SQCC

Passport DC: Around the World Embassy Tour 2022
2022-05-07 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, 1100 16th St. NW., Washington, DC, 20036
Oman will be participating in the Around the World Embassy Tour, a Passport DC event on Saturday, 7 May 2022. Make sure to visit the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center to learn more about Oman and have some fun! This is event is free and open to the public.

The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center has an opening for a Senior Program Officer
2022-05-01
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center has an opening for a Senior Program Officer
Position: Senior Program Officer

Responsibilities
The Senior Program Officer reports directly to SQCC’s Executive Director, and supervises the work of programming staff and interns.
Under the direction of the Executive Director, the senior program officer oversees all aspects of the Programs Department, including, but not limited to:
Manage the design and implementation of new and existing programs including: conferences, workshops, lectures and exhibitions
Identifies new opportunities for nationwide outreach
Provide budgeting and oversight of internal and external programming
Serve as the point person and primary contact for SQCC’s fellowship and study abroad programs
Oversee K-12 education initiatives and solicit and align new lesson plans and content for our educational website, ensuring it meets standards set by the U.S. Department of Education
Lead teacher training workshops, group visits, and school visits to the center
Represents the center at internal and external events

Qualifications and Experience

4-6 years of programmatic experience preferred
Master’s degree, preferably in Middle East Studies, Islamic Studies, or International Relations
Knowledge of Middle Eastern and specifically Omani culture
Exceptional writing, presentation and public speaking skills
Demonstrated experience in budgeting, organization, staff coordination and time management
Strong critical thinking and analytical skills
Experience with strategic planning, scholarly research, and grant oversight a plus
Teaching experience, including lesson plan design and implementation
Experience traveling and/or living in the Arab world, and proficiency in the Arabic language
Unquestionable ethics and personal integrity
Ability to travel as needed
Some evening and weekend work required (10%)
Ability to lift 50 lbs

Required Skills

MS Office Products
Constant Contact
Adobe Creative Cloud Products
HTML/SmartSite/WordPress
Photography
Video editing
Writing for publication

To Apply:
Interested applicants must submit the following materials to jobs@sqcc.org

Resume
Cover letter

The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) is dedicated to educating the peoples of the United States and Oman about the breadth and richness of our two cultures. SQCC promotes mutual respect and understanding between our nations and strives to educate a new generation of culturally sensitive and knowledgeable citizens in each society. Through outreach programs, scholarships, lectures, educational resources, cultural partnerships, and our Cultural Center in Washington, DC, SQCC brings the culture, history, and heritage of our nations to audiences in the US and abroad.

Due to the high volume of applicants, only those selected for an interview will be notified. No inquiries please; no walk-ins

SQCC hosted Students of Arabic Department from University James Madison
2022-03-29
A group of students of Arabic Department at James Madison University visited SQCC on 25 April. Students toured the permanent exhibition, where they learned about traditional Omani dresses, handicrafts such as pottery, basketry, silver artwork and woodworking, as well as the aflaj irrigation system.
Students also learned about Omani forts, ships, and trade. Students also asked about SQCC’s programs, scholarships in Oman and at SQCC and evening classes, as well as the Sabla summer Arabic immersion program.
After the tour, students mingled with SQCC staffers and visited SQCC’s library and learned more about Oman through a wide range of publications about cultural heritage in both English and Arabic. Students also asked many questions about the services offered by SQCC’s library.

SQCC visits Seaton Elementary School for the fifth session of the Embassy Adoption Program
2022-03-29
On 20 March, SQCC visited the fifth graders of Seaton Elementary School for fifth session of the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP), a partnership program between DC Public Schools and Washington Performing Arts.
SQCC staff spoke to the students about the global issue of climate change, with respect to the world in general and Oman in particular. Students learned how climate change could negatively affect nature, the environment and the habitats of animals.
Later on, Students made their own mini gardens by planting small cacti in terrariums to visualize and experience the similarities between the ecosystems in both Oman and parts of the U.S. The session aims to prepare students to represent Oman at the DCPS Mini United Nations, which will be held in June at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

