Foundation in LA, APWA Virginia and many others.In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Nibal was honored as an "Arab America Foundation 40 Under 40" award recipient in 2023.
Opening Reception: Imprints of Time and Place by zami
OPENING RECEPTION: IMPRINTS OF TIME AND PLACE
ceramics & photographs by zami
Reflections on identity, community connections, and acts of resistance
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery is pleased to present the first exhibit in our new space, featuring the work of our founder Hazami Sayed. Imprints of Time and Place is both a homecoming for Hazami (aka zami) and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Al-Bustan. The exhibit moves from photographs of youth's hopeful joy and an enduring cultural heritage, to documentation of tumultuous times. Through the tactile art of clay, zami finds solace, expressing connection through an intricate language of pattern-making.
The exhibit is comprised of four parts: Al-Bustan Camp: Youth Discovering | Lebanon: Imprints of Time in Light and Stone | Beirut to Philly: Imprints of Resistance | Clay Works: Imprints of Heritage, Links of Community
Hazami Sayed grew up between Lebanon and Kuwait and came to the U.S. to pursue higher education. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University and Master of Architecture from Columbia University. She worked in the fields of architecture and urban development in Philadelphia and New York City. For eighteen years (2002 - 2020), Hazami was the Founding Executive Director of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture.
Since her undergraduate years, Hazami has cultivated various creative outlets, from photography to printmaking. In graduate school she gravitated to ceramics as a way to explore design, form, and function. A few years ago she rekindled her love for clay, creating functional forms that recall family rituals and draw on the textures, colors, and patterns of her home and cultural experiences. Recently, she is experimenting with the aesthetic, tactile, and sonic qualities of clay though sculptural forms.
Naomi Shihab Nye Prize Award Ceremony
Join Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture (located at 310 W Master St.) on December 14th at 1 PM to celebrate the winners of our inaugural Naomi Shihab Nye Prize, honoring Arab American and Arab Canadian voices in middle-grade fiction!
Our First Place winner, Alia Yunis, will share from Making Miracles in Minnesota, and Second Place winner, Pauline Kaldas, will read from A Place So Far Away. The event will also feature a special reading by Naomi Shihab Nye herself, the renowned poet for whom the prize is named. The readings will be followed by a discussion between the writers and a q&a with the audience.
These readings showcase captivating stories for young readers ages 8-12, but adults will also find plenty of inspiration in these beautifully crafted words. Tickets are pay as you wish! Use the button below to RSVP.
The Naomi Shihab Nye Prize was produced by Barbara Nimri Aziz in partnership with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culutre.
Holiday Souk Art Market
Join us for Al-Bustan’s first ever Souk on Sunday, December 15th, from 12-5pm. This will be the perfect opportunity to get your holiday gifts from local artists and makers!
A souk is a traditional market or bazaar commonly found in Middle Eastern and North African countries. Souks are often lively markets where vendors sell a wide range of goods, including textiles, spices, jewelry, handcrafted goods, food, and other items. These markets are central to cultural and social life, providing not only a place for shopping but also a hub for community interaction and cultural exchange.
Al-Bustan is so excited to bring this tradition to our community. Lets gather, support local artists + makers and promote cultural exchange!
Film Screening: Diaries From Lebanon
U.S. Premiere of Diaries From Lebanon
Don’t miss the exclusive U.S. premiere of Diaries From Lebanon at PAFA’s Rhoden Arts Center, a powerful documentary that has captivated audiences at the Berlin Film Festival, Shanghai, Hot Docs, and beyond. Diaries From Lebanon is an extraordinary documentary that captures the nation's turbulent journey through the lens of three individuals battling for change. Directed with unflinching honesty, the film follows feminist writer Joumana, activist Perla Joe, and Civil War veteran Georges as they navigate Lebanon’s political upheaval. Having premiered at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival and screened at major festivals worldwide, this is a significant moment to see the film in the U.S.
Date: Tuesday, October 29th, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: PAFA's Rhoden Arts Center, 118-128 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Following the film, Perla Joe Maalouly, one of the subjects and a central figure in Lebanon’s fight for reform, will join us for a live Q&A to explore the connections between the film and the urgent issues Lebanon faces today. This premiere offers a unique chance to witness firsthand the voices of a generation fighting for justice and to reflect on the implications for global audiences, especially ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Tickets are $10 ($5 for students!), purchase through the button below.
