News

// 01 Young Middle East artists to paint a fresh portrait of British life

Eight creatively talented students from Lebanon, UAE, Oman and Bahrain have won a regional art competition to take part in Offscreen’s 2008 expedition; they will now travel to the UK in July to create a unique portrait of what it means to be British.

From the bustle of East London to the remote Highlands of Scotland, the eight students and four accompanying teachers will travel to England, Scotland and Wales. Their journey will be followed closely by schools across the Middle East and the UK as the expedition uses the latest satellite and web technology to communicate from the field to the classroom.

The aim of the project is to give students from the UK and Middle East the chance to communicate and learn from each other in a positive and creative away, said Offscreen director Stephen Stapleton. He added: We are so used to seeing the Middle East through western eyes and I think it will be exciting and deeply insightful to see how the Middle East sees us through the eyes of a new generation.

The Journey

Offscreen are planning a life changing journey for these students into the heart of UK culture. With unprecedented access the expedition will explore the diversity of cultural and geographical landscapes across the UK.

In London students will question politicians in the Houses of Parliament and make art inside St Pauls Cathedral with a female priest, as well as living with families and attending local schools in the East End.

They will then travel to Edinburgh before spending three days focusing on environmental issues on a farm in the highlands. From Scotland they travel to Manchester, to work with the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester and local schools, focusing on how a Muslim identity can be forged in a British context.

The students will then travel to Wales, to make collages in collaboration with a local book artist in the world famous Town of Books, Hay-on-Wye.

On route back to London, students will visit Eton, arguably Englands most famous and the worlds most exclusive school. In London, the expedition will conclude with a celebratory lecture about what the students have experienced.

Participating students will be working with professional artists, teachers and filmmakers to develop the key skills of leadership, communication and creativity. They will make new friends and gain in confidence and knowledge, becoming part of a growing network of young people across the Middle East and UK working together for a better future.

The project is being run in partnership with HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, the British Council, the Karim Rida Said Foundation and Gulf Air.

Rob Lynes, Middle East Regional Director of the British Council, said:

The British Council is delighted to be continuing our partnership with Offscreen. The programme offers fantastic opportunities for young people to explore the diverse cultures of the Middle East and the UK and is an excellent platform for wider intercultural dialogue and greater understanding.

Julian Gore Booth, Director, Karim Rida Said Foundation

“The Offscreen Education Programme brings young people from the Middle East and the UK together in a way that is both exciting and innovative. This combination of creative teenagers from different cultures, modern technology and award winning teachers gives us hope for an improved understanding between the Arab world and the UK that in turn promotes more positive attitudes. There has never been a more important time to be working on such initiatives and the Karim Rida Said Foundation is delighted to partner with Offscreen for the next five years in support of our shared goals.”

Digital Explorers

Every day during their journey, students will use satellite technology to communicate to their peers back home. Embracing a model developed by Offscreen and Digital Explorer, students will showcase their artwork, photography, films and diaries via Offscreen’s groundbreaking website: www.offscreened.com.

With the help of Ministries of Education in each country, Offscreen will be distributing posters advertising this website in schools and internet cafes across the region.

A Reflexive Project

This Years expedition follows Offscreens groundbreaking UK to Middle East Student Expedition in February last year. Nine 15-17year old students from East London spent 12 days in the UAE and Oman. They generated a live artistic and creative record of their experiences that was accessed by over 300 UK schools. Over 20,000 UK students and teachers followed their journey online and discovered an alternative picture of the Middle East.

Partners & Sponsors

Title Partner: HSBC in the Middle East Community Foundation

We are pleased to have partnered with the Offscreen Educational programme. HSBC always tries to participate in projects that further promotes cross cultural understanding and education. Through the power of art, this programme will bridge any cultural diversity and create more understanding between the young people who will be the Middle East ambassadors to the UK. We hope they will use their wealth of creative and artistic talent in creating a positive and lasting portrait of life and culture in the Middle East.