Poetry and Prose: The Poetry of the Andalusī Woman Poet Ḥafṣah bint al-Ḥājj (d. 589/1191)
2022-03-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, 1100 16th St. NW., Washington, DC, 20036
RSVP HERE: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=jjfaurzab&oeidk=a07ej20vs265d16cf0e
In this talk, Dr. Majd Al-Mallah will examine the poetry of the Andalusī woman poet Ḥafṣah bint al-Ḥājj (d. 589/1191) in the context of a rich body of anecdotes surrounding that poetry as preserved in Nafḥ al-ṭīb, which al-Maqqarī (d. 1041/1632) wrote to document the cultural memory of al-Andalus. Although literature surrounding Ḥafṣah is generally limited compared to major male poets, this talk will showcase a close analysis of al-Maqqarī’s section on Ḥafṣah and reveal the poet’s voice and agency.

RSVP HERE: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=jjfaurzab&oeidk=a07ej20vs265d16cf0e

SQCC Hosted Spouses of International Cultural Exchange Group from the National Defense University in Washington
2022-03-23
SQCC hosted a gathering on 18 March for the spouses of the International Cultural Exchange group whose husbands studying at the National Defense University in Washington.
The group toured SQCC’s permanent exhibition where they learned about the aflaj irrigation system, Oman’s maritime history, and the role of frankincense in Omani hospitality. The group was presented with an introduction to Oman through a comprehensive PowerPoint on Oman’s culture, people & history. After the presentation, the group played a trivia and were asked about some information included in the presentation such as how many governorates are in Oman, what are the countries that have borders with Oman and the name of the frankincense burner? The winners received prizes, which included a small silvernecklace with a symbol from Oman such as the khanjar .
The event also included henna and smelling some scents from Oman such as frankincense, oud and Amouage perfumes. The group concluded their visit with networking and a lunch reception also attended by a diplomat from the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman.

SQCC Online Book Club
2022-03-16 13:30 - 14:30 | Zoom
Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center Library is pleased to invite you to participate in the SQCC Online Book Club! RSVP Using this link: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ej1l82yee9dbc21d&oseq=&c=&ch=
SQCC will host a discussion of selected poems from the book ‘Contemporary Omani Poetry in English’ Written by Khalid Al Balushi. The book club is an excellent opportunity to explore Omani poetry; it is rich with metaphors and imagery. It is also a great opportunity to discuss Omani culture.
The Contemporary Omani Poetry in English: Introduced and Translated from Arabic is a remarkable written work by the Omani poet and translator Khalid Al Balushi. It discusses a collection of Omani poems translated from Arabic to English. The poems in this book were written throughout different periods and represent multiple regions of Oman.
A limited number of books are available to borrow from the library. Please contact us at library@sqcc.org to confirm book availability and hold your book.

Omani - American Press Forum
2022-03-08 - 2022-03-10 | Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, 1100 16th St. NW., Washington, DC, 20036
*Business Attire or National Dress*
Click here to RSVP for the Opening Reception- 8 March
Click here to RSVP for the Press Forum- 9 March
Click here to RSVP for An evening of Poetry, Literature, and Music -10 March

Omani-American Press Forum Events
8-10 March 2022
8 March Opening Reception 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Welcoming Remarks by HE Ambassador Al Tai
Remarks by Dr. Mohammed Al-Araimi, President of the Omani Journalists’ Association

9 March Press Forum Agenda 9:30 – 4:00 p.m.
9:30 HE Ambassador Moosa Hamdan Al Tai, Welcoming Remarks
9:40 Omani-American Historical Relations:

Dr. Muhammad Al Araimi
Dr. Allen Fromherz, Oman- U.S. Relations in the 19th Century

10:30 Oman as a Stabilizing Constant in the Arabian Gulf

Dr. Zakaria Al Muharrami, “Global Citizenship: An Omani Approach”
J.E. Peterson, “Omani-American Relations Under Qaboos”
Dr. Obaid Al Shaqsi, “Oman’s Image in the U.S. Press”

