Project Duration: Annual Event 
Start/End Date :2003 to present 

The NY Arab-American Comedy Festival is a not for profit organization created in 2003 by Arab-American comedians Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid as a showcase for Arab comedians and in an effort to attract positive media coverage for the Arab community.
 
Partnering Organization(s) :
The Festival is co-sponsored by numerous Arab-American groups 

New York Arab-American Comedy Festival
Email: Dean@arabcomedy.org;
Website: www.arabcomedy.org;
Tel: (US) 917-607-4047
Fax: 646-386-7842
Contact: Dean Obeidallah
 
Project Mission :To encourage Arab-Americans to become active in the entertainment field
Project Objective(s) :To change the way Arabs are depicted in Hollywood by encouraging more Arabs to become active in entertainment field and to show Americans a funny positive side to Arabs and Arab-Americans.

Target group(s) :Arab-Americans and Arabs interested in comedy as well as the US public

Geographical scope(s) of project :The Festival is based in NYC but we showcase Arab comedians from across the US, Canada and Middle East
Countries involved : USA, Canada, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine
 
One page summary:Attached

US involvement/contribution within the project : The Festival is based in the USA

Achievements/progress to date: The Festival has grown from 3 nights of shows with 20 performers to 9 shows over nights with over 50 performers from North America and Middle East. This past May over 2,000 people attended and we received positive media coverage in US and Middle Eastern media outlets.

Contact person for the project : Dean Obeidallah