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  • Opening Reception of “Stories My Father Told Me” by Helen Zughaib

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery is pleased to present Stories My Father Told Me, a solo exhibition by renowned artist Helen Zughaib. The exhibition opens Thursday, November 13th, from 6–9 PM at Al-Bustan’s gallery, located at 310 W Master St, Philadelphia PA. Through 25 paintings, Zughaib brings a vivid world alive—a world derived from the stories that her father would relay to her and her siblings while growing up in Lebanon. Though rooted in her specific familial experience, the exhibition speaks to something universal: the enduring power of storytelling to bridge generations and preserve identity. Each painting invites viewers to

    Free
  • Amanda Ekery Live in Concert

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join Al-Bustan for a community gathering of live music and togetherness with a live performance from Amanda Ekery.Afternoon Concert with Amanda EkeryLive Performance by Amanda EkeryJoin Al-Bustan for a community gathering of live music and togetherness. The Árabe Mahrajan is built around the album release and live performance of Amanda Ekery and her touring musicians. Ekery is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer with roots in Syria and Mexico, her work explores the shared history and culture of her heritage. Árabe contains original songs and accompanying essays written by Amanda with the stories and history behind each track, covering everything from

  • Afternoon Concert with Amanda Ekery

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join Al-Bustan for a community gathering of live music and togetherness. The Árabe Mahrajan is built around the album release and live performance of Amanda Ekery and her touring musicians. Ekery is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer with roots in Syria and Mexico, her work explores the shared history and culture of her heritage. Árabe contains original songs and accompanying essays written by Amanda with the stories and history behind each track, covering everything from food, gambling, and evil eyes to immigration law, biracial identity, and the fraught relationship between immigrant entrepreneurship and workers’ rights. Joining us for the Songwriting

    Free
  • Songwriting Workshop with Amanda Ekery

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Amanda Ekery and her band for a songwriting workshop! This songwriting workshop will focus on using research and personal history to write music using techniques Ekery used to write Árabe, her new album. Árabe is about Syrian and Mexican shared culture and history, and covers everything from food, gambling, and evil eyes, to immigration law, biracial identity, and the fraught relationship between immigrant entrepreneurship and workers’ rights. Participants will leave the workshop with a short song they have created, along with tools and tips to continue songwriting. Tickets are $30 and include complimentary admission to

    $30
  • Opening Reception of “Anatomy of Grief” by Tremain Smith

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    An Exhibition Fundraiser for Relief in Palestine.Opening Reception of "Anatomy of Grief" by Tremain Smith. Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery, 310 W. Master St. Philadelphia PA.

  • El Funoun Palestine Dance Troupe Dabke Workshop

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Dancers from El-Funoun will be at Al-Bustan to lead dabke workshops for beginners and advanced dancers.Dancers from El-Funoun will be touring the United States in August 2025 to carry out a series of dabke workshops for beginners and advanced dancers. These gatherings promise to provide an inspiring opportunity for participants to learn more about Palestinian dabke, develop dabke skills, and make connections with community members. Further, they will support the work of a vital Palestinian cultural institution to remain steadfast in the face of overwhelming attempts by Israel to silence, suppress and erase Palestinian society and culture. More about learning Dabke

  • El Funoun Palestine Dance Troupe Dabke Workshop

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Dancers from El-Funoun will be at Al-Bustan to lead dabke workshops for beginners and advanced dancers.Dancers from El-Funoun will be touring the United States in August 2025 to carry out a series of dabke workshops for beginners and advanced dancers. These gatherings promise to provide an inspiring opportunity for participants to learn more about Palestinian dabke, develop dabke skills, and make connections with community members. Further, they will support the work of a vital Palestinian cultural institution to remain steadfast in the face of overwhelming attempts by Israel to silence, suppress and erase Palestinian society and culture. More about learning Dabke

  • Drawing Workshop

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Imagining and Drawing Alternative Futures, Led by Rayan ElnayalJoin us for a hands-on drawing workshop that invites participants of all ages to dream, design, and draw imaginative spaces inspired by the people and places we love.Led by Al-Bustan exhibiting artist, Rayan Elnayal, this workshop explores themes of futurism, speculative design, and magic realism. Rayan will share her creative process, how she transforms memories of real places into visionary digital and fictional spaces. Participants will then begin their own creative journey: envisioning what a beloved space might look like 500 years from now, shaped by future social, economic, and environmental changes.Using

  • Opening Reception of “Digital Sanctuaries” by Rayan Elnayal

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for the opening reception of the next exhibition at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture.Opening Reception of "Digital Sanctuaries" by Rayan ElnayalJuly 10, 2025, 6 - 9 PMAl-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery, 310 W. Master St. Philadelphia PA

  • Opening Reception of “Digital Sanctuaries” by Rayan Elnayal

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us at Al-Bustan Gallery for the opening reception of “Digital Sanctuaries” by Rayan Elnayal. Rayan is a Sudanese artist, designer, and educator that combines her research and architectural background to imagine futuristic spaces deeply rooted in Sudan and its diaspora. Her work serves as a speculative exploration of futuristic and fictional spaces that embrace our cultural heritages and resist harmful Euro-centric design principles.