Bye Bye Tiberias Film Screening
Film Screening: Bye Bye Tiberias
Join us for a special screening of an intimate documentary featuring Emmy-nominated actress Hiam Abbass (Succession, Ramy, Blade Runner 2049) as she returns to her Palestinian village with her daughter after years of pursuing her acting career in France. The film explores the powerful legacy of separation across four generations of Palestinian women.
Date: Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, 310 W Master St, Philadelphia
Following the screening, there will be a conversation with renowned Egyptian film critic Joseph Fahim and the film’s director, Lina Soualem, a French-Palestinian-Algerian filmmaker. Soualem’s documentary offers a poignant exploration of family, exile, and identity.
As we approach a pivotal moment in the upcoming November presidential election, this film is an essential reflection on displacement and the shared experiences of marginalized communities. Don’t miss the chance to engage with these timely and important stories.
Use the button below to RSVP. Tickets are pay-as-you-wish!
Finding Your Voice: A Writing Workshop & Reading
Finding Your Voice: A Writing Workshop and Reading
Award winning author and editor Susan Muaddi Darraj will present an overview of the writing and publishing process for creative people who have thought about publishing a book. Whether it’s a memoir, poetry, or a novel, your book can start its journey here as we discuss the ways in which books make it onto bookshelves. Bring your ideas and questions! The presentation will be followed by a brief reading from Susan’s latest novel, Behind You Is the Sea (Harper Collins 2024) and an overview of Palestinian American literature.
About the Author:
Susan Muaddi Darraj is an award-winning writer of books for adults and children. She won an American Book Award, two Arab American Book Awards, and a Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artists Award. In 2018, she was named a USA Artists Ford Fellow. Her books include her linked short story collection, A Curious Land, as well as the Farah Rockschildren’s book series. She lives in Baltimore, where she teaches creative writing at Harford Community Collegeand the Johns Hopkins University. Her new novel, BEHIND YOU IS THE SEA, was published in January 2024 by HarperVia. It received praise from The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Ms Magazine, and it was named a Best Book of 2024 by The New Yorker and Apple Books.
Praise for BEHIND YOU IS THE SEA:
"Draws a composite portrait of Palestinian American families with sensitivity and humor … breaking down stereotypes and embracing complexity." — New York Times
"A beautiful portrait of a family reaching for their dreams while holding onto their roots." — Publishers Weekly
"Neither angels nor devils, these characters are portrayed in all their complicated, charming, aggravating, bewitching glory. They are human, and as such, they are us." — Washington Post
"Darraj writes with great emotional resonance about hope and disappointment." — New Yorker
"A zoomed-in family drama that simultaneously captures wide-lens truths about cultural differences; the weight of history; and the myriad manifestations of love." — Elle
"A rich, complex, and moving immigrant story with a beautifully-rendered ensemble cast." — Literary Hub
"Lively and enlightening." — People
Launch and poetry reading: Palestinian by Ibrahim Nasrallah
Join us for a special evening with acclaimed Palestinian novelist and poet Ibrahim Nasrallah and Professor of Arabic Literature Huda Fakhreddine as they launch their new chapbook Palestinian (World Poetry Books). This bilingual poetry reading will be followed by a conversation between the poet and translator, reflecting on their collaboration and exploring themes of poetry, translation, history, and writing in the face of genocide.
Date: Sunday, October 6th, 4pm - 5:15pm
Location: Making Worlds Cooperative Bookstore
Don’t miss this powerful dialogue between two voices shaping modern Palestinian literature!
Maurice Louca Live in Concert
Join us for a live performance by Maurice Louca, one of Egypt’s most innovative and influential composers, featuring Ayman Asfour. Known for his ability to blend traditional Arabic music with experimental and avant-garde styles, Louca creates a sound that defies genre and expectation. This performance will feature his latest works and collaborations, showcasing a rich fusion of influences that push the boundaries of contemporary music and offer a fresh perspective on the global music scene.
The concert takes place on Friday, October 4th, 2024 at Germantown Friends Meeting. Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the performance begins at 7:30 PM.
No tickets required, but we recommend reserving your spot on Eventbrite with a suggested donation of $20. This is a pay-what-you-wish event, so you can contribute any amount that feels right to you. We appreciate your support!
Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner (Copy)
The Bumbling Foriegner does not want to tell you about his exile from Iran and his trials with stage four cancer to evoke your sympathy. Instead, he will translate his genius into something digestible. This is an absurd comedy solo. The Foriegner will eat hot dogs and will not drink his own urine.
Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner who suffers from retrograde ejaculation as a result of extensive stage four testicular cancer treatment. Retrograde ejaculation is a condition where semen instead of coming out, it gets released into the bladder. This makes the Foriegner infertile. He is however in a relationship where his girlfriend considers infertility a deal-breaker. Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner will be performing for the last three times here in the United States before he returns to Iran to retrieve the semen he had deposited in the sperm bank before he started his cancer treatment. Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner is going to be facing quite a few obstacles such as dealing with the extremist regime who casts a special suspicion upon those who return from the US, as well as the dangers of carrying the semen in a freezer for a long period of time back to America, and of course the difficulties of obtaining a re-entry visa which could deem this entire journey insurmountable and possibly keep Sohrab in Iran forever.
Catch Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner for three last hurrahs in Philly, and give this boy a heartfelt goodbye. He might have been the last genius clown left.
Othello (vs the military industrial complex) (Copy) (Copy)
Othello (vs the military industrial complex) will be showing at Icebox Project Space starting September 20th - September 22nd.
In this bold and fresh adaptation, a timeless tragedy unfolds with the vibrant energy of EDM raves against the backdrop of the increased tensions in the West Bank and Gaza from over 10 years ago.
It’s 2014, and Othello has largely been integrated into Israeli culture after entirely renouncing his Palestinian heritage as a young teenager. However, when he draws the jealousy and hatred of Iago, his past doesn’t let him go.
This innovative reimagining thrusts Othello into the role of a Palestinian ex-Muslim IDF soldier, grappling with identity, loyalty, and unsuccessful assimilation amidst the last deadly military incursion into Gaza. Featuring original composition from Palestinian composer, Fouad Dakwar, Philadelphia’s youngest and greatest talents, as well as verbatim affidavits from Palestinian political prisoners, Othello’s caustic unraveling is coming to the Icebox Project Space this September.
Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner
The Bumbling Foriegner does not want to tell you about his exile from Iran and his trials with stage four cancer to evoke your sympathy. Instead, he will translate his genius into something digestible. This is an absurd comedy solo. The Foriegner will eat hot dogs and will not drink his own urine.
Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner who suffers from retrograde ejaculation as a result of extensive stage four testicular cancer treatment. Retrograde ejaculation is a condition where semen instead of coming out, it gets released into the bladder. This makes the Foriegner infertile. He is however in a relationship where his girlfriend considers infertility a deal-breaker. Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner will be performing for the last three times here in the United States before he returns to Iran to retrieve the semen he had deposited in the sperm bank before he started his cancer treatment. Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner is going to be facing quite a few obstacles such as dealing with the extremist regime who casts a special suspicion upon those who return from the US, as well as the dangers of carrying the semen in a freezer for a long period of time back to America, and of course the difficulties of obtaining a re-entry visa which could deem this entire journey insurmountable and possibly keep Sohrab in Iran forever.
Catch Sohrab is Bumbling Foriegner for three last hurrahs in Philly, and give this boy a heartfelt goodbye. He might have been the last genius clown left.
Othello (vs the military industrial complex) (Copy)
Othello (vs the military industrial complex) will be showing at Icebox Project Space starting September 20th - September 22nd.
In this bold and fresh adaptation, a timeless tragedy unfolds with the vibrant energy of EDM raves against the backdrop of the increased tensions in the West Bank and Gaza from over 10 years ago.
It’s 2014, and Othello has largely been integrated into Israeli culture after entirely renouncing his Palestinian heritage as a young teenager. However, when he draws the jealousy and hatred of Iago, his past doesn’t let him go.
This innovative reimagining thrusts Othello into the role of a Palestinian ex-Muslim IDF soldier, grappling with identity, loyalty, and unsuccessful assimilation amidst the last deadly military incursion into Gaza. Featuring original composition from Palestinian composer, Fouad Dakwar, Philadelphia’s youngest and greatest talents, as well as verbatim affidavits from Palestinian political prisoners, Othello’s caustic unraveling is coming to the Icebox Project Space this September.
Othello (vs the military industrial complex)
Othello (vs the military industrial complex) will be showing at Icebox Project Space starting September 20th - September 22nd.
In this bold and fresh adaptation, a timeless tragedy unfolds with the vibrant energy of EDM raves against the backdrop of the increased tensions in the West Bank and Gaza from over 10 years ago.
It’s 2014, and Othello has largely been integrated into Israeli culture after entirely renouncing his Palestinian heritage as a young teenager. However, when he draws the jealousy and hatred of Iago, his past doesn’t let him go.