Kaltham Al Koheji, Chairperson, HSBC in the Middle East Community Foundation

The HSBC in the Community Middle East Foundation was established in 1996 to fund community projects and activities across the region. The Foundation, a USD 2 million charitable and community initiative for 2007, funds educational, environmental and community projects. The fomation of the Foundation underlines the Bank’s long association with the region and its continued commitment to the Middle East. An advisory Committee made up of senior executives of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited is based in Dubai and all proposals for funding through the Foundation are considered by them before being passed to the Foundation’s Trustees for approval.

Karim Rida Said Foundation

KRSF was registered as a UK charity in 1986. The Foundation brings positive and lasting change to the lives of children and young people in the Middle East through three programmes: further education, child development and the promotion of a better understanding of Arab culture. The KRSF is endowed by its Founder and Chairman, Mr Wafic Said.

Official Airline: Gulf Air

Gulf Air is pleased to be a sponsor of this important project that promotes creative thinking and key skills among the younger generation and, fosters relationship between the Middle East and the UK.

Jon Barnett, Sponsorship Manager, Alliances & Events, Gulf Air

As the national carrier of the Kingdom, Gulf Air is proactive in supporting and promoting opportunities that help local talents to grow. The airline has been associating itself with several Corporate Social Responsibility programmes for many years through sponsorships and other activities in the areas of education, sport, charity and physically challenged.

Established 57 years ago and owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gulf Air is the only truly pan-Gulf carrier in the region known for its traditional, legendary Arabian hospitality combined with modern, state-of the Art flying experience.

Regional Partner: British Council

The British Council is the United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. The British Councils work has a special focus on youth. Connecting young people across all cultures has never been more important and we seek to create genuine mutual trust and understanding.

Other Sponsors & Partners include: J A Clark Charitable Foundation, Anglo-Omani Society, London City Airport, Omani Ministry of Education, Bahrain Ministry of Education, Lebanon Ministry of Education, Ras al Khaima Education Authority, UAE, Dubai Knowledge & Human Development Authority, UAE

06.13.08

// 02 Challenging Art Reveals Unexpected Side of Saudi Arabia

A pioneering exhibition, being organised by Offscreen, is set to open a new window into the largely unknown contemporary art culture from Saudi Arabia.

This October, a new generation of artists are being invited to London to take part in the first comprehensive exhibition of contemporary Saudi art ever to be staged in the UK.

Edge of Arabia, Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia will feature the work of 15 Saudi contemporary artists, male and female, whose work explores the complex and diverse identities of 21st century life in the Kingdom. The work captures a historic moment of rapid change in Saudi Arabian society and its relationship with the wider world.

The exhibition will run from 13th October 13th December at the SOAS Brunei Gallery, University of London. It is supported by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture, the Al Mansouria Foundation, the University of London, the British Council, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the Abdul Latif Jameel Company Ltd amongst other bodies.

Curator Stephen Stapleton describes the work in the exhibition as pioneering and unexpected. The artworks we have chosen are not what you might expect from what is perceived as one of the worlds most religiously conservative societies. The results are as educational as they are inspiring and I cant wait to see how a London audience reacts.

The issues addressed are as much micro and domestic as they are global. The artists have chosen not to focus on negative perceptions of the Middle East or artistic and intellectual clichs associated with the region and instead show us a contemporary world view that is as unpredictable as it is beautiful.

The contemporary art scene in Saudi is nascent which makes this exhibition a ground-breaking event. Many of the artists combine their creative life with full-time or part-time employment:

Ahmed Mater Al Ziad Aseeri, is a practising doctor in the Southern Arabian city of Abha. He uses X-rays and medical notation in his work, exploring his beliefs in the world of modern medicine in relation to his Muslim faith.

Manal Al Dowayan is a female photographer, whose bold, uncompromising photographs explore her dual identity.

Abdulnasser Gharem is a policeman and an artist; he uses both video installation and performance to explore the impact of consumer culture and environmental change in the birthplace of Islam.