    Free
  • Opening Reception of “The Dark Ages” by Ghada Khunji

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for the opening reception of "The Dark Ages", an exhibition by celebrated Bahraini artist Ghada Khunji. This series delves into the depths of human experience, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the passage of time through surreal photomontages. Khunji's work is renowned for capturing the inherent dignity of her subjects, offering profound reflections on both personal and collective narratives. Ghada Khunji, born in Manama, Bahrain, is a graduate of Parsons School of Design and the International Center of Photography's Documentary Program in New York. Her career began in fashion photography, evolving into documentary work that has garnered international

    Free
  • Street Movies! Undercover with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Street Movies! is a free screening and performance series bringing artists and independent short films to vibrant community spacesPresented in partnership with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, join us on Thursday, April 3rd for a curated screening of Middle Eastern shorts that combine politics with sci-fi and the supernatural. This program is co-curated by Joseph Fahim and will feature an opening performance by Palestinian composer and Buzoq player, Jiryis Murkus Ballan.Film Program:In Vitro (Dir. Larissa Sansour & Soren Lind, Palestine/Denmark/UK, 2019, 28 min): Commissioned by the Danish Arts Foundation for the 58th Venice Biennale, In Vitro, co-directed with Søren Lind, is

  • Yan Kama Yan Storytime

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Kan Yama Kan Storytime with Ms. Dina In both Arabic and English Featuring Hantush, a story written by Salha Hamdeen, a 14 year old Palestinian girl from the Jahalin Bedouin tribe, where her imaginary pet lamb, Hantush, helps her escape her reality and roam the world.First, Ms. Dina will read the story using Arabic and English interchangeably. Then, together, we will revisit key terms from the story while practicing the Arabic alphabets. For example: ح for حنتوش. Finally, together we will discuss the lessons we draw from the story. Tickets are $5! If you or your child are in one

    $5
  • Music Behind the Bars

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is thrilled to announce an extraordinary evening of live music featuring former Syrian prisoners of war Hassan Abd Alrahman, Asaad Shlash, Faraj Birkdar, Kesra Kurdi, Ibrahim Byrakdar, Haitham Alkatreb and Adnan Hassan. These seven musicians will perform the live in concert on March 22nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, located at 310 W Master St. Philadelphia, PA. Thirty years ago, a group of political prisoners formed a band inside the cells of Syria’s notorious Sednaya Prison—dubbed the "Human Slaughterhouse" by Amnesty International in 2017—to resist the oppressive noise that deepened their suffering.

    $50
  • Opening Reception of Storyburst

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    All year long, Al-Bustan's After School Arab Arts Students make artwork with their instructor, Saria Rosenhaj. The program introduces students to technical art forms while celebrating the depth and cultural significance of Arab arts. "Al-Bustan" is Arabic for "The Garden." The objective of the program is to plant seeds of creative expression through cross-cultural exchange and arts education. Al-Bustan is excited to welcome students from John Moffet and Samuel Powel schools into the Al-Bustan Gallery to showcase their artwork through an exhibition entitled Storyburst. Over the past few months, students at both schools participated in visual storytelling through a multitude

    Free
  • Tatreez Workshop

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Tatreez Workshop with Johara Shamaa February 22nd, 2025 at 6 PM In this workshop, we will explore the rich history and cultural significance of Tatreez, the traditional Palestinian embroidery. Participants will learn about the origins of this art form, the different techniques used, and the symbolism behind motifs and patterns. We will learn about thobes from different Palestinian cities, understanding how each region’s style is unique and represents its local heritage. Then, each participant will have the chance to practice Tatreez techniques and create their own piece of art, Either a framed design or bookmark. Class run time: 2 Hours Class price:

    $50
  • Yan Kama Yan Storytime

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for our second gathering, we will read the story بطريق أضاع الطريق (Batriq ada3a altariq; A penguin lost his way) by Palestinian Kuwaiti author Hooda Shawa Qaddumi. The story chronicles the journey of a penguin displaced by climate change as he roams the world in search for home. First, Ms. Dina will read the story in Arabic, with consecutive English translation. Then, together, we will revisit key terms from the story while practicing the Arabic alphabets. For example: ش for شوكة and ز for زيتون. Finally, together we will discuss the lessons the kids draw from the story.

    $5
  • Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Al-Bustan invites artists of all skill levels to join our winter 2025 studio art classes and workshops. Each session runs for 4-6 weeks and is led by talented professional artists from our local community. Registration is now open! Questions? Email education@albustanseeds.org.

  • Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Al-Bustan invites artists of all skill levels to join our winter 2025 studio art classes and workshops. Each session runs for 4-6 weeks and is led by talented professional artists from our local community. Registration is now open! Questions? Email education@albustanseeds.org.

  • Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Al-Bustan invites artists of all skill levels to join our winter 2025 studio art classes and workshops. Each session runs for 4-6 weeks and is led by talented professional artists from our local community. Registration is now open! Questions? Email education@albustanseeds.org.

  • Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Artists Workshop Series at Al-Bustan

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Al-Bustan invites artists of all skill levels to join our winter 2025 studio art classes and workshops. Each session runs for 4-6 weeks and is led by talented professional artists from our local community. Registration is now open! Questions? Email education@albustanseeds.org.

  • Naomi Shihab Nye Prize 2024 Award Ceremony

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    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. These readings showcase captivating stories for young readers ages 8-12, but adults will

  • Opening Reception: Imprints of Time and Place by zami

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    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

    Free
  • Film Screening: Bye Bye Tiberias

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Join us for a special screening of Bye Bye Tiberias, followed by a conversation with the film's director, Lina Soualem.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, 2024Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PMLocation: Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, 310 W Master St, PhiladelphiaFollowing the screening, there will be a conversation with renowned Egyptian

  • Finding Your Voice: Writing Workshop & Reading

    Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

    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. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 16th from 6-8pm at

    Free