This innovative reimagining thrusts Othello into the role of a Palestinian ex-Muslim IDF soldier, grappling with identity, loyalty, and unsuccessful assimilation amidst the last deadly military incursion into Gaza. Featuring original composition from Palestinian composer, Fouad Dakwar, Philadelphia’s youngest and greatest talents, as well as verbatim affidavits from Palestinian political prisoners, Othello’s caustic unraveling is coming to the Icebox Project Space this September.
We Are The Vessel Workshops by Symone Salib
During these two community workshops participants will come with the intention of creating their own vessel. Community members will use air dry clay to create their own vessel that they can take home after the program. During the workshop participants will have the space to talk about the ways that our friends, families, and community members uplift us during moments of transformation. They are the flowers that fill the space and make life a little less hard. In addition to the vessels participants will take home they will also be able to make a mini bouquet as well to share with someone they love in their life. Register here!
Street Movies! with Scribe Video Center
Hosted by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, join Scribe Video Center for a special screening of documentary films made by women from the SWANA region, followed by an open discussion on community-organizing in Philadelphia. Programming co-curated by Joseph Fahim. Grab your tickets!
Summer Concert featuring Hello Psychaleppo and Alsarah & The Nubatones
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is excited to host their Summer Concert at One Art on August 10, 2024. This year’s Summer Concert kicks off with Alsarah & The Nubatones, performing energetic, original music influenced by traditional sounds of central Sudan. We dance into the night with our favorite Arab bass dropper Hello Psychaleppo, performing a live set on the heels of releasing his new album “Cipher”. Bring your family and friends for this outdoor party! Grab your tickets here!
Poems & A Movie: Sometimes I Dream in Farsi
The inaugural event of Poems & A Movie (a brand new series combining film, writing, and community) with the Philadelphia premiere of Sometimes I Dream in Farsi, an award-winning film by indie filmmaker Dr. Pirooz Kalayeh, along with readings by three literary superstars: Porochista Khakpour (author of Tehrangeles, 2024), Alina Pleskova (author of Toska, 2023), and Violet Gehringer (author of I Love You It, Looks Like Rain, 2017). Grab your tickets!
Arab-American Mental Health Community Support Session
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is pleased to invite you to an upcoming community session focused on mental health support for Arab American and Arab immigrants & refugees on August 2 at PATH Center. The event includes private consultation that aims to provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can openly discuss mental health challenges, share experiences, and learn coping strategies. Register for the event in this form.
A Therapeutic Arts Workshop with Farah Salem
Join us for a somatic therapeutic arts workshop with Farah Salem. This hands-on, studio-based activity will focus on themes Farah explores in her artwork, centering on relationships between bodies and land. Register here.
Checkpoint 303 & Jad Atoui Concert
It is with great anticipation that we bring together sound artists from Montreal and Beirut for a night of powerful sonic compositions that point us towards liberation and new ways of activating music. Using archives and field recordings predominantly from Palestine and various countries throughout the Arab world, Checkpoint 303 constructs soundscapes that weave cinematic audio with experimental sound processing, breakbeats and glitch. Jad Atoui will be performing "Purge", a solo piece that reflects on his recent experimentations with modular synth, waves of galactical pads driven by distorted rhythmic bass engines and energetic noise. Grab your tickets here.
DIALOGUES 4: LEYYA MONA TAWIL AKA LIME RICKEY INTERNATIONAL & JULIUS MASRI
Presented in co-operation with Fire Museum Presents.
Dialogues: A Conversation and Performance is a series of events in which we invite someone to discuss their creative process and present an aspect or aspects of their work. For this edition we present artist and curator Leyya Mona Tawil aka Lime Rickey International in collaboration and discussion with multi instrumentalist and composer Julius Masri. Tickets
Clothing Sale for Palestine
Join us this Saturday! Temple students are hosting a clothing sale for Palestine where all proceeds will go to The Sanabel Team. Drinks are refreshments are provided.
A Body Knowing Its Earth Exhibition
Register for the opening reception! Join us from 6-8 PM on Friday, June 7, at Al-Bustan's Hub (3645 Lancaster Ave.) for the opening reception for Farah Salem's Exhibit, "A Body Knowing Its Earth." The exhibit will be open for view at the Al-Bustan Gallery from May 3, 2024 through August 2024.
