museum store - Arab American National Museum

arab american national museum
2008-2009
mission
The Arab American National Museum (AANM) documents, preserves, celebrates, and educates the
public on the history, life, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans. We serve as a resource to
enhance knowledge and understanding about Arab Americans and their presence in this country.
The Arab American National Museum is a proud Affiliate of the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, D.C. Read about the Affiliations program at
http://affiliations.si.edu.
The AANM is a project of ACCESS
Above: Artist Jarie Saad Ruddy of Royal Oak, Michigan donated to the AANM this plaque bearing the phrase “ahlan wa sahlan” which means
“welcome” in Arabic.
Cover photo: Middle school student Diana Molina photographed the AANM’s dramatic dome as part of the Museum’s SURA Arts Academy, a
diversity-themed free digital photography instruction program honored in 2008 with the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s
Council on the Arts and the Humanities for exemplary after-school programs.
a message from the director
The publication of this report
coincides with the fifth
anniversary of the opening of
the Arab American National
Museum. It certainly is time for
us to celebrate!
Helen Thomas’ Portable Typewriter
The 2008-09 period has been most challenging, yet, at the same time, quite rewarding.
We are proud to report that, through the determination and professionalism of our staff
and Board and the commitment of our community, the AANM has weathered the economic downturn without any serious cuts in budget, programs or staff. In fact, we have
expanded our staff in the critical areas of curatorial, design and social media marketing.
Despite its youth and modest means, the AANM has emerged as a leader in creating a
new model for cultural institutions; one that is more reflective, responsive and respectful of the communities served. The Museum is also among those leading institutions
that have embraced the communications revolution brought about by the Internet. This
has resulted in significant expansion of our audience inside our walls, at related off-site
events, and among those who access the AANM’s resources online.
Over the last two years, the Museum has made real progress toward becoming a truly
national institution. Traveling exhibits have been created. AANM education outreach has
grown to serve students and their instructors in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, as
well as Michigan. We have been a leading force behind the establishment of important
local and national coalitions such as the Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan and the
Immigration Sites of Conscience. Along the way, the AANM was honored with several
local and national awards.
The Museum’s progress has been validated by its supporters, both locally and nationally.
It speaks volumes that, despite current economic conditions, more than 3,000 individuals became new Museum Members in 2008-09, more than one-third of them from outside the state of Michigan.
As reflected at right by the American Association of Museums, the AANM today enjoys
recognition as a courageous institution that embraces innovation and views challenges as
opportunities. We look ahead with optimism. We know that we own and can shape our future. We have been entrusted with the continuing responsibility of safeguarding and spotlighting Arab American history and contributions. With your ongoing support, we will.
“As a young museum, the
museum leaders have carefully
laid the groundwork for
establishing the museum as one
of the most well managed and
respected ethnic museums in the
country… Carefully thought out
planning and implementation is
paying off.” —American Association of
Museums evaluator on the Arab
American National Museum
Anan Ameri, Director
Arab American National Museum
1
a message from the national advisory board chair
As we mark the fifth anniversary
of the Arab American National
Museum, we are mindful of the
past and filled with dedication
and determination for the
future.
We remain committed to uncompromising excellence and to achieving objectives such
as bringing the lives and contributions of Arab Americans to a national audience. However, that commitment must be led by individuals of passion and intellect united around
a common goal.
The Museum’s National Advisory Board represents one of America’s most diverse, ac-
complished, influential and respected groups of professionals. The Museum’s successful
journey requires that each advisory board member fulfill a personal mandate to con-
tinually contribute their time, talent and treasure to the Museum and participate in its
continued growth. Our collective mission requires that we institutionalize the Museum
in the hearts and minds of all of America and beyond.
The Arab American National Museum has become a shining beacon of pride and dignity
during one of the greatest periods of adversity in American history. Our future is as exciting as our past. We fully intend to work together in synthesizing our road ahead with the
same wonderful enthusiasm and determination that has led us so swiftly to the success
we enjoy today.
One thing is certain: We are challenged as never before. We must accomplish more with
fewer resources. Our future success depends on our collective ability to deliver consistently on our promise. Our promise is the powerful emotional glue, the truth and trust
that connect who and what we are and what we do to our key audiences around the
globe. Let us nurture the wonderful legacy we have created with a continued extraordinary passion for excellence.
Shamel T. Rushwin, Chair
AANM National Advisory Board
Team Rahal Racing Suit and Helmet
“…Education is the key—and you are
a big piece of that. You blew away any
stereotypes I may have had—Christa
McAuliffe? James Jabara? I had NO IDEA...
thank you for educating me. I promise to
spread the information as often and as
powerfully as possible.”
—Nicole Malachowski, Major, U.S. Air Force
“…as an Arab American myself I felt a
profound surge of pride. The exhibits are
wonderful… the architecture is beautiful,
and the tour guide was immersed
in our history and heritage, she was
knowledgeable & did not miss a beat… I
loved the huge wall map representing the 22
countries of the Arab World. I was grateful
when Amy explained the difference between
the Middle East per se and the correct use
of the Arab world. I thought I knew a lot
but to my surprise there are some public
figures I did not know about, such as: I never
knew Christine McAuliffe was an Arab. All
in all your efforts are outstanding. I called
my sons and told them I must bring the
grandchildren for a positive educational
tour. Heartfelt thanks…
—Haifa Rubaie, University of Michigan
2 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
introduction
Five years after its May 5, 2005, opening, the Arab
American National Museum (AANM) remains the
only institution among America’s 17,500 museums
that is devoted to the history, culture and contributions
of Arab Americans. It is a dynamic destination where
this integral segment of American society tells its
stories through oral histories and thousands of donated
photographs, documents and artifacts.
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, amid the greatest
concentration of Arab Americans in United States,
As an institution with “national” in its name and
the AANM offers a stereotype-shattering educational
education at its heart, the AANM has made significant
experience to the 56,000 visitors – half of them students
progress in delivering its message to audiences outside
and educators – who pass through its doors each year.
of southeast Michigan. With its dramatic 38,500-sq.-ft.
