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Al-Bustan offers educational programs in schools, universities and the community for youth and adults interested in exploring the Arabic language and culture through the arts.

Public Catalog of Al-Bustan Digital Workshops

Over the years, Philadelphia educators have welcomed Al-Bustan into their schools and classrooms to share […]

Al-Bustan Camp

AL-BUSTAN CAMP provides a fun, welcoming, and enriching environment that brings together campers, artists, educators, […]

Community Ensembles

School Partnerships

Al-Bustan seeks to raise cross-cultural awareness among elementary and secondary school students, educators and administrators […]

Arabic
Music
Art
Literature

At Al-Bustan we believe that full appreciation of a culture requires knowledge of its written and spoken language. Similarly, the study of a language is inextricably tied to an enriched understanding of the multiple layers of its cultural context. Moreover, for those of Arab heritage living in the United States, exposure to the Arabic language is often a critical link to their cultural heritage and Arab identity. Arabic is taught daily at summer camp and in new program for teens, and throughout the year its integrated in arts instruction through choir and art at schools and in the community. Language instruction incorporates learning to speak, sing, read, listen and write Arabic in fun and engaging ways.

Arabic Alphabet Game

Sharing Our Cultures at Al-Bustan Camp 2017

Evoking Nostalgia in a Rousing Evening of Turath Music

Arabic Song Tools for Educators

“Fil Bustan” at Al-Bustan Camp 2016

Exploring the Zoo at Al-Bustan Camp 2015

Intensive Summer Arabic with Arts

Looking for Home Book

Yalli song tool

Nawbat Song tool

Jadaka Song tool

Nassam song tool

Northeast High School

Professional Development

Al-Bustan Camp

Explore the Life and Legacy of Umm Kulthum

Learning From “Passionate and Masterful Musicians and Teachers”

Summer Travels with Ibn Battuta at Camp 2012

Al-Bustan Music includes a vibrant music education program led by Hanna Khoury, Director of Al-Bustan Music Program:
Weekly instruction (in and after-school) in percussion, singing, and general Arab music appreciation in several Philadelphia public schools
Residencies in-school at public and independent schools
Community music ensembles: Philadelphia Arab Music Ensemble and Philadelphia Arab Percussion Ensemble
Professional development for music educators

Evoking Nostalgia in a Rousing Evening of Turath Music

Arabic Song Tools for Educators

Register for Fall 2016 Arab Music Ensembles

(DIS)PLACED Project: Expressions of Identity in Transition

Words Adorned: Andalusian Poetry and Music

After-school Arab Arts at Moffet 2014

Chants of Praise for Marcel Khalife & Abeer Nehme

Al-Bustan Interviewed on WRTI Radio

Inquirer and WHYY feature Al-Bustan and Chants of the East

Nawbat Song tool

Jadaka Song tool

Nassam song tool

Al-Bustan Camp

Community Ensembles

Rihla: Live in Philadelphia

Al-Bustan Awarded Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Grant

Guest Artist Fathy Salama in the Philadelphia Community

Short Residencies

Visual art is taught at various settings throughout the year, from in-school art demonstrations to semester-long weekly art classes on the geometry and patterns of Arab/Islamic art and daily multi-media art sessions at summer camp each July. The students’ artwork is displayed at schools and in the community.
A series of collective artworks incorporating the Arabic alphabet has been created by participants at Al-Bustan Camp since 2006. Each year 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet are represented in artistic ways using different media related to the summer’s camp theme.

Tabadul Project: Cross-Cultural Exchange through the Arts

(DIS)PLACED Project: Expressions of Identity in Transition

Protest Art at Northeast High School

After-school Arab Arts at Moffet 2014

Northeast High School

Al-Bustan Camp

Building Community Through Tatreez

Teaching the literary arts of Arab and Arab American authors is an important part of Al-Bustan programs. Students are encouraged to explore their identity and heritage by telling their stories through creative writing. In reading and analyzing the works of various authors, they write poetry and prose in response, while grappling with their own experiences navigating their place in American society. Notable authors invited by Al-Bustan for public readings, workshops, and short residencies with youth have included: Naomi Shihab Nye, Ibtisam Barakat, Nathalie Handal, Suheir Hammad, Nada Bakri, and Human Writes Project’s Mark Gonzales, Omar Offendum, and Nizar Wattad.

