Arab American National Museum facts for kids
| المتحف الوطني العربي الأمريكي | |
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| Established | May 5, 2005 |
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| Location | 13624 Michigan Ave Dearborn, MI 48126 |
The Arab American National Museum (AANM) is a special place in Dearborn, Michigan. It teaches visitors all about the history, lives, and amazing things Arab Americans have done. Opened in 2005, it was the first and largest museum in the world focused on Arab American history and culture. The AANM is part of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). It is also connected to the famous Smithsonian museums.
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How the Museum Started
The idea for the museum began in the 1980s. ACCESS, the museum's parent organization, started an arts and culture group. Soon, a small museum opened inside their main building.
By the late 1990s, people wanted a bigger, separate museum. So, in 2000, they started raising money to build a new one. After the events of September 11, 2001, the community felt it was even more important to share their stories. They wanted to help people understand Arab Americans better and correct wrong ideas.
The new museum opened its doors on May 5, 2005. It is located on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. Building the museum cost about $15 million. Most of this money came from donations. Big companies like Chrysler and General Motors helped. The Rockefeller Foundation and the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar also gave money.
In February 2019, Diana Abouali became the new director of the AANM.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has many interesting exhibits. The first floor shows the history and achievements of ancient Arab civilizations. You can learn about their advances in science, medicine, math, and building design. You can also see beautiful art.
The second floor focuses on the Arab experience in America. There are sections about how people migrated to the U.S. You can also see what everyday life and culture are like for Arab Americans. The museum highlights important Arab Americans like Ralph Nader and Helen Thomas. You can see old documents and items related to immigration. There are also videos and audio recordings that share the stories of Arab Americans.
The AANM also has two large areas for special, temporary art shows.
Art Collection
The museum has its own collection of art. This includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photos. These artworks are displayed throughout the museum. They show art from the Arab world and from Arab artists living in America. Some of the artists in this collection are Emily Jacir, Sama Alshaibi, and Helen Zughaib.
Fun Programs and Events
The AANM hosts many exciting programs and events.
- MOVE: This is a special national meeting. It brings together artists, activists, scholars, and organizations from the Arab American community. They connect, learn, and share ideas. MOVE helps people Mobilize, Organize, Vocalize, and Empower each other. They talk about important issues affecting Arab Americans.
- DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts: This event is now part of MOVE. DIWAN brings together Arab American artists, thinkers, and performers. They have discussions over a weekend. This shows the museum's goal to be a place where community members and artists can meet and share their work. Famous people like writer Najla Said and poet Suheir Hammad have presented at DIWAN.
- Global Fridays: This is a regular music program at the AANM. It features music from all over the world. You might hear Mexican American roots music, Chinese classical music, or even rock.
- Arab Film Festival: This is an annual movie festival put on by the AANM. It shows many Arab and Arab American films over a weekend. Past festivals have celebrated the work of a specific Arab filmmaker. For example, the 2008 festival honored Egyptian director Youssef Chahine. It showed his films The Cairo Station and The Destiny. The festival also shows short films, like Kemo Sabe. This film is about a six-year-old Arab-American boy who dreams of being the cowboy on the playground.
- Arab American Book Award: This award started in 2006. It celebrates and supports books about Arab Americans and their culture. The award encourages great books that help people understand the Arab American community. It aims to inspire authors, teach readers, and build respect for Arab American culture.