Another 425,000 people take part in Museum-sponsored
facility as a base, the Museum and its staff have created
off-site events annually.
traveling exhibits, made collections searchable online,
and even brought AANM programs to those who
The AANM’s interactive permanent exhibits span Arab
could not attend, via free downloads from Apple’s
American history from the 1500s to the present day,
iTunes U. The Museum’s educational outreach efforts
while also shedding light on the common experiences of
have expanded outside of Michigan to neighboring
all immigrants. Its rotating exhibits highlight Arab/Arab
Midwestern states.
American history and contemporary creative output,
while related programming including concerts, films and
With all the warmth of traditional Arab hospitality,
panel discussions underscores the value of America’s
the AANM welcomes all visitors to learn about Arab
culturally diverse population.
Americans, while encouraging them to value their own
individual cultural history and celebrate the rich diversity
of our nation.
3
AANM by the numbers
Museum finances continued to trend positively in
2008-09, a testament to the AANM’s high-quality
programs and the rewarding experiences of its
audiences.
Attendance has increased from 50,000 in 2007 to 52,000 in 2008
and 56,000 in 2009. An estimated 325,000 people attended annual off-site events such as Concert of Colors, the Museum’s annual Gala, and educational workshops and seminars. Almost half
of those who come to the Museum are students and educators,
and more than 25% of visitors come from outside Michigan.
Despite the nation’s serious economic struggles, bright spots
have emerged on the AANM balance sheet. Over the last two
years, sales at the Museum Store have increased steadily; online
sales alone saw a 300% increase during the period. Revenues
from facility rentals have also grown as more corporations, foundations, organizations and community members have selected
the AANM for business meetings, receptions, weddings and graduation parties.
While adjusting to economic conditions, the Museum has been
able to avoid major cuts to its $2.2 million annual budget. Highquality programming and smart management have led to ongoing, and in some cases, expanded support from foundations,
corporations and individuals.
In particular, capacity-building grants received in 2008-09 had
major impact. A two-year, $150,000 McGregor Fund challenge
grant helped the AANM recruit 3,000 new Museum Members. A
three-year, $500,000 Kresge Foundation grant funded the development and implementation of a formal business plan focused
on increasing earned revenues. The Ford Foundation’s three-year,
$500,000 grant is improving exhibits and public programs, while
a two-year, $110,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and
Library Services is taking AANM educational programs into the
neighboring states of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
The value of the expanded Membership and donor base, along
with improvements in outreach, were most evident in the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s “Challenge: Arts and
Culture” in August 2009. Never before has the AANM been able
to mobilize such a large number of supporters in such a short
period of time! The Museum raised $304,000 and ranked fourth
among the 75 competing cultural organizations, bested only by
institutions larger and significantly older than the AANM, which
marks its 5th anniversary in 2010.
In 2008 and 2009, the Michigan Friends of the Museum Committee held two fundraisers, generating a total of $300,000 in unrestricted funding for Museum operations. In 2008, public events
introduced the Museum to Washington, D.C. community. Then, in
2009, a fundraiser in the nation’s capital raised $180,000 for the
AANM Endowment Fund. As of December 2009, the Museum’s
endowment, managed by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, stands at $3.5 million, despite the major crash in
the stock market.
The AANM’s ability to thrive under such severe conditions helps
Museum leaders face the future with optimism and confidence.
4 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
Concert of Colors: Exposed
Self Portrait, from Fragmentation & Unity: The Art of Sari Khoury
curatorial
At the core of the AANM is its Curatorial Department, which brings Arab American history to life
in the Museum’s permanent exhibits; creates compelling temporary exhibitions for two rotating gallery spaces; and maintains the highest standards of
conservation.
Museum visitors were asked to share their
reactions on a gallery wall at the conclusion of
the temporary exhibition A Yemeni Community:
Photographs from the 1970s by Milton Rogovin.
These are some of the comments:
I’ve never seen a culture before…
Proud to be Yemeni ...Yemenis Rock...I love Yemen
because I was born there... I love my best country,
Yemen ...Yemen culture is beautiful ...Yemen is a
very old place.
I like myself…I am proud of who I am…We are each
unique in our own way…but there is a ‘me’ J.
We are not very different after all…We are all
equal…Everyone wants peace…We are powerful…
We all have dreams…Race? Human…People are
Important!
Family and community are everything…I am a
strong woman, my hands are the glue that holds
this family together…Living in a community – with
and for one another…I love you grandma.
The AANM’s collection has grown from some 3,700 items at the
end of 2007 to more than 4,800 items, including photos, documents and artifacts, at the end of 2009. Accessions in this period included a gift of 19 original works by social documentary
photographer Milton Rogovin; the childhood oud of renowned
musician/educator Simon Shaheen; and a number of handcrafted items by Arab American artists bearing the phrase
“ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome). Visitors to the AANM Web site at
www.arabamericanmuseum.org are now able to search for and
view images and information on artifacts, thanks to the installation of PastPerfect Online software.
Technological advancements have also impacted how the
Museum engages its visitors in both gallery and virtual settings.
Curators created the AANM’s first exhibition-specific micro-Web
site for the 2008 show A Yemeni Community, offering enhanced
information such as lesson plans for teachers. The immigrationthemed 2009 exhibition Connecting Communities incorporated
social media contributions from audiences (YouTube videos, Flickr
photos) into the exhibition via gallery wall projections, while also
allowing those who could not physically visit the Museum the opportunity to connect with the exhibition.
