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The curtain has fallen on “ Culture & Diplomacy” conference on 21 October 2019 at the National Theater after two successive days of session discussions. The conference was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) and the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Diplomatic Academy. Experts in cultural diplomacy from Bahrain and GCC countries, students at the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Diplomatic Academy and media figures and personalities also attended the conference.

The first session of 2nd day of the conference highlighted the different aspects of cultural soft power and how countries plan strategies to transfer their cultures and enhance their international supremacy, given that foreign cultural policy in industrial countries as well as in emerging countries has become a central part of foreign policy. Speakers at this session included Bahraini poet, Mr. Hassan Kamal, Member of the Board of Trustees of Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture & Research, His Excellency Dr. Waleed Al-Rifai, International Relations Advisor at the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) and Dr. Safa Al-Alawi, President of Media & Public Relations at Bahrain’ Writers Association. The session was moderated by Mr. Ahmad Al-Turaifi, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry.

During his intervention, Mr. Hassan Kamal highlighted the important role of soft power in attracting broad masses through the particular ideas, values and traditions of a country. Kamal pointed out that countries around the world seek to attract the masses to invest their abilities and energies through soft powers, mainly arts, literature, music, theater, cinema and others, stressing that youth have the energies to promote their countries. Media is the best way to activate the influence of soft power, to spread the values, and ideas, and promote the possibilities and capabilities of the countries, Mr. Kamal added.  Arabic language is most creative and efficient communication tool to channel any discourse or dialogue between younger generations and the decisions – makers with regard to promoting soft powers in diplomatic channels, he concluded.  

Dr. Waleed Al-Rifai, for his part, said that the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Diplomatic Academy supports the Kingdom's efforts in activating the means of soft power, arguing that the soft powers are divided into  general principles and methods. These principles are related to the natural elements, geography, heritage, culture and people, while the practices and methods are intrinsically connected with individuals and institutions, contributing, when combined harmoniously and with wisdom, to  the cultural  positive message to the public at large.  Dr. Waleed Al-Rifai noted that the meeting of the World Heritage Committee, held its 42nd Meeting in Bahrain last year, constituted a global message and reflected the cultural and civilizational elements that Bahrain is proud to offer to the whole world.  

Dr. Safa Al-Alawi, commenting on the potential capabilities and  perspectives of the Bahrain writer amid the current technological developments, said that the writer and the reader in the Kingdom of Bahrain are confronted with two challenges; the increasing constant technological advances that have resulted in a drastic change in books’ production and acquirement, and secondly, the e-content competition with the published literature. Dr. Al-Alawi has reiterated the importance of cultural events, literary forums and book fairs for the Bahraini intellectual, given that these exhibitions and shows have become the main cultural active manifestations, in addition to the other events, such as poetry evenings, forums and book signing festivities.

The second session shed lights also on arts and music and diplomacy as the panel discussed the diverse and potential links between various sides directions. The panel discussion was attended by Major General Dr. Mubarek Najm, Maestro/Composer and The General Director of Bahrain Police Band, Dr. Naser Al Balooshi, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Italy, Mrs. Balqees Fakhro, one of the most distinguished abstract painters from the Gulf region. Mrs. Farah Matar, Arts & Culture Directorate at BACA moderated the session discussion.

Dr. Naser Al Balooshi said that soft powers have a great impact on the movement of societies, pointing out that arts and music are important as they can carry numerous ideas and views in their creative formations. Dr. Al Balooshi noted that music has been used throughout the ages to guide societies and has a great role in expressing the policies of states and the way they view their relations with other countries.

Dr. Mubarak Najem, for his part, highlighted  the importance of music and being a big part of the soft power, given that music is an ambassador for cultures and peoples and an important element in facilitating civilizational dialogues and international relations. Dr. Najim, believing that sometimes  music can defuse conflicts that conventional diplomacy cannot, said that any song is made of three elements; the words, music composition and the performance, adding that there no nation on earth that has not its recognized national anthem, which is a kind of a song somehow. Commenting on the language of the song writing, Dr. Najim said that performed songs are essential to language survival and preservation for the next generations, and many poets have become famous only through uniquely performed music songs. Dr. Najim finally addressed his speech to the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Diplomatic Academy students, inviting them to delve into magic world of arts and music of other civilizations band cultures to enhance the best representation of the Kingdom of Bahrain and reflect its bright image.  
 
Bahraini artist Balqees Fakhro shed lights on the history of art since cave paintings until the 20th century, referring to the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso who painted a mural depicting the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by the German air force in 1937 during Spanish Civil War, depicting the victims of war, such as suffering women, children, and a horse. Fakhro said that this painting is perhaps the greatest painting about war ever made as it focuses on the victims and is timeless and universal in its themes. The artist added that a new art movement was born after Picasso with entire series of paintings to depict the different universal human issues and noble causes in their respective countries and around the world, confirming that there is almost no art international exhibition today that does not embarrass or showcase expressive artwork dealing with humanitarian causes. Bahraini artist Balqees Fakhro expressed the need to enhance and support, whether private or public policies art movement through inviting and  hosting many worldwide artists, officially dispatching local art delegations to countries that have different art experiences and organizing art exhibitions for artists to showcase their masterpieces. 

The conference 1st day panel discussions shed lights on many issues related to “ Culture & Diplomacy” and was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister. H.E  Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) and Dr Mounir Bouchenaki, Bahrain Culture Authority’s Counselor for World Heritage. H.E Dr Shaikha Muneera bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Executive Director of the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Diplomatic Academy moderated the discussion panel. In its 2nd session, the conference shed lights on the importance of means and ways of effective cultural communication through diplomacy, whereby H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General of Culture and Arts at the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, Her Excellency Hend Al Otaiba, Director of Strategic Communications at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation,, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad Al-Tuyan, Director General of New Communication and Media Center, Saudi Foreign Minister. The  panel session was moderated by H.E Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, Director of Museums Directorate at Bahrain Culture Authority. 

Needless to say that this event highlighted many important parts of the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its impact as soft powers on Bahraini cultural diplomacy, stressing, at the same time, the importance on cooperation between Bahrain Culture Authority and the Academy. The forum will also discuss a number of other topics, such as culture and international relations, cultural soft power, arts, music and diplomacy, and how to communicate power  diplomacy.

Worth to mention that culture is part and parcel of national identity and is a vital national interest, reflected generally through diplomacy, making culture and diplomacy two identical subject matters,  necessary for the successful  implementation of close  international relations between countries on this background. There is no doubt that the Kingdom of Bahrain has a rich cultural  assets and  potential  resources, enhancing its regional and international valuable position.