DAI Cultural Expeditions
As this programme is going to print, we can’t tell you where DAI Cultural Expeditions will take us this season. We might heed a well-known saying and “go as far as China”. Or, we might take the opportunity to spend some time exploring Kuwait. Or, or, the possibilities are endless. What we can confirm is that there will be two expeditions and both will be well organised and interesting.
Among the many events offered in Cultural Season 30 are two especially festive occasions. The DAI Fall Festival will be held on Friday, 14 November at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre. As usual, the festival will include interactive activities for children and adults, crafts, music and lots of yummy treats. For the 1st time, mark Friday, 3 April on your calendars. That’s the date for the DAI’s new Spring Festival at the Amricani Cultural Centre. With activities inside and outdoors, this festival promises to be an annual favourite.
Museums ARE for Kids Too
The Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) recognises that, when well planned, museums are for kids too. With programmes created specifically for school visits and weekend activities, the Amricani Cultural Centre (home to The al-Sabah Collection exhibitions) is an engaging resource for children of all ages.
School visits
Gather your class and come visit the exciting exhibitions of The al-Sabah Collection objects that present history from the Bronze Age, more than 5,000 years ago to the late 20th century. Visits to the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah’s Amricani Cultural Centre aren’t just about wandering through the galleries. Teachers/schools can book interactive visits that use Harvard University Project Zero Thinking Routines to ensure that students have fun exploring their critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creative skills during the visit. The record shows that students of all ages learn during their visit and have fun in the process.
We know it’s a challenge to get kids to put down the screen and read. Maybe the solution is taking your kids to a cozy place, with books and book-related activities. There is no cost for using the library or participating in most library programmes – just come, grab a book, settle in comfortably, and enjoy. The DAI Children’s Library offers books in Arabic and English for toddlers to teens. In addition to the usual library activities, children can colour their favourite character and have their art hung in our art gallery. Finally, the library hosts a Summer Reading Programme that runs June through August every year.
This season CAW/CAW Jrs will be exciting. Starting in October and ending in April, the kids have tremendous tasks in front of them. Almost every Saturday morning for 14 weeks, from 9:30 to 11, the participants will be fi nishing a new exhibition. CS30 participants will pick up where last season’s kids left off and work to complete the exhibition and plan the opening ceremony (scheduled for February 2026). A short six-week session will follow in April – May.
Workshops for kids
Throughout Cultural Season 30, workshops will be offered for children of varying ages. Focused on some aspect of the art and culture of the Islamic world, these workshops are generally held on Saturdays, over a four week period. The workshops are hands-on, often a bit messy, but always a fun, learning experience.
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