5
EXHIBITIONS
2008-09
January 31 - August 31, 2008
Fragmentation & Unity:
The Art of Sari Khoury
Solo exhibition featuring the late
Michigan-based artist and educator
June 4 - August 31, 2008
Concert of Colors: Exposed
In-concert photographs from Detroit’s
beloved annual diversity-themed
music festival by Bruce Harkness and
Rebecca Cook
September 13 - November 16, 2008
SURA Student Photography Exhibition
Images of family, friends and community
by middle school students from Detroit
and Dearborn (above)
September 25, 2008 - March 29, 2009
Utopian Visions
Four artists – Rima Al-awar, Rana
Chalabi, Roula Ayoub and Emna Zghal –
interpret the concept of a perfect world
Utopian Visions
curatorial continued
The AANM’s strong reputation among the U.S. museum community continues
to grow. In 2008, the Museum was invited to join the Immigration Sites of Con-
science Network, a group of 14 American and European history museums dedicated
to encouraging dialogue on immigration issues. In 2009, the process of earning
accreditation from the American Association of Museums advanced significantly.
An initial self-study by AANM staff was followed by a successful visit from a peer
reviewer, who delivered a glowing assessment and advice to position the Museum
for its official accreditation application. The Museum also continues to enjoy its on-
going relationship with the Smithsonian Institution as one of just 160 Smithsonian
Affiliates across the country.
December 4, 2008 - August 16, 2009
A Yemeni Community: Photographs from
the 1970s by Milton Rogovin
Renowned social documentary
photographer’s images of an immigrant
community in Lackawanna, New York
September 12 - November 1, 2009
SURA Student Photography Exhibition
Images of family, friends and community
by middle school students from Detroit
and Dearborn
October 1, 2009 - March 28, 2010
Connecting Communities
Multimedia interactive exhibition on
immigration among Arabs, Latinos,
southeast Asians and eastern Europeans
Connecting Communities
6 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
education & public programming
Najla Said at DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts
“This was a very rewarding
experience - the best contentbased professional development
opportunity I have experienced.
[The workshop] helped increase my
understanding of the Arab World
and Arab American culture. This will
enhance my teaching - Thank You!!!
“This was one of the best workshops
I have been to in terms of content
learned and applicable info. It is very
eye-opening for me.”
This was so fun, everything was good
here…I love this place…My daughters
thank you!...The Museum rocks!...
Thank you for caring…Learning about
Arab heritage is awesome…
“I had a wonderful time this weekend…
I was somewhat knowledgeable
about the Arab World and Islam, but
I learned a tremendous amount that
will absolutely help me in being a
more learned and aware educator…”
Whether it takes place inside a gallery or auditorium at the AANM or
miles away at a school, business or entertainment venue, educating
people of all ages about Arab Americans is the primary goal of the
Museum’s Education & Public Programming Department (E&PP).
During 2008-09, E&PP used creative methods and fresh programming to engage new
and returning audiences; successfully collaborated with many community partners; and
earned major national recognition for a key youth program.
Students and educators, who comprise nearly 50% of AANM visitors, remain a primary
focus of educational efforts. Increasing numbers of school groups took docent-guided
Museum tours in 2008-09. A grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
resulted in, among other things, a series of presentations to high school students as
well as the publication of four informational booklets – Arab Americans; The Arab World;
Monotheistic Religions; and Islam & Muslim Americans – for general audiences. A Ruth
Mott Foundation grant allowed hundreds of children from Flint, Michigan to come to the
Museum or experience AANM presentations in their own classrooms. Museum staff also
worked directly with 55 educators from several states during a well-received three-day
workshop at the AANM in Summer 2009.
SURA Arts Academy (at left), the AANM’s free, diversity-themed photography program
for middle school students, maintained its weekly schedule of instructional sessions and
held annual exhibitions in 2008 and 2009, while adding a new virtual gallery for global
viewers on the Flickr photo-sharing Web site.
7
First Lady Laura Bush, SURA Arts Academy student photographer Camille Charara, AANM Assistant Director Celine Taminian and Caren Prothro of the
Institute of Museum and Library Services, at the Coming Up Taller Award ceremony at the White House in November 2008.
education & public programming
continued
In Fall 2008, SURA was honored with the Coming Up Taller Award, presented by First Lady
Laura Bush in a White House ceremony. This prestigious award was given to just 15 after-
school youth programs deemed exemplary by the President’s Committee on the Arts and
the Humanities.
Along with docent-guided tours and Arabic lunches, other ongoing youth activities – in-
cluding free craft-making and storytelling sessions for ages 6-12 – remain popular with
kids and parents alike. CU.SAME, a diversity-themed summer camp for teens, has been
an annual event since 2005.
E&PP reaches out to general audiences with programs and services that are educational
and entertaining. Ongoing offerings such as Cultural Competency workshops enlighten thousands of individuals in the government and corporate realms, increasing their
sensitivity and helping them be more effective in working with Arab American clientele.
Community-wide special events such as The Big Read, a month-long celebration of litera-
ture and literacy in 2009, introduced the AANM and the work of Egyptian Nobel laureate
Naguib Mahfouz to new audiences in neighboring communities.
A new, free cell-phone-based audio tour of the Museum’s permanent exhibits, introduced
in 2008, adds a new layer of interest for both new and returning visitors. A new themed
tour for groups of eight or more, rolled out in 2009, reinterprets the AANM’s permanent
exhibits through the experiences of Arab women. Events such as panel discussions and
antiques appraisals have helped audiences make connections between AANM exhibits
8 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
Mike Mosallam of the Wayne County (MI) Film Initiative
and Amreeka director Cherien Dabis
“The tour provided the opportunity to
relate in a variety of different ways to the
Arab culture and community.”
“The most enjoyable experience I had
was learning and getting to know a lot
about the Arab culture…and I think it’s
a blessing to see them the way I didn’t
before - I learned so much.”
Don Was at the Concert of Colors
and their own personal experience and history. Two semesters of
Arabic language classes are offered each year.
