05 December 2021
Bahrain Culture Authority National Day Celebrations’ Program, Throughout December and diverse cultural events on the menu
Throughout the current month of December, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities has prepared a diversify festive program to celebrate National Day biggest events, starting with commemorating the establishment of the modern Bahraini state as an Arab and Muslim country founded by Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783, the anniversary of its full membership of the UN, and the anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad’s accession to the throne. In addition, Bahrain Culture Authority will also ecelebarte the 33rd Anniversary of Bahrain National Museum, presenting an array of a month-long cultural events featuring art exhibitions and crafts, workshops and seminars for all social categories and ages, highlighting Bahrain´s heritage to mark National Day.
December events include a number of exhibitions, starting with “Intersections II: Highlights from the Islamic collections of the Bahrain National Museum”. Indeed, on the International Day of Islamic Art on November 18, the Bahrain National Museum organizes a pop-up exhibition in its permanent exhibition Halls. ‘Intersections II’, an iteration of a previous exhibition held at the museum in 2017, complements the permanent displays in the Manuscripts, Tylos and Islamic Halls with new highlights from the museum’s permanent collections. The magnificent joint exhibition “An Oasis in the Desert of My Soul”, which will run until 10 December, by Bahraini poet Dina Bseisu and Tunisian-Swiss calligrapher Abderrazak Hamouda, combines a selection of moving poems and majestic calligraphy visuals. It provides a window into the beauty of this living art form through poetic imagery. The breathtaking flow of Dina’s colored ink comes together with the splendor of the verses in a harmonious passionate dance. On 12 December 2021, the Art Center will host an exhibition opening “Life under Water”, a creative competitive educational art contest organized by Rifaa Views International School of Art in 2021, shedding light on the UN Sustainable Development Goal No 14. On December 15, the second edition of the “Lines of Light II” exhibition will be inaugurated at the Art Center, which is a group exhibition featuring artworks of seven members of the Bahrain Women Printmakers Bahraini female artists for engraving and printing. The exhibition comes in its second edition in cooperation with Art Concept after the success of the first edition in 2019.
In order to enhance artistic work in the Kingdom, the Culture Authority will present during the month of December artistic activities, such as the discussion session presented by the artist Rawan Al Hosani at the Bahrain National Museum entitled “The Journey of 3D Animation” on December 6, 2021 whereby the artist reviews her experience working on 4 different films that have achieved widespread, including the movie Scooby-Doo for the year 2020. On December 11, the public will have a date with the "Resin" art workshop at the Arts Center to celebrate Bahrain National Day in cooperation with Resin Master. Pre-registration is required to attend this workshop. The trainer Hussain Asbool will present this workshop to introduce the participants to the different types of epoxy resin, and then participate in creating an artwork in the form of a map of Bahrain using resin, wood and gold leaf.
Coinciding with the national holidays of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities will organize a book launch on December 9 at the library of the Bahrain National Museum. The book entitled “Poker in the Cash Balance” by Dr. Mai Yousif Al Sada and Mr. Rasool Darwish., a collection of critical studies on the novels that won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction between 2008 and 202. On December 13, two books by the thinker Dr. Muhammad Jaber Al-Ansari will be launched, namely the book "Boxers Were Muslims? A Research Theory in Non-Muslim Phenomena of Terrorism" and the book "The Gulf, Iran, Arabs: A Gulf Perspective".
In celebration of the 33rd Anniversary of the Bahrain National Museum, which falls on December 15, the annual “Manama Never Sleeps” event returns to celebrate this occasion during the National Day festive events, offering a 12-hour continuous cultural activity involving music, arts, culture and literary encounters between the Bahrain National Museum and the Cultural Hall. On 16 December 2021, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities will inaugurate the “Made in Bahrain” store in Al Baraha Market in Diyar Al Muharraq, the third store of “Made in Bahrain” brand re-imagining and creating the visual and functional identity of the products of handicrafts and traditional industries to be an extended cultural expression. On 17 December, which falls on Martyr's Day, artist Hala Muhammad Al-Khalifa will present a creative workshop for children inspired by the Razji flowers and their symbolism as a source of hope at the Art Center.
On 18 December, the celebration of the International Day of the Arabic Language will be marked this year with its slogan "Arabic Language and Civilizational Communication", an annual event held in cooperation with the Arab regional Center for World Heritage. During this day, lights will be shed on “ Knowledge Transfer Project,” which comes as part of UNESCO vision to highlight the Arabic language as a carrier of knowledge and a tool for civilized communication.
December 2021, will also witness the launch of the Al-Khalifiyah Mobile Library, coinciding with the National Day celebrations, whereby one of the oldest public libraries in Bahrain and the first public library in Muharraq in the heart of the old city, will tour and move around from its location to all parts of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to spread reading culture and reaching a wider segment of society. The program of the mobile library locations and times will be published via the Culture Authority’ social media channels. In addition, December of this year will feature also the inauguration by the Culture Authority of the winning award design of “A Dench in Muharraq” competition.
Bahrain Culture Authority, in order to assure your safety and healthful conditions for others, and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, would like to kindly request all participants in these events to observe the following precautionary measures, when taking part in any of National Day festive events; constantly use sanitizer and disinfecting materials available and maintain a distance of 2m social distancing range. Entry to indoor events will be restricted to individuals, who are fully vaccinated and to those who have have recovered from COVID-19. Proof of both must be provided by presenting the green shield via the “BeAware” application.
For more information on the National Day festive events and activities, please visit the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities’ website www.culture.gov.bh or follow the Culture Authority’s accounts on the social media @culturebah.
