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Under the High Patronage His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, May God Protect Him, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities will celebrate the closing ceremony of a year-long amazing cultural events and activities as part of Muharraq Capital of Islamic Culture program 2018, on 28 & 29 November 2018. In addition, on 28 November, there will an inauguration ceremony of Pearling Path Visitor Center, a UNESCO World Heritage List site since 2012, in Muharraq, while the National Theater will host host a music concert announcing the closing ceremony of the celebrations marking Muharraq as the Capital of Islamic Culture 2018.

Thursday, 29 November, Manama will warmly welcome and host the Extraordinary Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, organized by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), in cooperation with Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities.

During the celebrations of Muharraq as the Capital of Islamic Culture 2018, the Kingdom of Bahrain witnessed a series of exceptional events in a year-long whereby amazing cultural events and activities were presented to local, regional and international audiences, enhancing Bahrain’s position as a historical and cultural production center.

Speaking for the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa said “ The year of celebrations of a much loved and ever giving and caring city has come to an end under the wise leadership of His Majesty”. H.E added “ Today, Muharraq city’s mission has been accomplished, presenting to the whole world an exceptional cultural infrastructure stereotype of cultural movement’s mechanisms”. H.E rejoined “ In a very short time, we will inaugurate the Pearling Path Visitor Center, successfully made possible thanks to the support and sponsorship of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, May God Protect Him”. H.E also added that Bahrain Culture Authority has carried out many bright cultural achievements during this year, promoting Bahrain as a culture hub, a bridge connecting between peoples and civilizations. H.E has pointed out that the Extraordinary Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, is aimed at encouraging countries to exchange universal and historical relations and strong ties between the Islamic countries and the rest of the world.

Inauguration of The Pearling Path Visitor's Center
Bahrain Culture Authority has planned a special event for this occasion to be held His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, May God Protect Him, in the presence of Ministers of Culture in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The closing ceremony will be held at the Pearling Path Visitor Center, which is located at the heart of Muharraq city, surrounded by historical commercial buildings and Amarat of the Old Suq. Pearling: Testimony of an Island Economy’s Visitor Center is located in Muharraq’s old Suq amid historical houses, encompassing designs and historical remains of two iconic buildings (Amarat Ali Rachid Fakhro), as well as other artifacts on site. The center also provides a public gathering space for local community and residents. Pearling Path Visitor Center targets a large portion of visitors and the public, a sort of community center engulfing spaces for exhibitions, children’s corners, commercial center as an interactive space, workshops, as well as an archive for pearling history, a library and facilities for conference holding. The center also hosts an pearls’ exhibition, showcasing a selection of
Shimmering Bahraini natural pearls, worldly known for its purity and brightness and are quite literally Bahrain’s national treasure. The selection of pearls, borrowed from Bahrain national Museum also include the most expensive 6 necklaces from Matar Jewelry House, keen to present the most glimmering rarest pearls available in the Golf region. The exhibition also showcases Cartier’s unique selection of natural Bahraini pearls, masterly designed and decorated. The Pearling Path Visitor Center is designed by Swiss world-famous architect Valerio Olgiati architects. Swiss architect Valerio Olgiati spoke at NIDA in Sydney, as a guest of the Australian Institute of Architects’ International Speaker Series, teaching at World’s top universities and a well-known a cult figure in architecture in Europe and America since the beginnings of the 20th century,
Bahrain National Theater Festive Events

Celebrations will then move to Manama city, whereby bells of peace and love will ring, fir the first time outside the USA at Bahrain National Theater, as part of the a joint-event by UNDP and the charity “Torch of Love and Peace” the event focused on the contributions of the Kingdom of Bahrain towards the consolidation of peace around the world and the role of youth in conflict reduction and peace.

Bahrain National Theater will also host the closing ceremony of the celebrations marking Muharraq as the Capital of Islamic Culture 2018, government’s official speeches and honoring ceremony. A special music concert, “Dreams of a Traveler – A Tale from Muharraq” will follow this, presenting award- winning international innovators. Artistic Director Jose Antonio Ruiz, Choreographer Patrick de Bana, and composer Jose Nieto join forces to tell the story of the protagonist Aziz’s journey as he searches for himself.

Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, Manama

The Extraordinary Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, will kick off on 29 November 2018 at Ritz Carlton Hotel. The meeting will be attended by Ministers of Culture in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states, as well as by directors of regional and international organizations. The meeting will discuss many recommendations and important cultural projects to be adopted by the general assembly, such as the “ Draft Action Programme on Promoting Islamic and International Support for the Preservation of Civilizational and Cultural Heritage in Al-Quds Al-Sharif”, and “Draft Manama Process on the Activation of Joint Islamic Cultural Action to face Extremism, Sectarianism and Terrorism”. The Conference will also issue the “Bahrain Declaration on Safeguarding Human Heritage and Facing Extremism”.

Worth to mention that the 9th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, which was held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman under the theme: "Towards a Middle Stance Culture Favouring Muslim Societies’ Development", has adopted in 2015, the nomination of Muharraq as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2018, given the richness of its historical and cultural assets and deeply-rooted universal human heritage, as well as its sustainable development components, reflecting its modernity and genuine endeavors.