The annual Arab American Film Festival, held each fall at the Museum, continues to grow in popularity, featuring new and classic
titles by Arab and Arab American filmmakers. Single-film presen-
tations, such as the 2008 screening of director Tom McCarthy’s
The Visitor and the 2009 screening of the Cherien Dabis film
Amreeka, typically draw standing-room-only crowds. In 2009,
Bill Miller at Global Thursdays
series. In 2008-09, Global Thursdays proudly presented two mul-
As a national institution, the AANM hosted the 2008 Arab Ameri-
not only graced the AANM stage but also took their artistry out
cal Foundation, drawing 120 attendees. The Museum itself pre-
film also joined live music on the multicultural Global Thursdays
tiple-Grammy-winning artists, Rahim AlHaj and Bill Miller, who
into the community with master classes and workshops.
The event that inspired the Global Thursdays series – the annual
diversity-themed free world music festival known as Concert of
Colors – continued to draw enthusiastic crowds. Two thousand
nine marked the festival’s 17th anniversary. Museum staff oversee
can History Conference presented by the Arab-American Historisented its third DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts, which drew more
than 250 creative Arab Americans and scholars in 2009. The an-
nual Arab American Book Award literary competition draws a
larger number of submissions each year along with ceremony
attendees from across the United States.
the musical lineup. Among the performers to appear in recent
Collaboration is a hallmark of E&PP. AANM educators teamed up
Sainte-Marie; Yo La Tengo; Rickie Lee Jones; Michelle Shocked;
offer customized Museum tours related to the IMAX film Journey
years are: Aaron Neville; Vieux Farka Toure; Mavis Staples; Buffy
Toots & the Maytals; Terrance Simien; Sudan United for Peace;
and Machito Orchestra.
In 2008, Concert of Colors introduced the Detroit All-Star Revue
– an annual showcase of classic and contemporary Detroit-area
musical acts hosted by Grammy-winning super-producer Don
Was, a Detroit native. Videos of those performances, made avail-
able by Was at www.mydamnchannel.com, have earned thou-
sands of Internet viewers while also promoting Concert of Colors.
Also in 2008, the AANM presented Concert of Colors: Exposed, a
temporary exhibition of compelling in-concert images of world
music artists taken over the event’s 16-year history that helped
audiences understand the connection between the Museum and
this beloved community event.
in 2009 with neighboring cultural institution The Henry Ford to
to Mecca: In the Footseps of Ibn Battuta. Each offering of Global
Thursdays – the AANM’s multicultural concert and film series – is
supported by an area cultural organization that helps to bring
new audiences to the Museum. The aforementioned CU.SAME is
a joint project of the AANM, Charles H. Wright Museum of Afri-
can American History; Shalom Street Jewish Children’s Museum;
and The Henry Ford. The Big Read united the AANM with public
and university libraries, bookstores, even backgammon clubs. Per-
haps the most prominent collaboration is the Concert of Colors,
a joint presentation of the Arab American National Museum; its
parent organization ACCESS; civic group New Detroit; and Detroit
Symphony Orchestra.
9
library &
resource
center
The Library & Resource
Center (L&RC) at the Arab
American National Museum
is a burgeoning national
clearinghouse for information
about Arab Americans.
Author Alia Malek appears at the AANM Library & Resource Center to discuss her book A Country
Called Amreeka: Arab Voices, American Stories in late 2009.
Its reputation as a research destination continues to grow; both researcher visits and
requests for research assistance have shown a steady increase. Library-based public pro-
grams that encourage literacy and the exploration of diverse cultures drew thousands
of participants during 2008-09, when The Big Read – a program of the National Endowment for the Arts – came to the AANM.
Current holdings of the Library & Resource Center number more than 4,000, including
books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs and electronic resources. The Museum’s Arab American
Collection – one of seven distinct Library collections – consistently offers the most upto-date material in Arab American fiction and Arab American research. The online Com-
munity Resource Directory at www.arabamericanmuseum.org includes more than 1,000
“This event was a homecoming for my
novel and for myself. I was very moved
by everyone’s involvement and positivity,
and I’m grateful and feel so blessed.”
—Author Randa Jarrar, winner, 2009
Arab American Book Award
“Thank you for one of the nicest
evenings of my whole life… We all deeply
appreciate your gracious leadership and
inspiration.”
listings/links for Arab American artists in all genres, Arab American organizations and
—Author Naomi Shihab Nye, winner,
2009 Arab American Book Award
The L&RC’s public programming in 2008-09 included author
“…I always say this, but I really mean it,
I feel so welcome when I come to your
“house! Museum!” It is because of you,
Dr. Anan, and your wonderful colleagues.”
related entities.
appearances, among them Dr. Jack Shaheen, Imam Hassan
Qazwini, Sandy Tolan and Alia Malek. C-SPAN2’s “Book TV”
program taped Malek’s talk for later national broadcast.
Family-oriented Library programs included live storytellers
who engaged children and their parents alike with a series
—Artist Helen Zughaib
and university libraries and backgammon clubs in two counties to conduct 28 events at
“…Everyone was courteous and hospitable
and I couldn’t have been made to feel
more at home. The awards ceremony
was conducted very professionally, and
the auditorium was decorated with
banners that had each winning author’s
book emblazoned thereon. It was quite
impressive and made one feel that the
Museum took its awards program very
seriously…”
gammon demonstrations and book discussions; the kickoff event recreated a traditional
—Author Raff Ellis, honorable mention,
2008 Arab American Book Award
of sessions devoted to folktales from around the world, in
conjunction with the Museum’s popular Free Craft Sundays
series for youth.
The centerpiece of L&RC programming in 2008-09 was The Big Read, in which the Mu-
seum led the community in reading and discussing the 1961 novel The Thief and the Dogs
by Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz of Egypt. More than 700 copies of the book, in both
English and Arabic, were distributed free to the public. The AANM partnered with public
nine venues during March and early April 2009. Programs included film screenings, backEgyptian coffeehouse in the AANM Courtyard.
