26 November 2020
Director General of Culture and Arts Participates in a Virtual Webinar on "The Contribution of Islamic Art to Building Islamic Civilization and Spreading the Values of Peace" along with Regional and International Organizations
Her Excellency Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director General of Culture and Arts at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, participated in webinar panel international symposium under the slogan "The Contribution of Islamic Art to Building Islamic Civilization and Spreading the Values of Peace" organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) via Zoom, on Wednesday the 25th of November, 2020. The webinar was attended by a number of regional and international organizations, experts, researchers and directors of institutions concerned with the valuation of Islamic art across the world, aiming at the exchange of successful experiences in underlining the importance of artistic cultural property and masterpieces of Islamic art, as well as highlighting the importance of this art in building human civilization and its pivotal role in promoting values of peace and coexistence.
The symposium reflects the new visionary strategy and tendency of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) aimed at shedding lights on the historical, universal and Islamic heritage of the Muslim world, in line with UNESCO’s approval and adoption of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s proposal to dedicate 18th November of every year as an International day of Islamic Art in 2019.
Her Excellency Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, argued in her intervention that the true value of different forms of arts, lies in the fact that, despite their diversity and sources of inspiration, they speak one unique global language Indeed, arts capable, given the momentums and their volumes, to widen their horizons and challenge the limited geographic constraints, in order to give an integrated brighter picture peoples and countries within their boundaries. H.E added arguing that arts cannot be separated from national values filled with much feelings of love, beauty and peace, and wondered how many countries have their images and aspects being depicted and formulated through works of art, such as novels, paintings, or musical pieces?. Therefore, there is no doubt that art carries the personal touch of any people in the beauty of their architecture, wall decorations and engraving of the buildings, which would lead to the disappearance of the social and cultural differences between peoples. Humanity accomplishes its greatest creativity deeds when love is in air, when there magnificent beauty output married with peace and coexistence.
Her Excellency explained that while the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities decided to postpone the activities and events celebrating the Islamic Art Day, planned to be held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, given health precautionary measures warnings regarding the Corona virus pandemic, Bahrain Culture Authority insisted to carry out the activities to celebrate this day. Indeed, the first events kicked off on November 25th, through many events that tried to speak to the whole world, regardless of its diversity, with in the different languages of Islamic art, including Arabic calligraphy, authentic music and cinema. BAGA’s goal is to display and let everyone explore the beauty of Islamic arts and the depth of their connection with our cultural heritage, the features of our cultural production and all the features of public life. H.E pointed out that added that the celebration program includes a discussion panel by experts in the field of Islamic arts, murals inspired by Islamic art, an exhibition titled "Arts from the Islamic World" and the exhibition " Al-Fadil Mosque Minaret", a virtual webinar artistic dialogue on Islamic art, and the screening of the film "Islamic Art, Mirrors of the Hidden World" And the movie "Traces of the Soul" in addition to the cuisine of the ancient Islamic world.