11:45 Lunch will be served on the 3rd Floor
1:15 Omani Journalism:

Hatim Al-Tai, Omani Journalism between the Past and the Present
Ms. Linda Pappas Funsch, “Omani Women in the Public Sphere”
Ms. Jihan ALamki, “Women’s Journalism in the Sultanate of Oman”

2:20 Coffee Break
2:30 Oman 2040: Taking Advantage of Economic Opportunities

Ms. Sharifa Al Barami, “Oman as an Economic, Tourist, and Investment Component”
Mrs. Simin Curtis, “Oman-U.S.: the Free Trade Agreement & Opportunities for U.S. Companies.

10 March An Evening of Omani and American Poetry, Literature and Music 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Ms. Bushra Khalfan Al Wahaibi, Narrative reading of her novel, “Al Bagh”
Aisha Al Saifi, Omani Poet
Tahira Jamal, Omani Violinist
Sandra Beasley, American Poet
Anne Rasmussen, American Musician

Reception to Follow

Join SQCC's Arabic Debate Society
2022-02-22 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
Joins us for a five-session Debate Program for non-native adult Arabic learners, levels High Intermediate to Advanced.
-Learn Arabic language grammar in context
-Learn Arabic argumentative expressions and debate principles.
-Program ends with an in-person mini-debate competition.
– Online evening sessions bi-monthly till the competition.
Interested in Joining?
Email arabic@sqcc.org with the subject heading
“Debate Society”
Please include an introduction and your level of Arabic.
For more information please click here: https://www.sqcc.org/classes/debate-society-competition/

SQCC Virtually Hosts a Group of Students from Foreign Service Institute (FSI) – United States Department of State
2022-02-22
On 22 February, SQCC virtually hosted a group of students from Foreign Service Institute (FSI) – United States Department of State. The visit began with a virtual tour of SQCC’s permanent exhibition space. On display in the permanent exhibition were aflaj irrigation system, forts, traditional Omani dresses, and handicrafts such as pottery, basketry, silver artwork and woodworking. Later, the students were presented with an introduction to Oman through a comprehensive PowerPoint on Oman’s Culture, People & History. The virtual visit ended with questions and answers about Oman’s culture, tradition, music, Oman’s Opera House.

SQCC hosted Model UN Students 2022 from Different U.S. Universities
2022-02-18
On 18 February, a group of students from the 59th Annual North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) visited the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center. In preparation for their Model UN participation, the students listened to a presentation by Mr. Salim Al Wardi, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Sultanate Oman. Mr. Al Wardi’s presentation focused on Oman’s foreign policy, Oman-U.S relations, Oman’s 2040 vision, and religious freedom in Oman. Students also watched a video on The Sultanate of Oman, A Country of Exceptional Beauty.

SQCC Hosted MENASA
2022-02-17
SQCC hosted an event on 17 February for the Congressional Middle Eastern & North African Staff Association (MENASA). The group toured SQCC’s permanent exhibition where they learned about the aflaj irrigation system, Oman’s maritime history, and the role of frankincense in Omani hospitality. SQCC Executive Director Kathleen Ridolfo gave a brief overview of SQCC programs. Thereafter, Ms. Hiba Abdul Khaliq, Political Advisor at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman Oman gave a presentation on Oman’s foreign policy. The evening also included reading a short untitled poem written by a young Omani orator and poet Mohammed bin Omar Al Balushi, and was recited in both Arabic and English. The group concluded their visit with a networking event and reception also attended by diplomats from the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman.

SQCC Hosts Students from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies SAIS
2022-02-10
On 10 February SQCC hosted students from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies SAIS along with Professor Daniel Serwer accompanied by Mr. Mohamed Al Reesi and General Sultan Alhatmi from Embassy of Oman.
The visit began with a tour of SQCC’s permanent exhibition, where students were introduced to Oman, its traditions, culture and history. SQCC Executive Director Kathleen Ridolfo gave a talk on Exploring Oman with SQCC, which included information about Oman’s culture, traditions, history, geography, as well as a brief overview of SQCC programs. The students were receptive and eager to learn about Oman and were excited to learn about SQCC’s programs and opportunities at the center, as well as in Oman.