10 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
arab american book awards
When Randa Jarrar had an essay published in The New York Times Magazine in early 2010,
the author used as her only identifier “winner of the Arab American Book Award.” This
national literary competition founded by the AANM continues to grow in participation
and public profile. The number of titles submitted for consideration is increasing each
2009 winners, from left: Naomi Shihab Nye; Fayeq Oweis;
Randa Jarrar; Suheir Hammad; Moustafa Bayoumi
(not pictured: Saree Makdisi)
year as awareness grows among authors, publishers and readers; attendance at the
2008 Winners
award ceremony held each fall is also on the rise.
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Children/Young
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable Mention:
Lebanon: Stories of
Syrian-Lebanese
Tasting the Sky:
Origin
Non-Fiction
Annals of the Caliphs’
America
Neoliberal Brazil
Remember Me to
Another Arabesque:
Lebanese Women in
Ethnicity in
by Evelyn Shakir
by John Tofik Karam
Adult
A Palestinian
Childhood
Mention: Fiction
by Diana Abu-Jaber
by Ibtisam Barakat
2009 Winners
Mention:
Kisses From a
Distance
by Raff Ellis
Non-Fiction
Kitchens: Ibn Sayyar
al-Warraq’s TenthCentury Baghdadi
Cookbook
by Nawal Nasrallah
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Poetry
Children/
Honorable
Honorable
A Novel
Be a Problem? Being
breaking poems
Honeybee: Poems
Non-Fiction
Non-Fiction
A Map of Home:
by Randa Jarrar
How Does It Feel to
Young and Arab in
America
by Moustafa
Bayoumi
(new category)
by Suheir Hammad
Young Adult
& Short Prose
by Naomi Shihab
Nye
Mention:
Encyclopedia of
Arab American
Artists: Artists of the
American Mosaic
by Fayeq Oweis
Mention :
Palestine Inside Out:
An Everyday
Occupation
by Saree Makdisi
11
technology
Exciting and fast-changing technology makes it
possible for thousands of people around the world
to learn about and visit the Arab American National
Museum and to easily access its vast resources de-
voted to the history, culture and contributions of
Arab Americans.
Technology has greatly enhanced the AANM visitor experience.
In 2008, the Museum introduced the inaugural segments of its
free, cell-phone-based audio tour in both English and Arabic, adding a rich new visitor experience to the permanent exhibits. The
In 2008, the Museum’s Curatorial Department created its first
mation gateway that is constantly updated. It offers a variety of
munity: Photographs from the 1970s by Milton Rogovin. In 2009,
Museum website at www.arabamericanmuseum.org is an inforservices, from basic visitor and program information to sophisti-
micro-Web site devoted to a specific exhibition, A Yemeni Com-
the AANM introduced the Museum’s first exhibition that incor-
cated research tools including access to the Library & Resource
porated visitor-generated content. As part of the Connecting
in the AANM collection, now searchable via recently installed
personal experiences and opinions on immigration by recording
Center catalog and images and details of thousands of artifacts
PastPerfect software. Even Museum events such as DIWAN: A
Forum for the Arts are now free downloads available to all on
iTunes U, a section of the massively popular iTunes Store devoted
to free educational offerings.
12 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
Communities exhibition, audiences were asked to share their
short videos at a gallery kiosk that were then projected onto the
gallery wall and made available on YouTube. Photos of immigrant
communities were also solicited and shared via the Flickr photosharing website and gallery wall projections.
museum store
“…Your site is wonderful and I’ve told quite
a number of friends and non-friends (i.e. the
cashier at Target who loved my blue stone
bracelet that my daughter had bought for
me a couple of years ago) about the AANM
and the items that are sold at its store…”
The Museum Store at the AANM is much more than a typical institu-
“Hello, I just received the keffiyeh you
shipped to me. Thank you for sending it so
quickly. It will be very useful with the cold
weather we have been having in Virginia…
Thanks again and stay warm.”
United States and around the world.
tional purveyor of trinkets and souvenirs. It’s an educational and en-
tertaining retail experience that engages visitors long after they have
left the Museum. The online Store at www.arabamericanmuseum.
org serves to introduce the Museum to Internet shoppers across the
Goods imported from the Arab World dominate the Store’s selections. Fashionistas across
the country are donning Museum Store keffiyehs (scarves), offered in myriad colors and
patterns starting at just $10. Evil Eye jewelry from Jordan and Syria is a customer favorite,
as are Dead Sea skin-care products. Lead-free glazes make bold and bright Tunisian ceramic pieces safe for the dinner table, while hand-thrown Palestinian pottery draws the
eye with its traditional Arabesque designs. Books, CDs, toys and candy round out the
offerings. The Store’s top seller is Sahtein, a spiral-bound cookbook illustrated by Kamal
Boullata published by the Ramallah Club in 1976.
The Museum Store – both its physical space and its online partner – represents a growing stream of unrestricted revenue for the AANM. From 2008 to 2009, Store sales on the
Internet increased by more than 300%, due in part to an online advertising grant from
search giant Google. In addition, Store staff have proven particularly adept at encouraging shoppers to purchase Museum Memberships as part of their transaction, allowing
shoppers to enjoy the 10% Member discount on Store merchandise. And just as traditional Arabic hospitality is central to the visitor experience at the AANM, customer service is paramount in every Museum Store transaction, both in person and online.
13
facility rental & event planning
Ahlan wa sahlan! In Arabic, that’s Welcome!
Hospitality holds a sacred place in Arab culture, and the AANM proudly embraces this tradition by wel-
coming diverse events and audiences – everything from conferences and corporate receptions to wed-
dings and children’s birthday parties. These very special events are marked by old-world hospitality,
detail-driven service and rental fees well below those of most cultural institutions and generic rental
spaces in southeast Michigan, setting the Museum apart in this competitive market.
Among the groups that staged a 2008-09 event in some or all of the AANM’s six architecturally dis-
tinct spaces are: Ramallah Federation; Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Air
National Guard; and media outlets Al-Hurra TV and Yemeni American News. Additionally, the Museum
provided pro bono facility use to worthy nonprofit efforts including Kids Against Hunger; U.S. Census
Bureau; and local veterans organizations.
