Culture bridges gaps between East and West, harmonizes relationships, and reaches out to the world, including the French capital Paris. H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, president of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA), met on 26 March 2015, at the French presidential palace, the Elysée, with the cultural advisor to the French president, Audrey Azoulay. They discussed ways and means of boosting bilateral cooperation mainly in the cultural field and how to enhance mutual rapprochement between both peoples.
H.E Shaikha Mai expressed her gratitude and appreciation for this reception at the Elysée, stressing the importance of building cultural bridges with all countries around the world, particularly France, the beacon of beauty and culture. H.E added that her visit comes as part of her strong belief that culture can overcome geographical barriers, unite nations, and bring human beings closer together. The president of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) argued that Bahrain is seeking to bridge gaps by reaching out to the world through cultural pathways. H.E said, “We are trying to get in touch with every cultural venue, world’s museums, and art centers because they epitomize and reflect the beauty and ways of thinking among cultures and civilizations around the globe. These centers will certainly enable us to overcome barriers and get together to innovate and create artistic manifestations common to humanity.”
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa also said that Bahrain and France have very active and vibrant cultural relations going back decades and regular cultural exchanges take place between the two countries. H.E argued that French interest in Bahrain has widened and extends beyond traditional aspects of French culture and this new interest touches almost every domain of culture: art, cinema, heritage, literature and languages. Long decades of French archaeological expeditions and the constant presence of French experts, which includes Pierre Lombard, the archaeology counselor at the Ministry of Culture, testify to the fruitful relationships between both countries. Shaikha Mai added that many French cultural events were organized during the last recent years, such as Bahrain National Theatre hosting one of the most fantastic plays, Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), which is one of Wolfgang Mozart’s most famous works, last December.
‘Manama Nuit Blanche’ was organized in collaboration with the French Embassy, and presented a music concert performed by a group of French musicians as well as photographic exhibitions. Bahrain Museum also hosted the ‘Berber Women’ exhibition which is dedicated by Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Paris to the richness of the Amazigh civilization and honors Berber women in their new exhibition, which will run until 15 April 2015. The exhibition displays the diverse and extraordinary beauty of Berber adornments.
H.E Shaihka Mai discussed with Cultural Advisor Azoulay further cooperation with regards to museums with the aim of establishing an active partnership in the area of exchange of competencies and expertise, particularly in the field of museology, temporary exhibitions with France’s George Pompidou and the French town of Nice. H.E expressed her wish to further promote cultural relations between Bahrain and France, arguing that Manama remains a lighthouse of culture, love, peace and a citadel of cultures and civilizations.
Ms. Audrey Azoulay, on her turn, praised the strong mutual relations between the French Republic and the kingdom of Bahrain, stressing the importance of the need to continue such strong cultural cooperation. Ms. Azoulay highly valued Bahrain’s cultural infrastructure as an essential base for the success of many high- profile events, paying tribute to H.E Shaikha Mai, describing her as a role model for women in Bahrain and the Gulf region and hailing her dedication to promote culture. Ms. Azoulay expressed France’s readiness to support different cultural spheres, including exchange of cultural and artistic delegations in different areas and domains.
http://www.moc.gov.bh/en/mediacenter/news/2015/March2015/Name,12082,en.html