FORTHCOMING EVENTS - Autumn 2008

September 11th 2008:  A talk entitled: “New Opportunities for Tourism in Saudi Arabia” will be given by Ionis Thompson, Hon. Secretary, who will describe her recent experience as a guest of the Supreme Commission for Tourism when she visited many of the outstanding tourist attractions in the Kingdom. The talk will be introduced by the Chairman, Sir Alan Munro.

5.30pm at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2NJ.  The talk will take place in the Auditorium. Afterwards drinks will be served in the Board Room and there will be an opportunity to move outside onto the terrace if the weather is fine.
Replies please, as usual, to Miss Lisa Bowcock, Green Gables, Clee Hill Road, Tenbury, Worcs. WR15 8HJ, or by email to her at: l.bowcock@clara.co.uk.

In future members and guests will be charged £5 for attending a meeting, to help cover the costs of drinks and room hire. This can be paid in advance to Miss Bowcock or at the door.

SOCIETY TOUR TO SAUDI ARABIA

We are planning a Society tour to the Kingdom for late January/early February 2009. If you would be interested, could you let me know, with your views of what you would like to include in such a tour.  We are in the process of drawing up itineraries, based on 3 centres, Riyadh, al Ula and Jeddah, to give enough time for leisurely sight-seeing (which will include a day in Madain Saleh, and morning in Dir’iyyah) and a desert excursion. It would be for 8 days and the cost would be just over £2000 per person, based on 4 or 5-star hotels.
Ionis Thompson (email address: ionisthompson@ukonline.co.uk)  

SAUDI ART EXHIBITION:  “EDGE OF ARABIA”

October 16th 2008 – December 13th 2008: The first-ever comprehensive exhibition of contemporary Saudi art, entitled “Edge of Arabia” will be held at the Brunei Gallery, at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, (in the north-west corner of Russell Square,) London WC1.

Entrance is free. The exhibition is open between Tuesday and Saturday, 10.30 to 17.00.
More information from: www.soas.ac.uk/gallery/visit.

“Edge of Arabia” will feature the work of 17 Saudi contemporary artists, male and female, whose work explores the complex and diverse identities of 21st century life in the Middle East. The issues addressed are as much personal or domestic as they are global. The artists have chosen not to focus on negative perceptions of the Middle East or artistic and intellectual clichés associated with the region and instead present a contemporary world view that is as unpredictable as it is beautiful. The exhibition is being organised by the award-winning Offscreen Education Programme.