SQCC Hosts a Group of Students from Foreign Service Institute (FSI) – United States Department of State
2022-02-10
On 10 February, SQCC hosted a group of students from Foreign Service Institute (FSI) – United States Department of State. Students toured SQCC’s permanent exhibition, where they learned about traditional Omani attire and handicrafts such as pottery, basketry, and silver artwork. Students also learned about the historical importance of the aflaj irrigation system, forts, and maritime trade. After the tour, the group listened to a lecture about Omani culture, people, traditions, and environment. Finally, students asked many questions on Oman’s tradition, environment and tourism, SQCC’s programs and SQCC’s mission in the US.

SQCC visits Seaton Elementary School for the Fourth session of the Embassy Adoption Program EAP
2022-02-09
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) visited the fifth graders of Seaton Elementary School on 9 February for the fourth session of the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP), a partnership program between DC Public Schools and Washington Performing Arts. At the beginning of the visit, students refreshed what they learned in previous sessions about Oman including its culture, tradition, food, people, desert, wild animals, majmar, and frankincense. Many students mentioned they wish to visit Oman in the future. Students also learned to sing the Omani National Anthem in Arabic and perform an Omani traditional dance.

SQCC Hosts Students from William & Mary College
2022-01-18
On 18 January SQCC hosted students from Williams & Mary College who are visiting Washington, DC on a two-week study trip led by Dr. Anne Rasmussen, Professor of Music/Ethnomusicology, Bickers Professor of Middle Eastern Studies; and Director, AMES: Program in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies.
The visit began with a tour of SQCC’s permanent exhibition, where students were introduced to Oman, its traditions, culture and history. SQCC Executive Director Kathleen Ridolfo gave a talk on Exploring Oman with SQCC, which included information about Oman’s culture, traditions, history, geography and people, as well as a brief overview of SQCC programs. The students were receptive and eager to learn about Oman, a country none of them had ever visited, and were particularly excited to learn about SQCC’s programs and opportunities at the center, as well as in Oman.
Students also watched a short PowerPoint presentation entitled Omani Frankincense Burner: A Brief History, as well as a brief video prepared by SQCC on how to paint majmars (frankincense burners). Students learned about frankincense and its role in Omani history and culture. Finally, Students enjoyed painting replicas of majmars in SQCC’s activity room. At the end, students took home their painted majmars with their names written in Arabic on them as souvenirs from Oman and SQCC.
Students created a website about their study visit to DC, including their visit to SQCC.

SQCC visited Seaton Elementary School for EAP Third Visit with Majmar Painting Workshop
2022-01-12
On 12 January, SQCC visited Seaton Elementary School in Washington, DC as part of the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP). EAP is a special collaboration between Washington Performing Arts and D.C. Public Schools. Students recalled what they learned about Oman in the previous two sessions. After watching a short powerpoint presentation entitled Omani Frankincense Burner: A Brief History, students watched a brief video prepared by SQCC on how to paint the majmar (frankincense burner). Over forty fifth-graders learned about frankincense and its role in Omani history and culture. Students enjoyed painting replicas of majmars in the school’s art studio while listening to recorded music performed by the Omani Oud Hobbyists. The event was attended by six teachers and the assistant principal of the school. At the end of session, students took their painted majmars home as souvenirs from Oman and SQCC, thanking SQCCs staff by saying thank you in Arabic, Shukran.

