Stage set in Bahrain for return of Spring of Culture Festival

TDT | Manama                                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

The Spring of Culture Festival is back for its 17th edition on February 14 at Bahrain National Theatre. It will feature some of the biggest cultural shows and activities from Bahrain, the Arab region, and around the world.

The festival agenda was announced yesterday at a press conference. Present were Information Minister Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Tourism Minister Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) President Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Al Dana Amphitheatre Chief Executive Officer Shane Chalmers.

Bahrain’s cultural Shaikh Khalifa said the festival aims to promote Bahrain as a center for cultural production as well as enrich global cultural exchange. “This year, we have made sure that the festival is part of the larger national vision to promote Bahrain as a center for cultural production and as a space in which all cultures from around the world can find their commons,” the BACA head said.

He emphasised that the Spring of Culture has developed a program full of events that celebrate literature, music, art, fine arts, theatre, and many others with the cooperation of all partners, including the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research, the Al Dana Amphitheatre, Al Riwaq Art Space, the Albareh Art Gallery, and Art Concept.

Shaikh Khalifa thanked the festival’s partners, contributors, and supporters for their ongoing support of Bahrain’s cultural endeavors. “We are delighted to be taking part in the 17th edition of the Spring of Culture Festival to further accelerate the artistic and cultural movement in the Kingdom,” Chalmers said.

“As a prominent entertainment destination in Bahrain, Al Dana Amphitheatre shares a unified vision with the Spring of Culture to drive tourism in the country with the aim of boosting the national economy.

The press conference featured a musical artistic performance by Egyptian artist Mahmoud Saeed and provided insight into the events that make up the Spring of Culture Festival 2023, which is hosted by cultural institutions, historical sites, and urban landmarks across the Kingdom.

The Bahrain Economic Development Board is the 17th Spring of Culture Festival’s strategic sponsor; Tamkeen is the gold sponsor; and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) and the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait are silver sponsors. Several embassies in Bahrain, including those of Italy, the US, India, Japan, and France, also contribute to the festival’s agenda.