Curatorial Staff

Head Curator: Stephen Stapleton, (Director, Offscreen Education Programme); Co-Curators: Lulwah Al-Homoud (artist) & Dr. Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri (artist); Exhibition Adviser: Venetia Porter, Curator, British Museum (Islamic Galleries/Word into Art, Artists from the Modern Middle East); Assistant Curator and Artists Coordinator: Aya Mousawi; Sponsorship Coordinator: Leen Al-Saud

Edge of Arabia Artists: Faisal Samra (Bahrain), Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri (Abha, KSA), Abdulaziz Ashour (Jeddah, KSA), Manal Al-Dowayan (Dhahran), Yosef Jafa (Maccah, KSA), Mahdi Al Jeraibi (Maccah, KSA), Shadia Alem (Jeddah/Paris), Raja Alem (Jeddah/Paris), Ayman Yossri Daydban (Jeddah, KSA), Reem Al Faisal (Paris), Abdulnasser Gharem (Khamis Mashet, KSA), Ali Ruzaiza (Riyadh, KSA), Lulwah Al-Homoud (London & Riyadh, KSA), Sameer Al Daham (Riyadh, KSA) and Mohammed Farea Ali (Riyadh, KSA).

For all enquiries relating to this press release please contact:

Raheel Mohammed
Mob: +44 (0)7748 836 869
Fax: +44 (0)20 7427 0044
Email: raheel.mohammed@virgin.net

Partners: Brunei Gallery (University of London), Ministry of Culture (Riyadh), Al Monsouria Foundation (Jeddah & Paris), Saudi Arabian Embassy (London), British Council (Riyadh & Jeddah), Al Arabiya News Cannel (Dubai), Arab British Chamber of Commerce (London), UnLtd (UK Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs), Or Madarat (Riyadh)

Sponsors:

Title Diamond: Abdul Latif Jameel Company Ltd (Jeddah)

Almoghtarra Agricultural Co (Riyadh), Saudi Plastic Factory (Riyadh)

MBI Al Jaber Foundation (UK), JA Clark Charitable Trust (UK)

Bellucci Jewllery (Riyadh), Serafi Group (Jeddah)

06.03.08

// 03 Expanding Student Expeditions Programme

We are proud to announce a new programme of interactive student expeditions from the Middle East to the UK sponsored by HSBC in the Community Middle East Foundation and supported by our regional partners: The British Council. The programme is being launched in July 2008 when 8 students and 4 teachers from Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and Oman will spend two weeks recording their journey around England, Scotland and Wales. As with our first student expedition, we will be using the digital explorer model to send back videos, images and diaries to audiences in the students home countries. We are really excited about this reflexive model as we feel it is just as important that young people in the Middle East have access to an alternative picture of the UK (what do they think of us based on the information and images they consume?) as it is for young UK students to explore the Middle East away from the Western medias portrayal. Many thanks to Kaltham at HSBC and Rob and Amy at the British Council for their support.

09.18.07

// 04 Jbel Toubkal Challenge Raises Money for Offscreen

Very many thanks to Helen, Marjan, Nick x 2 and Richard who all took part in Offscreens first Toubkal Challenge. It was a sweltering 40C when the team set off from Marrakech to the High Atlas. The aim was to climb North Africas highest mountain at 4167m and then return to Marrakech in just two days. Setting off in the dark at 4.30am, the team reached the top in high winds and flurries of snow. Over 5,000 has been raised so far. Please visit www.bmycharity.com/offscreen to sponsor a member of the team.

09.18.07

// 05 University of East London supports new Resource Pack

Alongside the British Council and Plashet School we are now working with UEL to develop our second resource pack for teachers. The pack which is due out next year covers RE, Art & Design, Citizenship and Geography and is based on the real life observations of UK students during Offscreens first student expedition to the UAE and Oman. The pack will include an interactive DVD and high quality collage book.

09.18.07

// 06 Collaborating with Adobe to give young people a Voice

From September Offscreen will be coordinating two projects for the Adobe Youth Voices programme, a global philanthropic initiative empowering young people to explore and comment on their world. Offscreen director, Stephen Stapleton will be working with Crown Woods School (Greenwich) in collaboration with the British Museum and documentary filmmaker, Katie Lincoln, will be working with Plashet School (Newham) in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

09.18.07

// 07 Offscreen Director wins UnLtd Award

If you have not already heard (he has been quite vocal), in July Offscreen founder, Stephen Stapleton, was the recipient of a Level 2 UnLtd Award for Social Entrepreneurs. UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs – people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better. Thats me says Stephen … onwards and upwards.