The Damned Don't Cry Screening
Don't miss the Philadelphia-area premiere of this captivating queer drama from Morocco! Set on society's fringes, Fatima-Zahra and her son navigate survival together until a long-hidden family secret tests their bond, pushing them towards new paths. Featuring stellar performances, this film blends melodrama and neorealism, reminiscent of Fassbinder and Sirk's works. Co-presented with Bryn Mawr Film Institute, stay tuned for a remote Q&A session with director Fyzal Boulifa after the screening! Tickets
Community Iftar at Al-Hidaya Islamic Center
Join us at the Al-Hidaya Islamic Center on Sunday, March 31st for a community iftar. Come together with friends, family, and neighbors to share in the joy of breaking fast during this blessed month of Ramadan.
Gate of the Sun Screening + Director Talkback
Join us for the US premiere screening of the recently restored Gate of the Sun Parts 1 and 2 in our two-day screening event, on Sunday, March 24th, and Monday, March 25th, at Lightbox Film Center (401 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147). Grab your tickets here!
Sunday, March 24th: Doors open at 1 PM, with screening of Gate of the Sun, Part 1 to start at 1:15 PM, followed by an artist talk featuring Yousry Nasrallah.
Monday, March 25th: Doors open at 7 PM, with Iftar food and drink provided at sunset, followed by screening of Gate of the Sun, Part 2 at 8 PM
Zekkereya and Leila Abdul-Rauf Concert
Leila Abdul-Rauf (San Francisco) and Zekkereya (Detroit) are multi-instrumentalist composers who combine brass, electronics, and other sound sources to create immersive, ambient works that bridge seen and unseen worlds. Zekkereya’s performance will weave threads of sound from across the Islamic world into a melodic sound bath, proposing a testament to muslim unity. With voice, trumpet and synthesizer, Leila will create a cinematic atmosphere for introspection, accessing what is often unconscious and obscured by the human condition. This intimate concert offers space and time for imagining, as the new year slides into place. Tickets.
Gaza Habibti with Untold Palestine
Al-Bustan is honored to open space for this vision to our community in Philadelphia, presenting Gaza Habibti, a selection of images and stories from the Untold Palestine collection. The gallery is open for view from February 2 until March 22.
In the Shadow of Beirut Regional Premiere
Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is presenting the regional premiere of the film In the Shadow of Beirut directed by Stephen Gerard Kelly, Garry Keane at PhilaMOCA on December 17. From the makers of Gaza (Sundance 2019), comes In the Shadow of Beirut depicts a portrait of modern-day Lebanon as seen through the eyes of four families living in the impoverished Sabra and Shatila neighborhoods of the city, the scene of an infamous massacre in 1982. The Shadow of Beirut' is Ireland's entry in the Best International Feature category for the 96th Academy Awards. Grab your tickets.
Hatshepsut Play Reading
Join Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture and Beacon Theatre Productions for a reading of the play Hatshepsut which brings the tale of Queen Hatshepsut to life, who reigned as King of Egypt but was erased from history by her successor. Register today!
Marwan Kamel and Julius Masri Concert
This evening of solo and duo works by multi-instrumentalists Marwan Kamel and Julius Masri is a “first meeting” of these two artists; both of whom have a hybrid approach to traditional Arabic musical forms. Philadelphia’s own Masri is known for his improvised performances, collaborations with the dance community, and celebrated new album under the name Mephisto Halabi. Masri plays drums, circuit modified Casio keyboards, Oud, Kamancheh, and various other instruments. Chicago/Tunis based Kamel is a dedicated researcher and performer known for his project Daily Maqam. His palette includes oud, nay, buzuq, guitar, violin, and hand-percussion. With these beautiful instruments, the duo will journey through improvisations and compositions that celebrate Arabic music while pushing into unique, personal interpretations that suggest the future of these forms. Tickets
Once Upon A Memory Opening Reception
Join us from 6-8 PM on Friday, November 3, at Al-Bustan's Hub (3645 Lancaster Ave.) for the opening reception for Mo Darwish's Exhibit, "Once Upon a Memory." The exhibit will be open for view at the Al-Bustan Gallery from November 3, 2023 until January 12, 2023. Register here.
War and Me Reading with Faleeha Hassan
Faleeha Hassan will be reading her new book, War and Me at the Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture on October 27 at 6:30PM. An intimate memoir about coming of age in a tight-knit working-class family during Iraq’s seemingly endless series of wars, War and Me is a deeply personal account of her life, she remembers those she has loved and lost. Register here.