UT’s inaugural Arab Cultural Fair and academic symposium kick off this weekend with museum displays of Arabic art and other cultural demonstrations.
The event is a product of UT’s Ready for the World initiative, which seeks to provide students with enhanced educational and cultural experiences that prepare them to thrive in a global environment.
The fair and academic conference, to be held September 19–21, will feature Arabic art, food, live music, dancing demonstrations, student presentations, and a keynote address. Free and open to the public, all of the events will be held in the university’s Circle Park and the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Drive. For a detailed schedule, visit the festival’s website.
“Universities are a place where students should encounter different cultures, experiences, ideas, and thoughts,” said Theresa Lee, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “These opportunities prepare students to understand rich cultural heritages wherever they go and to function well in a global community.”
The academic symposium, titled “Engaging Arabia: From Arabia/Palaestina to the Modern Middle East,” will host a plethora of speakers versed in archaeology. Public lectures also will highlight UT excavations at ‘Ayn Gharandal in southern Jordan. Undergraduates who traveled to Jordan will present their archaeological research and cultural experiences.
In addition to the College of Arts and Sciences and Ready for the World, these events are sponsored by the Arab American Club of Knoxville and WUOT.
For more information on “Engaging Arabia: From Arabia/Palaestina to the Modern Middle East” or the Arab Cultural Fair, visit the website.
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C O N T A C T :
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)