09.18.07

// 08 Edge of Arabia gains Momentum

The Offscreen team continue to prepare for next years Edge of Arabia exhibition showcasing contemporary art from Saudi Arabia. The exhibition which opens at the Brunei Gallery in October next year brings together male and female artists who are exploring The art of identity in the Land of the Prophet. New artists who have confirmed participation include Manal Dowayan and internationally renowned painter and sculptor, Faisal Samra. Many thanks to co-curator Lulwah Al-Homoud and especially Aya Mousawi for all their hard work.

09.18.07

// 09 Increased Workshops in 2007

So far this year, Offscreen have delivered 19 schools and museums workshops (our target at the beginning of the year was 12 so we are doing well). These have included Sacred Ways at the British Library in May and National Playday at the Imperial War Museum in June where one 12 year old boy wrote, Less Oil, More Courage on our geometric mural we agree. As ever our workshop programme is about giving young people direct contact with artists and artistic traditions from the Middle East and Islamic World, as well as encouraging creativity in all.

09.18.07

// 010 Working with Google:

Building on the Digital Explorer concept applied to Offscreens first student expedition, Offscreen director, Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop, has been asked by Google to run a nationwide programme training teachers to use Google Earth.

09.18.07

// 11 Offscreen Student Expedition 2007

British students come to the Gulf to portray Arab culture Offscreen to schools across the UK

On 8 February 2007, nine British students from East London will embark on the journey of a lifetime to the UAE and Oman to inspire others in schools across the UK to better understand Arab culture.

The Offscreen Education Programme is working with the British Council in the Middle East to bring a pioneering 12-day youth expedition to the Gulf. A mixed group of students, selected for their abilities as strong communicators and artists, will spend four days in the UAE and eight in Oman and produce an artistic record of their journey, from the cityscapes of downtown Dubai to the Bedu camps of the Wahiba Sands. As part of the expedition itinerary the UK students will be staying on a traditional Emirate racing dhow in Dubais Bastikiya area, seeing the desert for the first time while flying high over the sands in a hot air balloon and making a film in Omans largest Mosque.

The artworks and video diaries the students create will be beamed back to UK schools via satellite, taking their audiences off screen every day, and reaching an estimated audience of over three million individuals across the UK and Middle East.

The Offscreen Education Programme is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the diversity of cultures within the Middle East, and to create lasting links between the countries and schools involved commented Rob Lynes, Regional Director Middle East, British Council. We will be bringing young people together from different cultural backgrounds to share their experiences and dispel the stereotypes many of the individuals that this programme will reach will be young people and it will be very positive for them to see such a fresh portrayal of life and culture in the Middle East.

The UK students, all between 15-17 years old and passionate about art and music, are coming to the Gulf from Dagenham Park Community School, Forest Gate Community School, Plashet School and Crown Woods School in East London. In Dubai, they will meet participating students of the same age from Rashid School for Boys and from Latifa School for Girls. They will also be meeting Omani students during their visit, from Nusibah bint Kaab Secondary School and Ibn Anafees School for General Education in Oman.

Through the power of art, this expedition will communicate a fresh and positive image of the Arab culture based on direct experience, not media stereotypes, and the journey of these nine young people will be the platform to inspire countless more, said Stephen Stapleton, founder of the Offscreen Education Programme.

Offscreen is a journey with a mission, he added We want to share the experiences and contacts of these young people with as wide an audience as possible, offering new perspectives on the culture and geography of the region through the art, photographs and films which they produce as well as directly enriching the lives of nine young talented UK students, and indirectly hundreds of thousands more.

01.31.07

// 12 Christmas Newsletter 2006

A very Happy Christmas from all of us at the Offscreen Education Programme . If you have time, do read below and see what we have been up to in 2006 and click here to have a look at Offscreen’s major project for next year … our first student art expedition to the Middle East.