This area of operations provides a vital stream of unrestricted revenue for the AANM that has yet to
realize its full potential. New marketing pieces – a large, portable banner and a colorful, multi-panel brochure – have joined online slide shows
spotlighting the various rental options.
Museum staff promote the AANM
at bridal expositions and other such
gatherings, building awareness among
event-planning professionals as well as
private individuals. Existing practices
are constantly refined and new services
and options are continually added in
pursuit of service excellence and client
satisfaction.
14 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
“The AANM staff took great
effort in helping us plan an
unbelievable night for our closest
family & friends! The idea of
hosting a graduation party at
AANM was not only a unique
concept, but truly gave a new
light to the event. The food was
lavish, the decorations were
classy & most importantly, the
service was accommodating to
our needs.”
“The AANM is a great place to
host receptions and business
meetings. The atmosphere is
very relaxing, rewarding and
educational. It is a valuable
experience to bring your
colleagues, customers and friends
to conduct a meeting, then take
a tour of Museum exhibits for a
rich dive into the Arab American
Culture. Thumbs up!”
“We had a wonderful time at
the Arab American Museum. Our
guide was very knowledgeable,
our needs were well cared for,
and the food was excellent. Arab
hospitality was well represented.”
endowment and sustaining donors
We gratefully acknowledge the following donors who have invested in the future of the AANM and supported its programs
with cumulative gifts of $500 or more from May 1, 2008 – March 12, 2010.
$500,000+
Ford Foundation
Kresge Foundation
$100,000 - $499,999
Chevron Texaco
Chrysler LLC
Comerica Charitable Foundation
Community Foundation for SE Michigan
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Meijer
Saudi Aramco
Target Corporation
U.S. Department of Commerce
$50,000 - $99,999
DTE Energy
Ford Motor Company
McGregor Fund
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Ruth Mott Foundation
Skillman Foundation
$10,000 - $49,999
Anonymous (4)
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Abdoo
Mrs. Sarah B. Alturki
Mr. Noel J. Saleh and Dr. Anan Ameri
Drs. Adnan and Barbara Aswad
AT&T
Bank of America
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Embassy of the State of Qatar
ExxonMobil Corporation
Mr. Mike and Mrs. Wisam Fakhoury
Mr. Roy and Mrs. Maha Freij
Mr. and Mrs. Alan and Lina Harajli
Drs. Ronny and Zeena Hourani
Mr. and Mrs. Amjad Maali
Masco Corporation Foundation
Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs
National Endowment for the Arts
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
Mr. and Mrs. Ghassan Saab
Sabic Americas, Inc.
$5,000 - $9,999
AK Steel
Mr. and Mrs. Nicola M. Antakli
Mr. Jamal Baadani
Dr. and Mrs. Yahya M. Basha
Charter One Bank
Fifth Third Bank
Health Alliance Plan
Hudson-Webber Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Hassan Jaber
Ms. Jihad Maali
Mr. and Mrs. Osman R. Minkara
NAAMA
Port Huron Hospital
Atty. and Mrs. George Salem
Mr. and Mrs. Kamal Shouhayib
Ms. Ruth Ann Skaff and Family
U.S. Census Bureau
$1,000 - $4,999
AAA Michigan
Dr. Rashid Abdu
Ms. Wadad K. Abed
Dr. and Mrs. Marwan S. Abouljoud
Hon. and Mrs. Spencer Abraham
Mr. and Mrs. Ismael Ahmed
Mr. Nadim S. and Mrs. Rima Ajlouny
Dr. Roger and Mrs. Rosette Ajluni
Dr. Jihad A. and Mrs. Nuha Alsadek
Dr. Fahd Al-Saghir and Ms. Suha Sharbek
Dr. Samir and Mrs. Alya Alsawah
Mr. Nabil Al-Sharif
Mr. and Mrs. Attallah Amash
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Amen
American Ramallah Federation
Ms. Suad Amiry
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ansara
Armada Oil & Gas
Dr. and Mrs. John Artis
Dr. and Mrs. Basim I. Asmar
Dr. Mariam Awada
Dr. Nabil Azzam
Nasser Barghouti, Ph.D.
Mrs. Lubna Bathish Jones
Dr. Amer Bisat
Blue Care Network
Dr. and Mrs. Dennis I. Bojrab
The Hon. David E. Bonior
Ms. Annette Budzisz
Byblos Banquets
Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Ahmad Chebbani
Dr. Waad Dakkak and Ms. Jida Kalai
Mr. and Mrs. Tarik S. Daoud
Mr. Warren and Dr. Amal K. David
Mr. Joseph J. Diederich
Drs. Samer and Lina Dirani
Dr. Basim Dubaybo
East Dearborn Downtown Development
Authority
Dr. Nuzmeya Elder
Mr. and Mrs. Nazeeh Elias
Mr. and Mrs. Raff G. Ellis
Embassy of Libya
Mrs. Inea Bushnaq Engler
Mrs. Randa Fahmy-Hudome
Fairlane Town Center
Dr. John W. Farah
Mr. Nijad Fares
Dr. and Mrs. Zouheir Fares
Ms. Joann Fawaz
Mr. and Mrs. Bishara J. Freij
Amb. and Mrs. Edward Gabriel
Dr. and Mrs. Habib Gennaoui
Rev. and Mrs. William G. Gepford
Mr. Lawrence Ghannam
Mr. and Mrs. Fawaz Haddad
Dr. Ayman Haidar
Dr. and Mrs. Louis Hallal
Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi
Dr. and Mrs. Demian Hanna
Ms. Sonia M. Harb and Mr. Taha Dahabra
Harper University Hospital
Dr. Mohamad A. Hatahet and
Ms. Loubna Al-Khayat
Dr. and Mrs. Ghaleb F. Hatem
Henry Ford Community College
Henry Ford Health System
Henry Ford Health System - Transplant
Mr. James A. Hiller
Mr. Ghassan Daher and Ms. Nissrine Hussein
Dr. Faleh and Mrs. Alya Husseini
Dr. Fikry F. Ibrahim and Dr. Mona Rizk Ibrahim
International Union, UAW
Dr. Claire A. Issa
Dr. Farid and Mrs. Maha Jano
15
endowment and sustaining donors
$1,000 - $4,999 continued
Mr. Assad Jebara
Dr. and Mrs. Omar Kader
Mr. and Mrs. Khalil Karjawally
Dr. Abdalmajid Katranji and Ms. Hala Taifour
Dr. Mazen Khalidi
Mr. Fouad K. Kheir
Dr. Philip S. Khoury
Dr. and Mrs. Riad Khoury
Kiwanis Foundation of Dearborn, Inc.
