Tibbits Offers Arab American Heritage Bus Trip
COLDWATER –As part of a week filled with cultural activities, Tibbits is taking reservations for a day-long bus trip to the Arab American National Museum (AANM) and the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) scheduled for Saturday, November 21.
A deluxe motor coach will leave from Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater at 8:45am for a two-hour trip to Detroit and return at approximately 5:30 pm. Participants will have two hours to tour the Detroit Institute of Arts including the newly revamped Ancient Middle East gallery which illuminates artworks of some of the world’s earliest civilizations—modern day Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Yemen. The DIA is famous for its collection of Diego Rivera murals as well as masterpieces by Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Picasso. Lunch will be available for purchase at one of the DIA cafes.
In the afternoon the group will visit the AANM in Dearborn where they will enjoy a special reception and explore the museum. The AANM is a Smithsonian affiliate celebrating its 10-year anniversary. It is the first and only museum in the United States devoted to Arab American history and culture. The museum brings to light the shared experiences of immigrants and ethnic groups while paying tribute to the diversity of our nation.
Tammy Apmann, project director for the heritage grant program comments, “The most important role of modern museums is to create safe environments for dialogue and so this trip represents a unique opportunity for Coldwater’s people to learn from one another in addition to learning from the many art and history exhibits they will experience.”
The highlight of the trip is a special display of photography at the AANM which was created by Coldwater teenagers as part of the SURA summer camp program. “The Arab-American students involved in the workshop are extremely proud to show off their creativity and represent Coldwater,” says their photography instructor, Sarah Zimmer.
The price to participate in the bus trip is $15 for adults and $10 for students, which includes transportation and admission into both museums. Scholarships to cover these costs are available. Space is limited and reservations must be made through Tibbits by emailing boxoffice@tibbits.org, visiting the online ticketing page at Ttibbits.org/calendar, or by calling 517-278-6029 before November 10.
Funding for this program comes from the Michigan Humanities Council Heritage Grants program. Heritage Grants support projects that bring the authentic voices of cultural identity groups to the foreground. The program strives to help the people of Michigan understand cultural differences by sharing local stories about race and cultural history.
In Coldwater, Tibbits is partnering with area schools, service organizations and the Arab American community to offer a series of presentations, workshops, and exhibits aimed at fostering conversations about the history and culture of the Arab American community.
Side Bar:
Tibbits will partner with the Arab American National Museum (AANM) for a week full of activities November 16 through 21. Activities include educational programs to schools and area service clubs. Presentations aim at sharing information about Arab culture, history, and correcting common misconceptions. Tara Entertainment adds a modern twist to traditional Yemeni music during the public performance at Tibbits on Wednesday, November 18 as part of an evening event focused on Coldwater’s Arab culture.