20 March 2022
His Highness Prince Amyn Aga Khan Tours Bahrain Cultural Landmarks and Lauds Greatest Achievements during the last two-day visit
His Highness Prince Amyn Muhammad Aga Khan paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain on 18 and 19 Mach, 2022. H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al- Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, received His Highness and welcomed her guest, briefing him on the most important cultural and civilizational achievements while touring key landmarks and famous cultural venues in the cities of Manama and Al- Muharraq.
H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa expressed her happiness at the visit of His Highness Prince Amin Aga Khan, stressing the importance of cooperation between culture in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Aga Khan Foundation, noting the most prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture, awarded to the city of Muharraq in 2019. Indeed, the Kingdom of Bahrain is represented in this renowned Award as member of the Aga Khan Award Steering Committee. H.E Shaikha Mai briefed His Highness Prince Amyn Muhammad Aga Khan on the details of the cultural movement and the achievements made by the Kingdom in the field of sustainable development and the development of cultural infrastructure aimed at upgrading the local community and attracting quality cultural tourism.
His Highness Prince Amyn Muhammad Aga Khan visited a number of cultural landmark sites and monumental venues, starting with the Bahrain National Theatre, and was acquainted with its role in promoting vivid cultural movement since its founding in 2012 as one of the most pioneering successful “Invest in Culture” projects. Indeed, it is one of the cultural symbols of Bahrain, a marvelous cultural realization, which was achieved thanks to the generous support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Bahrain, May God Protect Him. His Highness also visited Bab Al Bahrain area in Manama, where he was briefed on the site and its surrounding important sites that add a high value to the status of the city of Manama as a civilizational and cultural center in the region.
His highness Prince Amyn Khan’s tour also included a visit to the Bahrain National Museum, during which he was briefed on the museum's role in preserving and displaying many artifacts and permanent acquisitions and collections, reflecting the deeply-rooted history of Bahrain’s civilization that dates back to the era of the Dilmun civilization more than four thousand years ago. His Highness also visited a number of cultural and historical venues in the city of Muharraq, starting with the Abu Maher Fort and the Information Center, as well as Pealing Path Visitor Center, a site registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Shaikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research, where His Highness was briefed about the importance of civil cultural action work in the kingdom.
At the end of his s visit, His Highness Prince Amyn Aga Khan attended the Aga Khan Master Musicians Concert held at the Cultural Hall, as well as H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, and a full-house audience. Produced in collaboration with the Aga Khan Music Program, the concert featured five talented artists who took the audience on a musical journey inspired by their deep roots in the cultures of the Middle East, the Mediterranean region, Central Asian and artistically showed unique exceptional music sweet rhythms, as a lingua franca, can unite us all.
In addition, His Highness attended a lecture on "Intercultural Dialogue Through the Arts” by Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, Director and CEO of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, which was hosted by the Bahrain National Museum. In her lecture, Dr. Ulrike introduced the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto – Canada, and its innovative ways of using art objects from the Muslim world as catalysts for intercultural education, dialogue, and peace making. In addition, she also shed light on the Aga Khan Museum and its innovative ways of using art pieces from the Islamic world. As a means of education and intercultural dialogue and as a tool for peacemaking. Dr. Al-Khamis said that the museum was opened in 2014 at Toronto in Canada; the Aga Khan Museum is home to over 1,200 masterpieces showcasing the arts of Muslim civilizations from the Iberian Peninsula to China. Its dynamic collection of manuscripts, scientific instruments, paintings, ceramics, and metalwork continues to evolve through new acquisitions. Through education, research, and collaboration, the Museum fosters dialogue and promote tolerance and mutual understanding among people noting that it serves the North American region. As a vibrant educational institution, the Museum encourages the full spectrum of public engagement with its diverse permanent collection and its ever-changing roster of exhibitions and innovative programs – including music and dance performances, theatre, lectures, workshops, and film screenings. Dr. Ulrike explained that his pieces reflect the meeting of cultures and civilizations and belong to countries from Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Syria and others, and in addition to its permanent collection, the museum hosts from time to time temporary exhibitions.
