2006-2007 Arab artists in schools
Since January 2006 the Arab World Education Programme at the
British Museum has been running an artists-in-schools project in
London. Funded by the Karim Rida Said Foundation, it aims to
promote a better understanding of the Arab world.
The artists work with the Museum to raise students’ awareness of
Arab artistic media, counter misleading impressions of Arab
achievement and enrich and extend their curricular experience and
skills.
Specially selected artists with Middle Eastern heritage,
whose work demonstrates a response to their background and
contemporary issues, visit schools for six-week periods to
contribute to school enrichment programmes and the curriculum. The
artists explore the historical and socio-cultural background to
their medium and perform, present or demonstrate the medium to the
students. The students develop special projects while working
closely with the artists and making good use of British Museum
collection.
Since the project began, eleven schools in the London
boroughs of Hounslow, Newham, Camden, Enfield and Greenwich have
participated in the project. More than 250 young people have
explored Arab culture through photography, calligraphy, puppetry,
screen-printing and other media and developed many new skills to
use in their art and design work.
It is hoped in the future to take the project out of
London and work in partnership with regional museums, arts
organisations and Local Education Authorities.
Phase 1: January-April 2006

‘My World’
Artist: Sadiq Toma
(British-Iraqi)
School: Brentford School for Girls (Hounslow)
Group: Year 10 GCSE
Outcome: Painted tiles

‘Middle East Maps’
Artist: Maria Kheirkhah (British-Iranian)
School: Heston Community School (Hounslow)
Group: Year 9 (Gifted & Talented)
Outcome: Mixed media map on canvas and felt

‘Headgear’
Artist: Rashad Salim
(German-Iraqi)
School: Langdon School (Newham)
Group: Year 10 GCSE
Outcome: Animations, flip books and photographic portraits

'Habitations'
Artist: Taha Al-Hiti (British-Iraqi)
School: St Angela’s Ursuline Convent School (Newham)
Group: Year 12 AS
Outcome: Mixed AS level exam pieces
Phase 2: June-July 2006
‘Word into Art
Murals’
Artist: Satta Hashem
(British-Iraqi)
School: South Camden Community School (Camden)
Group: Year 8
Outcome: Painted murals on board

‘Identity and Photography’
Artist: Saeed Farouky (British-Palestinian)
School: Forest Gate Community School (Newham)
Group: Year 10 GCSE
Outcome: Collaged photographs and 2D work

‘Identity and Place’
Artists: Khosrow Hassanzadeh (Iranian)
Rima Farah (British-Jordanian)
School: Plashet School (Newham)
Group: Year 9
Outcome: Painted, stitched and screen-printed cloth banners

‘Exploring Calligraphy and Arab
Design’
Artist: Lulwah Al-Homoud (British-Saudi Arabian)
School: Chase Community School (Enfield)
Group: Year 10 GCSE
Outcome: Painted plates

‘Deconstructing images and words’
Artist: Athier Mousawi (British-Iraqi)
School: Winchmore School (Enfield)
Group: Year 9 (Gifted and Talented)
Outcome: 2D mixed media drawings
‘Arab World Pop
Art’
Artist: Rana Salam (British-Lebanese)
School: Eltham Green School (Greenwich)
Group: Year 10 BTEC
Outcome: Large Pop Art mural for permanent display in the
school

Umm Kulthum’s life through shadow
puppetry
Artist: Mahmoud Al Hourani (British-Palestinian)
School: St Thomas More RC School (Greenwich)
Group: Year 9 (Gifted and Talented)
Outcome: Shadow puppetry play