Arab American Heritage Month: Celebrate at Dearborn museum with events, free admission

• The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn is celebrating Arab American Heritage Month with free admission to view its current exhibits and events highlighting culture, history and resilience.
• The events include a culinary tour, a poetry series, and a book launch focused on Arab American writers.
• Exhibits include photography capturing the lives of Yemeni and Lebanese Americans in Dearborn, an octopus-shaped sculpture exploring Yemeni culture, and a collection by Palestinian artist Rajie Cook.

The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn is where history hums through exhibits and stories echo in every corner. More than a museum, it stands as a living archive — a place where the textures of Arab American life are woven into art, memory and movement.

This April, as Arab American Heritage Month is recognized nationwide, the country's only museum dedicated to Arab American stories is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme "AlBayt Baytak" — Arabic for "This home is your home."

"We want to highlight the museum as a home for Arabs living in the United States," said Diana Abouali, the director of the Arab American National Museum (AANM). "This month is an opportunity to pause and to reflect on the history, culture and contributions of Arab Americans, who are an integral part of the makeup of this country, and in particular, Michigan and Southeast Michigan."

Located at 13624 Michigan Ave. and open Wednesday through Sunday, the museum is offering several events and free admission to view its temporary exhibits during Arab American Heritage Month.

Events

April 19: Yalla Eat! Culinary Walking Tour

From noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, attendees can explore Arab American food culture on a guided tour of East Dearborn called Yalla Eat!, which means "Let's go eat!" Participants will sample bites and sweets from local grocery stores, restaurants, spice shops and bakeries along Michigan Avenue. The tour has been an ongoing program since 2013.

"Guests will meet business owners eager to share the story of their family-run enterprises and savor the sights, sounds and delicious scents at bakeries, nut and coffee houses, and fresh produce markets," according to the museum. "Traditional Arab hospitality is on full display, as generous samples are offered along with the stories of individuals, their families and their history."

Tickets can be purchased here at $50 for museum members and $60 for the general public.

April 24: Words for Palestine

The museum has hosted Words for Palestine, a monthly online series, since late 2023. The livestream features poets and writers — many of them Palestinian — who use poetry to express the Palestinian struggle. The series is free to watch on YouTube, with the next event scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 24. An RSVP is optional and can be made here to receive the livestream link.

"I think it's important to celebrate our community here in the U.S., but also keep our eyes and our thoughts on the pain and suffering of Palestinians and other counties that are currently going through hardship," Abouali told the Free Press.

April 26: Zawaya Book(s) Launch: The Latest from Arab American Writers

"Zawaya, meaning 'corners' in Arabic, is where edges, lines and sides meet," according to the Arab American National Museum.

This event is a book launch highlighting recent works exploring intersectionality and new literary perspectives by Arab American writers. Moderated by the museum's artist-in-residence, Mariam Bazeed, the panel features authors Hadeer Elsbai, Laila Lalami, Tarik Dobbs and Youssef Rakha.

Zawaya focuses on celebrating contemporary Arab American literature and fostering discussion among writers and readers, according to the museum. Authors will also be available for book signings.

The event, on Saturday, April 26, is free to attend with an RSVP. Details about the writers and their work can be found here.

Exhibitions

The following exhibits are free to view throughout April as the Arab American National Museum is offering free admission in honor of Arab American Heritage Month.

Seeing the Southend: A Photography Exhibition by Tony Maine

Until July 31, "Seeing the Southend: A Photography Exhibition by Tony Maine" will be in the main floor gallery of the Arab American National Museum. The exhibit showcases what Maine documented while growing up in Dearborn’s Southend in the 1970s and 1980s.

"Maine’s work is both a time machine and a mirror," according to the museum. "It invites us into the rich interior lives of Yemeni and Lebanese Americans at a time when the country was still getting to know who Arab Americans really were."

The artist's images offer a rare glimpse into those communities' daily life — from children learning English to autoworkers on the line — highlighting a community whose legacy of perseverance and activism still shapes Dearborn today. The interactive display includes QR codes that visitors can scan to submit names of people they recognize in the photos or to share their own images depicting life in Dearborn.

الفلق // al-Falaq by Alia Ali

Described as a "museum within a museum," "الفلق // al-Falaq" is an octopus-shaped sculpture by artist Alia Ali, designed as a futuristic Yemeni starship reclaiming looted artifacts, according to the Arab American National Museum. Suspended under the museum’s dome through Dec. 31, it features 81 digital screens on its tentacles that stretch across the atrium, playing experimental videos exploring Yemeni history, culture and identity.

In a time of war and displacement, "al-Falaq" envisions both remembrance and future possibilities for Yemen.

Ali was the museum’s artist-in-residence in 2021–22.

Waiting for Peace by Rajie Cook

The "Waiting for Peace" exhibit showcases the work of Palestinian American artist Rajie Cook, who died in 2021 at 90. While he is best known for designing the universal pictographs used in public spaces, Cook spent the last two decades of his life creating sculptural collage boxes that highlight the suffering Palestinians have endured under decades of occupation and their struggle for self-determination.

Cook’s work serves as a testament to his lifelong advocacy, shaped by his own longing for peace — one he did not live to see. The exhibit will remain on display in the lower-level gallery of the museum until Aug. 15, 2026.

Members get 20% off gift shop items to celebrate 20 years of AANM

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Arab American National Museum is offering members 20% off all items in the gift shop. Guests can find clothing, tote bags, books, accessories and handmade pieces by artists from the Middle East and Arab American artists.

Members receive unlimited free museum admission, discounts on programs and events, and access to the museum's library and resource Center. Membership also supports exhibitions and free programs that foster community connections through art and dialogue. More information is available here.

Whitmer's 2025 proclamation

In a proclamation issued on April 1, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month in Michigan, recognizing the community’s contributions to medicine, law, business, education and public service.

Whitmer highlighted Arab Americans' strong family values, work ethic and cultural influence while acknowledging the challenges they have faced.

"The history of Arab Americans in the U.S. too often has been tainted with misconceptions, bigotry and hatred," according to the proclamation. "Arab American issues, such as civil rights, stereotyping and bullying, must be combated through education and awareness."

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.