In December 1958, Dr. Ahmed Zaki Akef, the first editor-in-chief of Al-Arabi magazine, wrote in the opening statement of its first issue: "Al-Arabi is dedicated to Arab thought, in every possible meaning of the word. It stands against sickness and stands with the promotion of a healthy mind. It stands against ignorance, and stands with the promotion of knowledge across the whole Arab state".

Seeking to promote an ideology of Pan-Arabism, Al-Arabi magazine's journey over the last sixty-four years focused on covering the culture, literature, art, politics, society, and economics of the Arab world.

This research-based workshop invites a group of writers, researchers, and people interested in literature to explore the archive of Al-Arabi magazine. The archive (available digitally and physically) provides a unique opportunity to delve into the history of the Arab world during a time that was seminal to the forming of Arab identity and to revisit pivotal topics that are still affecting us today.

Selections made from the archive will be optioned for a series of collective readings to be conducted in February 2023.

The workshop will be in Arabic. From 21-30 January, 4-7 PM (Every day except Tuesday and Friday). The workshop is open to a limited number of participants.

Hiba Masad studied visual arts at the University of Jordan between 2008 and 2012, specializing in printmaking. Over the past eight years, Masad worked as an activity specialist at the Shoman Foundation, where she ran several workshops and activities. During those years, Masad continued her personal art practices in the form of drawing, printmaking, and text reading.   Masad recently obtained her master’s degree in Arts in performing public space from FHK in the Netherlands, where her research focused on collective readings, and resulted in launching an initiative to create a community of collective readers in public spaces in Jordan.