Lebanese American University
Dr. Francis Shor and Ms. Barbara Logan
Hon. Mona K. Majzoub
Dr. John I. Makhoul
Dr. Clovis Maksoud
Mr. and Mrs. Tahir M. Mansour
Mr. Ziad Ismail and Ms. Linda Mansour
Marathon Petroleum Company LLC
Mr. Khader Masri
Mr. Tarek and Mrs. Suzy Adra Mazloum
Mercedes Benz of Bloomfield Hills
Michigan Food & Beverage Association
Michigan Kidney Consultants, PC
Mid East Pastry
Midwest Health Plan
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC
Molina Healthcare of Michigan
Mr. Karim Mostafa
Dr. and Mrs. Bassam H. Nasr
Dr. Hazem Nassif and Dr. Rula Mahayni
O.M. Contracting, Inc.
Oakwood Healthcare, Inc.
Mr. Karan Obeid
Dr. Zaven and Mrs. Lena Oskanian
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Oswald
Dr. and Mrs. Mohammad I. Othman
Mr. Talat M. Othman
Mr. and Mrs. Ismail Radwan
Ms. Souhad Rafey
Ms. Jacqueline Rizik
Ms. Cassandra Z. Rodger, Ttee.
Mr. and Mrs. Shamel Rushwin
Mr. and Mrs. Khalil Saab
Denyse Sabagh, Esq.
Safiedine Oil Co.
Dr. and Mrs. Safwan Saker
Dr. Faysal and Mrs. Rajaa Saksouk
Dr. Isam N. and Mrs. Wafa Salah
Mr. Isam Salah and Ms. Betsy Haddad
Metropolitan Philip Saliba
Ms. Silvia Samaan
Dr. Bashar Samman and
Dr. Randa Jundi-Samman
Mrs. Betty H. Sams
Dr. Hadi and Mrs. Nashwa Sawaf
Ms. Cynthia Serikaku
Mr. and Mrs. Farouq R. Shafie
Mr. and Mrs. Riad Shatila
Dr. Muaiad and Mrs. Aida Shihadeh
Mr. Hussien Y. Shousher and
Dr. Randa Mansour-Shousher
Dr. Muhammad S. and Mrs. Janine Shurafa
Mr. Richard Soble
Dr. Michael W. Suleiman
Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Tanous
Dr. Fawwaz T. Ulaby and
Ms. Jean Cunningham
University of Michigan - Dearborn
University Pathologists, PC
Mr. Rajaee and Mrs. Edna Zaid
Dr. Pierre A. and Mrs. Nawal Zayat
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Zeak
Dr. George Zureikat
$500 - $999
Mr. Jean Abinader
Dr. Thomas Abowd
Mr. Robert Abraham
Adam Travel of Detroit
Dr. and Mrs. Steven C. Ajluni
Mr. Malek Akkad
Dr. Sami and Mrs. May Akkary
Mr. Devon M. and Mrs. Dharma R. Akmon
Mr. and Mrs. Haroune B. Alameddine
Drs. Imad A. and Raida Alazem
Dr. and Mrs. Kheir Al-Zouhayli
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
Arab American Institute Foundation
Arab Women's Council Research &
Educational Fund
Mrs. Naila Asali
Mrs. Rose Assi
Mr. Peter A. Aweida
Mr. Nabih H. Ayad, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bagale
Mr. Mohamad H. Bandar
Mr. and Mrs. Bassam Barazi
Dr. Rashid L. Bashshur
Dr. Eitedal Basyouni
Dr. Fouad and Mrs. Lina Batah
Mr. Barry Berk
16 Arab American National Museum | 2008-2009
continued
Mr. Derrel Dronich and Ms. Maya Berry
Brigham Young University
Ms. Lynn M. Brimer
Mr. C. D. Campbell
Mr. Eddie Chaaban
Mr. and Mrs. Ramzi Chraim
Chrysler Financial
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Courey
Mr. and Mrs. Amin Daghestani
Dr. and Mrs. Adnan S. Dajani
Dr. Ghaleb H. Daouk
Dr. and Mrs. Shukri David
Mrs. Hannan M. Deep
Mr. and Mrs. Said M. Deep
Dr. Walid and Mrs. Rasha Demashkieh
Dr. Khalil and Mrs. Anne Dirani
Dr. and Mrs. Farouk El-Baz
Ms. Janet M. Elias
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Farah
Mr. Haytham Faraj
Mrs. Bahiya Fawaz
Freddie Mac Foundation
Ms. Janice Freij
Yaser Freij, M.D.
Dr. Elias G. Gennaoui
Mr. and Mrs. Buolus Ghraib
Mr. and Mrs. Waleed K. Gosaynie
Mr. R. Frederick Green, Ttee.
Ms. Suzan S. Habachy
Mr. Joe M. Haggar, Jr.
Ms. Elaine C. Hagopian
Dr. Adnan Hammad and
Dr. Raja Rabah-Hammad
Mr. and Mrs. Allen A. Hamood
Dr. Michael Hanna
Mr. Amin B. Hassam
T.J. Hassan, M.D., P.C.
