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‏Bahrain National Museum hosted on Sunday 9 September 2018, a book launch ceremony, namely “Assilah - 40 Years”, produced by the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities in celebration of creative and the artistic participation of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Assilah International Cultural Festival during 40 Years. The ceremony was attended by H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General of Culture and Arts, and a number of artists who participated in Assilah Moussem and lovers of culture in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said “ We are happy to launch “Assilah - 40 Years” book , the result of a creative idea shared by H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, and H.E Mohamed Benaïssa, former Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs & Secretary General of the Assilah Forum Foundation”. H.E has pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain planned to have an exceptional presence during the 40th anniversary of Assilah forum, documenting this in a book that “ caries a message of peace and love, an art and culture bridge connecting Moroccan artists with their Bahraini counterparts and testify to the creative Bahraini presence in the Moroccan cultural scene”. H.E thanked photographer Mohammad Hassan for his efforts to document this participation for many years, extending her thanks to City Neon Company for its contribution to the publication of this book. H.E expressed her sincere wishes for continuous fruitful and effective Bahraini participation in the Arab and universal cultural events.

The book "Assilah - 40 Years", published in three languages, Arabic, English and French, documents Bahraini artists' participation in the festival through testimonials and photographs shared by the artists, in celebration of 40 years since the beginning of The International Cultural Moussem of Assilah. Assilah, a small fortified coastal fishing village in Northern Morocco is renowned for becoming an important cultural hub for the region and the Arab world at large. The International Cultural Moussem of Assilah is a summer festival that invites every year artists to paint murals on the medina’s white-washed walls. Bahrain and Bahraini artists established strong ties with Assilah from the festival’s inception where the artists’ experiences have touched, influenced or shaped their artistic careers. The book titled “Assilah – 40 years” produced by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is a tribute to Assilah, the vibrant open-air museum through the words and works of those Bahraini artists who have participated in the festival throughout its 40 years.

Worth to mention that Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities kicked off its first cultural events on 9 July 2018, presenting an exhibition “Four-by-Four: Art From the Kingdom of Bahrain” a book launch ceremony Assilah – 40 years” was also held to shed light on 40 years of Bahraini participation in Assilah at the Centre Hassan II des Rencontres Internationales. H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities and H.E Mohamed Benaissa, former Moroccan Foreign Minister Secretary-General and Founder of the Asilah Forum Foundation attended the ceremony, as well as artists, culture figures and lovers of Arab and Bahraini cultural encounters and journalists.