15 October 2018
Bahrain Attends the 21st Session of the Conference of Ministers for Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, H.E Shaikha Mai : Culture is the most efficient tool to the region’s challenges
The Kingdom of Bahrain continues its strenuous efforts to attend Arab cultural events organized throughout the year. Thus, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities took part part in the 21st Session of the Conference of Ministers for Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, held in Egypt, on October 14 and 15. The conference coincided with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Egyptian Culture Ministry, and also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Cairo Opera House, the first in the Arab world and Africa.
The conference was held under the auspices of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in cooperation with the Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and shed light on “The Arab Cultural Project in the face of Current Challenges” as its main theme.
Speaking for the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa said “ We stress the importance of enhancing our cultural movement and infrastructure, given that culture is the best bright image that promotes the richness of our countries, so deeply-rooted in history and pride of their civilisations dating back to thousands of years”. H.E added “ Serious cultural initiatives transform our Arab countries into international historical and cultural production hubs”. BACA’s President pointed out that culture is the language of the world that facilitates communication with the outside world, as well as the most efficient tool to face the current challenges in the region. The Arab world has an exceptional culture icons and bright stars with desire to make the world a better place through culture all over the Arab world and beyond. H.E expressed her appreciation and thanks to the Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) for supporting Arab culture plans, extending her thanks to the Arab Republic of Egypt for the meticulous organization of this 21st Session of the Conference of Ministers for Cultural Affairs in the Arab World and its constant policy aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation between Arab countries. H.E also invited Arab Culture Ministers to attend the closing ceremony of Muharraq, Capital of Islamic Culture 2018, to be held next November, praising the wonderful work done by BACA through Knowledge Transfer Project, translating the greatest books and enlightenment publications into Arabic. H.E also shed lights on world heritage preservation, a mission entrusted to the UNESCO Arab World Heritage Center, based in Manama and Bahrain’s initiative adopted by UNESCO to celebrate Islamic Art Day.
The Arab cultural ministers will discuss the cultural situation in the Arab world, preparation for the Arab Cultural Summit, the cultural heritage in the Arab countries under the current circumstances, the latest developments in Palestine and al-Quds al-Sharif, and strategies for promoting the Arabic language and empowering it for the period 2018-2027. The participants also discussed matters related to the Arabic language, means and policies aimed at its empowerment and the possibilities available to develop common Arab cultural cooperation amid the challenges and world transformations. The meeting also discussed culture affairs in the Arab world and the recommendations of the Standing Committee for Arab Culture during its meeting in November 2017, in Casablanca, Morocco.
The meetings discussed cultural conditions in the Arab world, calling for the formulation of cultural programs , such as “ Culture Roles in Anchoring Arab Identity”, and activities that support cooperation among member states, implementing policies that define Arab cultures, intensifying cultural programs that address extremism and encourage the values of tolerance and dialogue. in addition, the two-day event discussed a number of issues, including current challenges Arab culture faces today, the role of establishing an Arab identity, means and mechanism toward the region’s cultural production, and to promote dialogue and communication with the world. It also aims to promote belonging, loyalty and pride in itself, and to create bridges to gather the tributaries of Arab culture in a clear national context. The conference also shed lights on intellectual projects designed to raise knowledge and invest in the Arab arts to conduct constructive cultural dialogue with the international community.
At the end of their meeting, Arab Ministers of Culture adopted the “ Cairo Declaration at end of their meeting, called for tackling international cultural challenges in order to protect the Arab Cultural Project” and called for the necessity to enhance "Cultural Information in the Arab World in the Light of Digital Development” plan. The meeting also issued a statement reading as follow “ We cannot safeguard the Arab historical and cultural identity against the western dominations without the factual production of countermeasures that set us from cultural globalized grips”. Arab countries, are therefore, obliged to set strategic cultural project that outlines clear visions and cuts with negatives stereotypes and backwards mentality, enhancing cooperation, dialogue and openness.
The final statement of the meeting recommended Arab countries to deploy strenuous efforts to implement a comprehensive culture reform by detecting the weakness of cultural productions accurately, enhancing the knowledge-based creative industries, which would contribute to the universal knowledge stream lines, while respecting each one’s cultural and historical exceptions and special character.
