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Welcome to the Offscreen Education Programme’s first student expedition to the Middle East. From 8 February 2007, a group of East London students will embark on a creative journey to two Gulf countries: the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman. Using the latest satellite communication technology alongside traditional artistic media, the students will be communicating their first hand experiences with audiences across the UK. We hope you enjoy following the students journey through the videos, artwork, photos and diary blogs on this website.
The Journey
For 12 days during the expedition the students will produce an artistic record of their journey from the cityscapes of downtown Dubai to the Bedu camps of the Wahiba Sands. The expedition flies into the UAE on the 8th of February where the team will stay on a traditional racing dhow moored on Dubai’s creek, near the ruler’s palace. While in Dubai they will work with Rashid School for boys and Latifa School for Girls and make artwork from the viewing platforms of high-rise skyscrapers and in the world’s second largest mall, as well as travelling outside the city to go falconing, camping and to see the desert for the first time from a hot air balloon trip over the sands.
The expedition arrives in Oman’s capital, Muscat on the 12th February, where they will be working with two local schools to make an educational film in Oman’s largest Mosque named after the present ruler: Sultan Quaboos. From Muscat the expedition travels along the coast of the Arabian Sea, via turtle beaches, Bedu souks and fishing villages, and into the largest self contained desert in the world: the Wahiba Sands. Here they will meet sleep under the stars, ride camels and explore the fragile desert environment with geologists and local people. From the desert, the expedition returns to Muscat, via Nizwa Fort, before returning to the UK on the 20th February.
The Students
The participating UK students, aged between 15-17 years old and passionate about art and music, are coming to the Gulf from Dagenham Park Community School (right), Forest Gate Community School, Plashet School and Crown Woods School in East London. They will be working with participating students of the same age from Rashid School for Boys and Latifa School for Girls, in Dubai and from Nusibah bint Kaab School and Ibn Anafees School for General Education in Oman.
The Offscreen Student Expedition 2007 is Carbon Neutral.