(DIS)PLACED Project: Expressions of Identity in Transition

A Soul-Stirring Concert of Sufi Poetry & Music

Naomi Shihab Nye Shares Stories of Oman with Moffet Students

Al-Bustan Camp

Poetry Anthology

Presenting

Al-Bustan presents a series of concerts that feature locally and internationally renowned guest artists invited to collaborate with Al-Bustan Ensemble, with programs ranging in music genres and disciplines, including visual and literary arts.

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Digital Education

Al-Bustan Digital Education is an online resource with interactive learning and playing applications to further educators’ and students’ understanding and appreciation of the Arabic language, arts, culture, and history.

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Public Catalog of Al-Bustan Digital Workshops

Public Catalog of Al-Bustan Digital Workshops

Al-Bustan Camp

Al-Bustan Camp

Community Ensembles

Community Ensembles

School Partnerships

School Partnerships

Discover our projects by subject!

Arabic Alphabet Game

Arabic Alphabet Game

Sharing Our Cultures at Al-Bustan Camp 2017

Sharing Our Cultures at Al-Bustan Camp 2017

Evoking Nostalgia in a Rousing Evening of Turath Music

Evoking Nostalgia in a Rousing Evening of Turath Music

Arabic Song Tools for Educators

Arabic Song Tools for Educators

“Fil Bustan” at Al-Bustan Camp 2016

“Fil Bustan” at Al-Bustan Camp 2016

Exploring the Zoo at Al-Bustan Camp 2015

Exploring the Zoo at Al-Bustan Camp 2015

Intensive Summer Arabic with Arts

Intensive Summer Arabic with Arts

Looking for Home Book

Looking for Home Book

Yalli song tool

Yalli song tool

Nawbat Song tool

Nawbat Song tool

Jadaka Song tool

Jadaka Song tool

Nassam song tool

Nassam song tool

Northeast High School

Northeast High School

Professional Development

Professional Development

Al-Bustan Camp

Al-Bustan Camp

Explore the Life and Legacy of Umm Kulthum

Explore the Life and Legacy of Umm Kulthum

Learning From “Passionate and Masterful Musicians and Teachers”

Learning From “Passionate and Masterful Musicians and Teachers”

Summer Travels with Ibn Battuta at Camp 2012

Summer Travels with Ibn Battuta at Camp 2012

Evoking Nostalgia in a Rousing Evening of Turath Music

Evoking Nostalgia in a Rousing Evening of Turath Music

Arabic Song Tools for Educators

Arabic Song Tools for Educators

Register for Fall 2016 Arab Music Ensembles

Register for Fall 2016 Arab Music Ensembles

(DIS)PLACED Project: Expressions of Identity in Transition

(DIS)PLACED Project: Expressions of Identity in Transition

Words Adorned: Andalusian Poetry and Music

Words Adorned: Andalusian Poetry and Music

After-school Arab Arts at Moffet 2014

After-school Arab Arts at Moffet 2014

Chants of Praise for Marcel Khalife & Abeer Nehme

Chants of Praise for Marcel Khalife & Abeer Nehme

Al-Bustan Interviewed on WRTI Radio

Al-Bustan Interviewed on WRTI Radio

Inquirer and WHYY feature Al-Bustan and Chants of the East

Inquirer and WHYY feature Al-Bustan and Chants of the East

Nawbat Song tool

Nawbat Song tool

Jadaka Song tool

Jadaka Song tool

Nassam song tool

Nassam song tool

Al-Bustan Camp

Al-Bustan Camp

Community Ensembles

Community Ensembles

Rihla: Live in Philadelphia

Rihla: Live in Philadelphia

Al-Bustan Awarded Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Grant

Al-Bustan Awarded Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Grant

Guest Artist Fathy Salama in the Philadelphia Community

Guest Artist Fathy Salama in the Philadelphia Community

Short Residencies