21 January 2015
Program of Bahrain’s Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 Draws Hundreds of Volunteers’ Requests
Following Bahrain’s Ministry of Culture decision to participate in the Expo Milan 2015 for the first time, hundreds of enquiries and applications have been received from prospective Bahrain-based candidates in response to a call for volunteers for the Bahrain pavilion.
Almost all applicants reflected on the importance of heritage and environmental depiction of Bahrain as a tourism attraction. “Depicting the cultural agrarian heritage of the country in a poetic, artistic and naturalistic manner is very close to my heart as it feeds on my fascination for the mystical charm of the Dilmun civilization. I feel it is my humble duty to help uphold age-old riches and present them as presently evolving potentials,” wrote one applicant. Taking place between May 1 and October 31, over 20 million visitors from around the world are expected to visit the Expo in Milan. As a result, volunteers are required to help represent Bahrain to world visitors and participants in Italy, a statement said.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Bahrain Pavilion Commissioner General, said, “We’re immensely pleased by the responses received thus far. Our volunteer program is very much in line with our mandate to develop sustainable tourism through cultural tourism and environmental tourism practices. Only by maintaining a dialogue that promotes international understanding, protecting our heritage and helping to create job opportunities can we contribute to national economic and social development,” H.E Shaikha Mai commented.
As spokespersons and representatives of Bahrain in Milan stated that volunteers must be dedicated culture enthusiasts with fluency in English as well as good presentation skills. Alongside the Bahrain Pavilion staff, they will be expected to guide visitors around the gardens and archaeological exhibition, providing information about the country’s history, heritage and the pavilion objectives. Indeed, the work experience programme launched by the Ministry of Culture last year was established to attract the interest of parties keen to enhance their skills and experience international dialogue, cultural exchange and hospitality. Volunteers who are accepted into the programme will receive a short induction to the Expo and Bahrain’s participation.
‘Archaeologies of Green’ was designed by Dutch architect Anne Holtrop in collaboration with the landscape architect Anouk Vogel and is the first pavilion whose construction has been completed amongst 50 other national pavilions from around the world.
Culture will be strongly present in the Pavilion by representing a series of fruit gardens in a continuous landscape that is designed as a poetic interpretation of the agrarian cultural heritage of the country. The gardens each contain a dominant fruit tree that is native to Bahrain and are intersected by a series of closed spaces that contain in turn a reception area, exhibition spaces and a café serving local Bahraini food. In addition a section focusing on artefacts from the ancient Dilmun civilization, which is believed to have centered on Bahrain will be showcased. 30-60 seconds movies will be shot to give visitors an overview of the Bahraini cinema producers’ Milano Expo 2015 inspirational ideas.
Themed "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," the Expo Milano 2015, which a non-profit commercial worldwide exhibition, revolves around nutrition and sustainability, highlights the importance of protecting the planet’s natural resources. The various national pavilions shed light on the diverse cultural characters of countries around the world, allowing visitors to sample traditional foods and learn more about the cultural attributes and agrarian heritages of different nations. Expo Milano 2015 will be an arena for discussion about the problems of nutrition and the resources of our planet with the scope to open up a dialogue between international players to exchange views and propose solutions to these major challenges. From all over the world, entrepreneurs, researchers, experts, chefs and artists will take part in an extraordinary and unique exposition, packed with shows, events, conferences and meetings. Expo Milano 2015 will be the first exposition in history aimed at contributing towards education on food and the planet’s precious resources.
Open from May 1 to October 31 with 184 days of events, the Expo 2015 will host 144 countries and 3 international organizations in an area covering one million square meters to accommodate over 20 million expected visitors.