Offscreen Christmas Newsletter

With the help of students, teachers, partners and sponsors 2006 has been Offscreen’s breakthrough year. A move from Crossway Studios in Dalston, to the Arab British Center, off Fleet Street has fuelled our aspiration to improve the educational and cultural relationship between the Middle East and UK. With a bus load of faith behind us and a growing network of support, we look back on an extraordinary ‘start up’ year before setting our sights on 2007:

In January and February we sent resources to 1400 schools across the UK. All over the country teachers started using books, CD ROMs and prizes for students in the classroom. Offscreen resource packs were used as part of the British Museum’s pioneering Arab World Artists-in-Schools programme and the head of art at Plashet School in Newham said their pack was being used by students every day. In Wallasey school, near Liverpool, Offscreen were asked to coordinate a whole lower school Middle East Festival, involving 10 artists, life size camel sculptures (inspired by Spiderman!) and a video conference to Oman (“do you like football” (thick Liverpool accent). “Steven Gerard is an excellent midfielder” (reply from Oman) ... Wallasey students open mouthed, amazed, “How’d they know that”)

In March, we led a 20 strong cross-country skiing expedition to Norway (left and right) to raise money for Offscreen’s first student expedition to the Middle East. “If I die, I die on the mountain” said Bob after the first day. It was hard, it was fun, we got a bit lost and raised 10,000. Thank you so much to all participants (especially to those that told me that that first day was the hardest of their lives) and their sponsors. To sign up for next year’s Nordic Challenge (22-26 March 2007), please email marjan@offscreened.com.

In May Offscreen worked with the JAC Trust, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and British Museum to invite a young Saudi Arabian artist and doctor, Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad, to the UK for the first time. Offscreen facilitated the inclusion of Ahmed’s X-Ray 2004 painting in the British Museum’s Word into Art exhibition and involved him and his Palestinian colleague Ashraf Fayadh in schools workshops in Hampshire, Gloucestershire and London (as part of the Museums’s Middle East Now season). On the 28th May Offscreen curated a one-off exhibition of Ahmed’s paintings and photographs at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London. The success of Ahmed’s visit to the UK have contributed to a great deal of exciting progress in the cultural relations between the Saudi Arabia and the UK: not only is Word into Art to travel to Riyadh in the not too distant future but HRH King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud opened Ahmed Mater’s recent exhibition in Abha (above right), reminding the audience that Ahmed was the first Saudi based artist to be exhibited at the British Museum and encouraging young Saudis to be more creative. Building on the buzz created by Ahmed’s visit and Offscreen’s continuing cultural relationship with Saudi Arabia, we are planning to curate Edge of Arabia, an exhibition of Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia (the first of its kind in the UK) at the Brunei Gallery from June – September. Watch this space for further details in the New Year.

Over the rest of the Summer, having moved into new offices in Gough Square, Offscreen became a registered Community Interest Company (Social Enterpise), formalised a partnership with the British Council in the Middle East and gained backing from a growing number of patrons and partners including Iraqi Music Legend, Kadim Al Saher, City Hall and Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the UK. Offscreen delivered further workshops in the Great Court of the British Museum and in September travelled to Edinburgh with Iraqi artist, Rashad Salim, to deliver workshops at the National Museum of Scotland as part of a Saudi Arabian Festival attached to the NMS’ Beyond the Palace Walls exhibition.

In October, we travelled to the Gulf to generate support for next year’s student expedition to the UAE and Oman and secured sponsorship from Emirates Airline (who are now our Official Airline), Muscat Insurance Services, Canvas magasine and the XVA gallery amongst others. On our return we were asked by the London Mayor’s office to run an art tent in Trafalgar Square as part of the Muslim Council of Britain’s Eid in the Square celebrations. Thanks to Raheel, Adam, Latifah and a constant queue of enthusiastic young Londoners for a great day.