Dr. Maha Hussain
Dr. and Mrs. Khaled Imam
Dr. Fahd S. Jajeh
Mr. Ronnie Jallad and Ms. Alissa Ritenour
Ms. Maha Kaddoura
Mr. and Mrs. Abe A. Karam
Mr. Casey Kasem
Dr. George M. and Dr. Nadya J. Kazzi
Dr. and Mrs. Rashid Khalidi
Drs. Riad and Ghada Khatib
Mrs. Dina R. Khoury
Mr. and Mrs. Taek and Jamie Kim
Dr. Rula Mahayni
Mrs. Jeanette Mansour
aanm national
advisory board
Ms. Rita Mansour
Mercy Hospital
Michigan Design Center
Mrs. Patricia E. Mooradian
Mosaic Design Group, Inc.
Mr. Hassan Newash
Mr. Imad Obeid
Mr. Michael and
Ms. Deborah Deacon Odette
The Honorable John B. O'Reilly, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Pastore
Ms. Essie Pringle
Mr. Nabil Raad
Ms. Margaret Sind Raben
Ricoh Business Solutions
Dr. and Mrs. Ghassan Rifai
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Rosen
Dr. Aleya Rouchdy
Mrs. Fatmeh Saad
Ms. Houeida Saad
Mr. Jamal A. Sa'd
Dr. Saed Sahouri
Dr. and Mrs. Karem Sakallah
Salina School Teacher Club
Dr. Fadi Salloum
Ms. Samar Salman
Ms. Suzan Samaan
Mrs. Helen Samhan
Mr. Nabil Sater
Mr. and Mrs. Saad Shafie
Prof. Bassam Shakhashiri
Mr. Andy Shallal
Mr. Samer Shihadeh
Dr. Marwan Shuayto
Dr. Riad S. Siada
St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox
Church
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley M. Stewart
Mr. William W. Swor, Esq.
The Henry Ford
U.S. Truck Driver Training School
Stephen and Jennifer Williams
Mrs. Adrenne M. Wygonik
Mr. Raymond E. Zbacnik
In-Kind Donors
Mr. Robert Abboud
Dr. Rashid Abdu
Mr. and Mrs. Ismael Ahmed
Dr. Roger and Mrs. Rosette Ajluni
Mr. Devon M. and Mrs. Dharma R. Akmon
Mr. Charles Khalil Alawan
Arab Artists and Writers Speak Out
Ms. Michelle Areeda
Mr. Bill Aswad
Dr. Dennis I. and Mrs. Andria R. Bojrab
Mr. Joseph Caurdy
Committee to Elect Nick Kahl
Mr. and Mrs. Raff G. Ellis
Google
Ms. Marlene Haddad
Mr. Bill Hamzy
Mr. Richard Hanna
Ms. Julia Haragely
Mr. Albert Harp
Dr. Faleh and Mrs. Alya Husseini
Atty. Salah Husseini
Dr. Fikry F. Ibrahim and
Dr. Mona Rizk Ibrahim
Dr. Clovis Maksoud
Ferial Masry
Ms. Lillian Ghraib Metry
Huseime Moslimani
Alex Moslimani
Mr. Abdul Noman
Mr. Selim Noujaim
Fathieh M. Odeh
Mr. Nick Rahall
The Rogovin Collection
Hon. Selwa S. Roosevelt
Mr. Theodore Sakhleh
Mr. David Schaefer
Mr. Simon Shaheen
Mr. Mark Strama
Ms. Rashida Tlaib
Mr. William Tracy
Mr. Ron Unis
University of Central Missouri McClure Archives and
Museum - Nance Collections
Faye Vangel
Video Monitoring Services of America
Mr. Joe Zainea
Dr. Ahmed H. Zewail
Photo Credits:
Devon Akmon
Marvin Asuncion II
Brita Brookes
Rebecca Cook
Paul Hitz
Joe Namy
Amy Palomar
Laszlo Regos
Nabil Zebib
Executive Committee
Shamel Rushwin, Chair
Manal Saab, Co-chair
Ismael Ahmed, Board Member
Patricia E. Mooradian, Board Member
Fawwaz T. Ulaby, Board Member
Honorary Board Members
Her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein
Suleiman Al-Awadhi
His Excellency Bader Al-Dafa
Congressman Charles Boustany
Congressman Darrell Issa
Honorable Chris John
Congressman Nick Rahall
Jamie Farr
Casey Kasem
Kathy Najimy
Jacques Nasser
Tony Shalhoub
Helen Thomas
Board Members
Richard A. Abdoo
Rashid Abdu
Jane Abraham
Rosette Ajluni
Malek Akkad
Nicola M. Antakli
Nazeeh Aranki
Bassam Barazi
Yahya M. Basha
Maya Berry
Michael Berry
Amer Bisat
Ahmad Chebbani
George DeBakey
Debbie Dingell
Russell J. Ebeid
Farouk El-Baz
Inea B. Engler
Randa Fahmy-Hudome
Nijad Fares
W. Frank Fountain
Edward Gabriel
Rana Hajjeh
Dalia Hashad
Ghada Irani
Abdeen M. Jabara
James Jabara
Moncef Jendoubi
Asaad Kelada
Mona Khalidi
Philip S. Khoury
Ronald G. Khoury
Marnia Lazreg
Clovis Maksoud
Albert Mokhiber
Ghada M. Muhanna
Jacques Nasser
Ziad S. Ojakli
Sarah Rogers
Wafa Salah
George Salem
Helen Samhan
Harold Samhat
Betty H. Sams
Jack Shaheen
Bassam Shakhashiri
Andy Shallal
Michael W. Suleiman
Ann Tanous
Ahmed Zewail
John Zogby
13624 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
www.arabamericanmuseum.org
hours
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
Sunday noon – 5 p.m.
Closed Monday, Tuesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Admission
$6 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children 6-12;
ages 5 and under, free.
Call 313.582.2266 for further information.