SQCC Lecture Series: Wilderness Trekking Oman
2021-12-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
John will join us from the U.K. to discuss the ins and outs of this challenging, but not technical climb from 620 m (2,034 ft.) to 3,000 m (9,842 ft.). The track follows the spine of the mountains with frequent diversions to natural springs that sustain a string of ancient villages, spectacular rock formations, Bronze Age tombs, and thousand year old falaj irrigation systems still in use today.
A native of New Zealand, John Edwards lived in the Sultanate from 1991-1994 and 2002-2014; he currently resides in the U.K. He says, of all the places he has resided in the past 36 years, the Sultanate was his favorite. The book encourages long distance walkers to take in the beauty of the Hajar Mountains. John hopes the publication will also encourage responsible tourism and help sustain the nascent bed and breakfast industry for travelers.
RSVP HERE: https://conta.cc/3Gebt7I

Ancient Arabic Civilization's Great Treasures of Knowledge
2021-12-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
Join SQCC to Celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2021 with special guest lecturers: Dr. Marina Tolmacheva who will speak on Ahmad ibn Majid: the Omani navigator and poet , Dr. Charles E. Butterworth who will speak on Alfarabi on language, logic, and clear thinking, and Dr. Waseem El-Rayes who will speak on Ibn Khaldun’s Use of ‘ibar and ‘umran.
RSVP HERE: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eixcc5bs9abbdadd&oseq=&c=&ch=

Embassy Adoption Program with Seaton Elementary School Second Visit
2021-12-07
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center visited a fifth grade class from Seaton Elementary School as part of the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP) on 7 December. EAP is a special collaboration between Washington Performing Arts and D.C. Public Schools. SQCC staff began by showing two videos about the beauty and culture of Oman. Students recalled seeing models of Omani forts at the center during their last visit. Students also took part in a map activity. SQCC staff labeled the names of 11 Omani provinces in English and in Arabic, so that the students could identify where each province is located and learn how to write the name of the province in Arabic. SQCC staff taught the students how to form letters in Arabic, in a creative way, so that students felt encouraged to try.
To conclude the visit, students filled the blank map of Oman with the names of the provinces written in Arabic, and some were very proud of their creation. Also, students were given placards to write their names as gifts to their family.

Embassy Adoption Program with Seaton Elementary School First Visit
2021-11-10
SQCC welcomed students from Seaton Elementary School on 10 November. Seaton is SQCC’s 2021-22 partner for the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP). EAP is a special collaboration between Washington Performing Arts and D.C. Public Schools.
The fifth grade students toured the permanent exhibition, learning about the Aflaj irrigation system, forts, silversmithing, as well as viewing displays of traditional dress from various regions across the Sultanate of Oman. Students also received name tags with their names, grade level and name of their school in Arabic.
Following the tour of the exhibit, students attended a lecture on Omani culture, people and history. The students were eager to learn about the animals of Oman, and asked many questions about Omani food, culture, the Arabic language, as well as the geography and climate of Oman.
At the end of the program, students were invited to write about what they learned during the visit on post-it notes, which students proudly displayed by placing them on a white-board. Some of these words included desert, ship-building, wild animals, silver jewelries, khanjar as a decorative outfit for men, Omani national dress for men and women, forts, and Omani culture and history, as well as Omani’s seafaring and trading.

Poetry &Prose: Female Poets in Classical Arabic Literature
2021-11-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
RSVP Using this link: https://conta.cc/3jA8rBY
Join us as we welcome Dr. Wessam Elmeligi, Director of the Comparative Literature Certificate and Director of the Arabic Translation Certificate at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, to discuss the significance of female poets in classical Arabic literature, dating from the 6th century to the 14th century.

Dr. Elmeligi’s discussion will focus on the misconceptions of female poets within Arab culture, in comparison to female poets of other cultures during the 6th to 14th centuries. The presentation will highlight how previous translations of Arabic poetry by women were often in agreement with orientalist misrepresentations of Arabic culture. These previous translations thus solidified the stereotyping and othering of Arab women at the time. To conclude the presentation, Dr. Elmeligi will introduce selected poems with a brief background for contextualization, followed by a reading of these poems in the original Arabic and translated English. Information included in the presentation will largely draw from the speaker’s book entitled The Poetry of Arab Women from the Pre-Islamic Age to Andalusia (Routledge, 2019).