In the run up to Christmas, all our energies are focussed on next year’s student expedition794 . We are working with nine 15-20 year old students from Dagenham Park, Forest Gate, Plashet, Crown Woods Schools and Kingston University. Using satellite equipment, students will be broadcasting for 12 days from U.A.E. and Oman into over 300 schools in the UK.

The Offscreen Student Expedition 2007 is being supported by the following organisations, trusts and foundations: British Council (UK), Emirates Airline (UAE), J A Clark Charitable Trust (UK), Muscat Insurance Services (Oman), SB Group (Oman), the Omani Ministry of Education (Oman), Applied Satellite Technologies (UK), XVA Gallery (UAE), iNOMAD (UK), Canvas Magazine (UAE), Festival of Muslim Cultures (UK), London City Airport (UK), Kingston University (UK), the GLA (UK), The British Ambassador in Oman, Desert Discovery (Oman), Amigos Balloons (UAE), National Society for Education in Art and Design (UK), the Anglo-Omani Society (UK), Camberford Law plc, Hamptons International (Oman), the British Business Forum (Oman) and the Royal Geographical Society (UK).

Nearly four years on from the original art expedition to the Middle East and the Offscreen Education Programme continues to grow; fuelled by the collective energy and commitment from all those involved, Offscreen remains focussed on bringing an ‘alternative’ picture of the world into young people’s lives.

Happy New Year

Stephen, Jamie, Marjan, Raheel, Photini, Henry, Al, Georgie and the team

12.21.06

// 13 King Of Saudi Arabia opens Offscreen artist’s exhibition

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia pledged his support for new and innovative art by hosting an exhibition of Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri’s work in Abha.

The exhibition, held on November 4th and entitled Ibn Aseer, is at the forefront of new art emerging from the Gulf states.

Delighted by Ahmed’s work, King Abdullah reminded the audience that Ahmed is the first Saudi based artist to be exhibited in the British Museum. Ahmed, who was ovewhelmed by the occassion, said of King Abdullah: “He wants young people to be more creative and is very supportive in that way.”

Ahmed first came to prominence in the UK after the director of Offscreen, Stephen Stapelton, discovered the medically trained artist and brought him to London to be a part of the British Museum’s recent Word into Art exhibition, which is now travelling to Saudi Arabia following a successful run in the London.

11.07.06

// 14 Student Expedition To The Middle East Gains Momentum

Following a successful trip to the U.A.E. and Oman, Offscreen are proud to announce they will be working with local schools, the XVA gallery and the British Council on their 2007 Student Expedition to the region. Utilising the latest satellite, web and digital media technologies UK students will be broadcasting from the field to audiences across the globe, a method pioneered by Offscreen?s sister organisation, the Digital Explorer, in Morocco in March/April 2006. Offscreen continue to look for sponsors and support for this project so if you can help please email info@offscreened.com.

11.07.06

// 15 Offscreen hosts artists from Saudi Arabia and Palestine

Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri, (a painter from Aseer, Saudi Arabia), and Ashraf Fayadh (an artist and poet from Palestine) have spent the last month working with the Offscreen Education Programme during their first visit to the UK. Having fascilitated Ahmed Mater’s inclusion in the British Museum’s recent Word into Art exhibition, Offscreen have been supporting the artists to reach as many young people as possible. Over the last month Ahmed and Ashraf have taken part in schools workshops in London, Hampshire and Glouscestershire, put on an exhibition of photographs and paintings at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London and taken part in cultural events at the British Museum and across London. The artists visit was kindly sponsored by HRH Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf Al-Saud, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK and the JAC Trust. Next year Offscreen will be inviting 10 artists from Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the UK for an educational and cultural tour of schools. A big thank you from Offscreen to everyone who helped Ahmed and ashraf during their stay.

06.17.06

// 16 Offscreen Gains Support Of Iraqi Music Legend

In a recent meeting with Offscreen founder, Stephen Stapleton, Iraqi music legend, Kadim Al Sahir expressed his support and empathy with Offscreen’s work connecting young people in the UK and Middle East. Kadim, who is a patron of a number of children?s charities has a huge following in the Middle East and has reportedly sold over 30 million albums.

06.10.06