Artistic and Cultural Programming

Afghan Cultural Society collaborates with artists, musicians and scholars to educate the public and promote the cultural heritage
of Afghanistan and its neighbors through classes, presentations, performances, and exhibitions. Individual artists or arts and
cultural organizations interested in collaborating with us are welcome to contact us at info@afghanculturalsociety.org

Past Programming

A Nowruz Spread

Nowruz 2025

March 20th & 22nd

We hosted two gatherings to celebrate the spring Equinox with our colleagues, volunteers, friends and the broader community. We welcomed rubab player and composer Sannan Mahboob and members of Yalla Drum and The Arab Band to play music encompassing a range of SWANA traditions.

A table decorated with symbols of Shab e Yalda including pomegranites and watermelon.

Shab E Yalda 2024

December 20th

We marked the longest night of the year with a community potluck and group poetry reading.Participants engaged in Fal-e Hafez, or the Omens of Hafez, and read their fortunes through lines of Hafez’s Divan

Toryalai Hashimi and Quraishi performing on stage.

Anniversary Arts Festival 2024

November 3rd

For our second anniversary celebration we invited a series of artists and musicians to perform at the Cedar Cultural Center and facilitate activities for youth at the Brian Coyle Center nearby. Performers included esteemed percussionist Toryalai Hashimi, Rubab master Quaraishi, dancer and choreographer Samia Karimi, and
Sear Azizi.

Close up of person playing the rubab.

Afghan Arts Workshops 2024

August 31st – September 1st

This two day series of free public workshops included traditional Afghan dance steps, Rubab for Beginners, a Ceramics class, and a workshop on Farsi Poetry. The series concluded with an evening of collaborative music and dance performances.

A flyer for Shab E Yalda

Shab e Yalda 2023

December 21st

The first time we invited the public to celebrate Shab e Yalda, the ancient Zoroastrian celebration of the Winter Solstice.

ACS Anniversary Expo 2023

November 24th and 25th

Our first anniversary celebration featured two days of educational workshops exploring the history, literature, and art of Afghanistan as well as an evening of music and performances at the Cedar Cultural Center.

Blog Posts