Dr. Wessam Elmeligi is Director of the Comparative Literature Certificate, and Director of the Arabic Translation Certificate at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His first book, The Poetry of Arab Women from the Pre-Islamic Age to Andalusia (2019), collects, translates, and studies over 400 poems by 200 Classical and Medieval Arab female poets, many of which have never been studied in English before. His second book, Cultural Identity in Arabic Novels of Immigration: A Poetics of Return (2020) studied migration and identity in Arabic novels, spanning as early as the 12th century Hayy ibn Yaqzan to Manal Al-Tahawy’s 2010 Brooklyn Heights, including seminal works and novels from Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, and Yemen. Previously, Dr. Elmeligi published articles on narratology, science fiction, mythology, cinema, and writers such as Naguib Mahfouz, Sonalla Ibrahim, and Radwa Ashour. Dr. Elmeligi holds a Ph.D in literary theory; he is also a graphic novelist and artist.

Ibn Hamids the Sicilian: Reflections on Lost Youth and an Usurped Homeland
2021-09-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
RSVP by using this link: https://conta.cc/3kSmIcX

In this SQCC Poetry and Prose event Dr. William Granara will present one of ‘Abd al-Jabbar Ibn Hamids’ poems from his voluminous poetry collection (Diwan). The poem (qasid: ode), is untitled but catalogued as #110, and comprises thirty-seven lines. It is regarded as perhaps the best known of his Siqilliyat, that is, poems primarily dedicated to his beloved homeland of Sicily. The poem is divided into three parts: a brief gnomic introduction bemoaning the twists of fate and loss of youth, a recollection or fantasy of a care-free youth of pleasures in a paradisiacal Sicily, and finally the loss of both his youth and his homeland.

Dr. William Granara is Gordon Gray Professor of Arabic in the Departments of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures and Comparative Literature at Harvard University, where he currently serves as director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. He is also founding director of Harvard’s Summer School program, Postcolonial Encounters: France and the Arab World, in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Professor Granara specializes in the history and cultures of the Muslim Mediterranean. He writes on cross-cultural encounters between Islam and Christendom throughout the Middle Ages. He is author of Narrating Muslim Sicily: War and Peace in the Medieval Mediterranean World, I.B. Tauris, was published in June 2019. His second monograph, Ibn Hamdis the Sicilian, was published by One World Press’s Makers of the Muslim World in 2021. He is also co-editor of The Thousand and One Nights: Sources and Transformations in Literature, Art and Science, Brill (2019).

In addition, he writes on contemporary Arabic literature and has published translations of several Egyptian and North African novels. His more recent publications include: “Nostalgia, Arab Nationalism and the Andalusian Chronotope in the Evolution of the Modern Arabic Novel” (2005); “Nile Crossings: Hospitality and Revenge in Egyptian Rural Narratives” (2010), “The Historical Poetics of Jurji Zaidan’s Andalusian Fictional Cosmos” (2013), and “Contesting the Mediterranean in Colonial North African Literature” (2019).

RSVP by using this link: https://conta.cc/3kSmIcX

EXHIBITION: OMANI CULTURE THROUGH CRAFTSMANSHIP
2021-08-20 | Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, 1100 16th St. NW., Washington, DC, 20036
Dates: July 1- August 20

Viewing Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10:30 am- 4:00 pm

Location:
Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center
1100 16th Street NW, Washington, DC

FACE MASK REQUIRED

The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center will be exhibiting works from the National Museum of Oman.

The National Museum of Oman’s extensive photography collection holds some of the most important photographs depicting the history, culture, and creative elements of the people of the Sultanate of Oman. This valuable collection holds some of the leading archival photographic documentations by renowned Omani photographers, as well as by individuals of various backgrounds, from scientists, medical professionals, and foreign officials who have lived in Oman.

The photographs on display tell various interconnected stories, which reflect the culture of Oman and its people as stemming from its land and nature. We invite the visitors to join for a glimpse into the National Museum’s contemporary photography collection, including snapshots from within the galleries of the National Museum.

