Bahrain beacon of culture and global thought: France’s former culture minister

BNA | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The president of the Arab World Institute in Paris has lauded the outstanding role of the Shaikh Ibrahim Center as a distinguished cultural beacon in the Arab world.

Jack Lang also praised the remarkable initiatives undertaken by the Culture and Antiquities Authority (BACA) President Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa to broaden the concepts of culture in the Arab world and to build bridges with other cultures across the world.

Lang, France’s Minister of Culture from 1981 to 1986 and again from 1988 to 1993, pointed out that the Center’s constant activities over two decades is evidence of the high status it has achieved as a cultural beacon.

“Because of the pandemic conditions, I was not able to attend the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Shaikh Ibrahim Center, and I would like to celebrate with all enthusiasts the two decades since the establishment of this edifice, which is a cultural beacon not only within the Gulf region, but also in the Arab world,” he told Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

Shaikha Mai has built bridges with different cultures and civilizations that today characterize Bahrain as a cultural beacon that is positively distinct from other countries, he added.

"We look forward to the next stage feature new cultural projects that contribute to extending more intellectual bridges between the Arab and Western world and between Bahrain and all countries of the world, as Bahrain today plays a pivotal role in introducing the world to the Middle Eastern culture and intellectual heritage,” he said.

He stressed that all intellectual and cultural institutions support the exchange of programs in a way that contributes to builds more bridges of cultural and intellectual communication and enhances understanding of the other through cultural events, activities and evenings that highlight the historical, intellectual and cultural heritage of peoples.