Little Amal, whose name means “hope” in Arabic, is an internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl. She has been welcomed by more than 250 uniquely created artistic events across the globe since her initial 5,000-mile trek across Europe in 2021. Amal carries her message of hope for marginalized people everywhere, especially children who have been separated from their families. As a public art project, among the largest ever produced, she has been heralded as “one of the most ambitious live artworks ever staged” (The Observer, 2021) and “an international symbol of human rights” (The Guardian, 2022).

A.R.T., as a Boston Partner of Amal Walks Across America by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company, will create and host one of the first free public events of the 6,000-mile national tour comprising more than 100 events in 35 cities and towns across the US from Boston to San Diego.

A.R.T.’s Amal Walks Across America event on September 7 will be part of Harvard University’s ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative sponsored by Harvard University Committee on the Arts (HUCA) that provides free public arts programming during the academic year.

Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company. The A.R.T./Harvard event is made possible with the support of Harvard University Committee on the Arts (HUCA); The Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University; and the Harvard University Committee on Ethnicity, Migration, Rights.

WORKSHOPS

Led by project director Brisa Areli Muñoz and A.R.T. teaching artists, this series of intergenerational workshops are inspired by the theme of “welcome” are designed to deepen understanding and foster a sense of community and belonging for immigrants and refugees.

The workshops are free and open to the public; RSVPs are recommended.

Workshop Dates and Locations:

August 3rd at 12pm | Malden Public Library

August 12th at 11am and August 15th at 5pm | Harvard Ed Portal

August 19th at 2pm and August 31st at 1pm | East Boston Branch Library

August 29th at 4pm | Fields Corner Branch Library