Photographers:
Mr. Ahmad Altoqi, Professional Photographer
Mr. Saleh Al Ruzaiqi, National Museum Photography Specialist

SQCC Virtually Hosts a Group of Students from Foreign Service Institute (FSI) – United States Department of State
2021-07-07
On Wednesday 7 July, SQCC virtually hosted a group of students from Foreign Service Institute (FSI) – United States Department of State. The students were presented with an introduction to Oman through a comprehensive powerpoint, followed by a virtual tour of SQCC’s permanent exhibition space. On display in the permanent exhibition were traditional Omani dresses, handicrafts such as pottery, basketry, silver artwork and woodworking, as well as the aflaj irrigation system. The students also requested to see many pictures of Oman, which were showcased to them at the end of the presentation.

InterNations Group Visit
2021-06-30 08:00 - 17:00
SQCC hosted a group from InterNations on 30 June. The organization is the largest global expat network in the world with 4.2 million members in 420 cities worldwide. The group viewed the exhibition, “Omani Culture Through Craftsmanship,” which features photos from the National Museum of Oman collection. Participants then took part in a group discussion on the history and culture of the Sultanate.

SQCC Instagram Photo Contest 2021
2021-06-30 | Instagram
Click here for the Official Rules: Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center’s Instagram Photo Contest 2021 Rules

Open to amateur photographers in the US! Starting 1 March 2021
Show your best photograph from the Sultanate of Oman
1st Prize: $1000
2nd Prize: $500
3rd Prize: $300
How to enter?
1.Using your instagram account, post an original photo of the Sultanate of Oman’s biodiversity
2.In the description, describe your photo, including the location, AND add the hashtag: #SQCCPhotoContest
Last day to enter: 30 June 2021
Please read Official Rules before entering the contest. Winners will be announced on 14 July 2021 and sent a message via Instagram.

Make sure to follow @sqccdc to see the winning photos!

Please read official rules here:
Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center’s Instagram Photo Contest 2021 Rules

Poetry and Prose: The Aesthetics of Classical Arabic Poetry
2021-06-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
Click here to register for the event: conta.cc/2RqIlq6

In her recent book, Arabic Poetics: Aesthetic Experience in Classical Arabic Literature, Lara Harb argues that the main aesthetic that underlay classical Arabic literary theory was one of wonder. In this lecture, Harb will explore this aesthetic of wonder through reading a selection of verses from classical Arabic poetry, highlighting how medieval theorists explained their beauty.

In her recent book, Arabic Poetics: Aesthetic Experience in Classical Arabic Literature, Lara Harb argues that the main aesthetic that underlay classical Arabic literary theory was one of wonder. In this lecture, Harb will explore this aesthetic of wonder through reading a selection of verses from classical Arabic poetry, highlighting how medieval theorists explained their beauty.

Embassy Adoption Program Capstone 2020-2021
2021-04-08
The SQCC and the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP) concluded the 2020-2021 academic year with Seaton Elementary School students virtually presenting their Capstone Project on 9 April. The presentation opened with the playing of the National Anthem of Oman. Students shared what they learned about Oman during the school year, in the form of skits, PowerPoint presentations, and poems. One group of students presented a skit about visiting Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, while another group of students performed a skit about the Aflaj irrigation systems. Other students presented on frankincense, beaches in Oman, and Omani traditional dishes. Students also presented artwork. The Capstone concluded with a trivia game on Oman. The virtual event was attended by Seaton Elementary School’s principal, representatives of the Embassy Adoption Program, and SQCC’s Executive Director.

SQCC Virtually visits Seaton Elementary School for the fourth and fifth sessions of the Embassy Adoption Program
2021-03-09 - 2021-03-26
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center continued with its collaboration with a fifth grade class from Seaton Elementary School virtually as part of the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP) on 9 March. Students learned about Omani frankincense, how it is harvested, burned and used in everyday Omani life and the other uses of frankincense. Students eagerly asked questions about majmars, and how frankincense grows in trees, and how trees are preserved. The students also watched an SQCC video about painting Omani majmars, or frankincense burners. The video highlighted the creative designs used in the Sultanate, which make them unique.
On 22 March students learned about climate change and its effect on Oman. Later this year, these students will use what they have learned to represent Oman at EAP’s Mini-UN event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
