American University of Beirut

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Aims of the Society

Its objective is to spread the interest in archaeology to the AUB community and to everyone living in Lebanon and abroad.
The society of the Friends of the Museum supports the AUB Museum by holding fund-raising events: its major achievement has been the sponsorship of the total renovation of the Museum in 2006.​

Activities

The Society sponsors a full program of activities which are open to the public. These include lectures, temporary exhibitions, and children's programs, cultural trips in Lebanon and abroad and the publication of the newsletter.

In addition to the regular program of yearly activities, members enjoy the following privileges:

• Gallery Talks and Museum Tours
  
• Museum Newsletter
  
• Trips in Lebanon and abroad
  
• Expert Consultations upon request
  
• Advance notice of all activities and lectures​
  
  

Society trips

Since 1980, the Society of the Friends of the AUB Museum organizes each year one or several Archaeological Tours in Lebanon and around the world. The tours stress the historical, cultural and archaeological aspects of the areas visited.

The tours are small groups with special itineraries customized for the AUB Museum and led by noted scholars, who can provide unique access to places of historical or cultural significance. The Society takes many day trips from Beirut throughout the year, and also organizes in depth tours to locations all over the Middle East as well as exotic places all over the world.

Previous locations have included trips in Lebanon,  trips to different regions in Syria and  trips all around the world like Vietnam, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, China, Burma, Russia, Egypt, Sicily, Greece, Yemen, Mexico, Tunisia, Morocco, Cyprus...

​​​​​​​​​Trip to Russia (2017)	​Trip to the Baltic States (2016)
Trip to Uzbekistan (2015)	Trip to Turkey (2014)
Trip to National Museum (2013)	Trip to Croatia (2012)
​Trip to Tripoli (2011)	​Trip to Mar Tadros - Behdidat (2010)
​ The Oasis of Egypt (2000)	​ ​Trip to Mexico (1997)
​Trip to Greece (1996)	Trip to Jordan (1993)
​ Trip to Upper Egypt (1983)	​ Trip to Palmyra (1982)
​​​Trip to Tell Arqa (1980)​	​

Children's Program

Four times a year, the Committee of the Children's Program in the AUB Museum organizes an activity related to archaeology or history. This program takes place on Sundays, either in the Archaeological Museum premises or at locations around Lebanon.​

The aim of this program is to foster children's interest in history and archaeology by teaching them through games, arts and crafts.

​​ Build a Citadel (2017)​	​Palmyra, the lost City (2016)
​ Games & Toys in Antiquity (2015)	​Houses through the Ages, 4000 BC - 300 AD (2014)
​ Calligraphy (2013)	​Traditional clothing (2012)​
​ Mosaic Art (2011)	​ Temples and Gods in Faqra (2010)​
A Knight's Tale (2009)	​​Reviving the Olympic Games in AUB Green Field (2004)​
All about olives in Chhim (2002)	​ History of soap in Saida (2000)
Mosaics of Beit ed Dine (1997)​	If you were told about mosaics (1983) ​

Lectures

The Society of Friends of the AUB Museum sponsors a series of lectures on archaeology or history subjects. The lectures are held by local and foreign speakers. They are organized once a month, on Wednesday at 6:00 pm, in the Study Collection Hall (SCH) in Post Hall. Lectures are followed by a small reception in the Museum Gallery.​​

Exhibitions

The Society of the Friends of the AUB Museum sponsors exhibitions dealing with different subjects related to the Museum Collections.
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​​​150 Years of the AUB Archaeological Museum (2018)​	​​150 Years of the AUB Archaeological Museum                    (2018)​ - Film by Mr. Philippe Aractingi
​Palmyra The Lost City (2016)	​Excavating the Past - 50 Years of Archaeology at AUB (2016)
The Young Man of Carthage (2014)	​Musical Instruments through the ages (2011)
​​Jewelry exhibition (1998)	​​​Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition in the Museum (1990)​​