H.E. Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture, President of the Board of Trustees of of Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research said in a press conference held at the Centre to announce the details of the Festival:
“What distinguishes the Festival this year is that it coincides with the glowing brilliance of Manama as the Capital of Arab Culture, a regional and international achievement which reflects the recognition of the enlightening cultural role the Kingdom played throughout history; a role it effectively maintains to the present day. The continuity of the Spring of Culture Festival which has become an annual event, could not have been accomplished, were it not for the combined efforts of all private and public sector stakeholders, transforming it to an achievement as grand as the Kingdom of Bahrain and its aspirations. The objective is to promote Bahrain in all arenas, and to entertain Bahraini citizens who deserve to enjoy the creative and renewed variety of the yearly Spring of Culture programs, catering to all tastes and interests.
On the Economic Development Board’s (EDB) support, H.E. Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, EDB’s Chief Executive, said:
“When one looks at the history of the Spring of Culture Festival, since it was first organized in 2006 to this year’s Festival, it can be realized that the Festival has become a comprehensive multi-dimensional cultural, artistic and educational demonstration. The Spring of Culture has its fans and audience, and the Festival has its students and graduates. This is reflected in the Festival’s rich programme which gives utmost attention to various segments and tastes, and promotes global inter-cultural communication. It also develops and polishes young Bahraini talent on the road to professionalism, to represent Bahrain in international events. Such a comprehensive programme could not have been achieved without the fruitful partnership between the EDB, Ministry of Culture, cultural centers and art galleries, foremost among which is Sheikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Culture and Research Centre and other entities who have contributed with assiduity and devotion to the continued success of the Festival”.
Music and song lovers and romantic evening fans will have the opportunity to enjoy two evenings at Arad Fort by Latin music legend, first time visitor of Bahrain, Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, famous for his immortal songs and top ten albums. Manama Capital of Culture, will be celebrated by legendary opera singer Andrea Bocelli, at the Bahrain National Museum stage dedicated for these celebrations. “Osiris”, the first “Progressive Rock” band in the Middle East, including Bahraini musicians, will showcase its dazzling skills at Arad Fort, in a combination of symphonic and rock music, in addition to using traditional Bahraini musical instruments.
This year’s festival will see the return of international star and Grammy award-winner Angelique Kidjo to Festival fans to celebrate an evening at Arad Fort, following her very successful contribution during the 4th Spring of Culture Festival in 2009. Nigerian soul pop singer Asa join Angelique on the same evening to tickle the senses and will represent a strong female vocal presence this year along with Ghada Ghanem, Eman Homsy, Suzana Baca and Souad Massi.
Musical fans will quench their thirst for awesome performance arts at Arad Fort with the Korean musical “Princess Bari”, which embodies symphonic art mixing dance, music and language in beautiful coordination and balance to give Festival audience a show full of color, unique humor and renewed vitality. It tells the story of a princess who was abandoned by her father, the King. When she reaches the age of sixteen, she goes on a quest searching for her roots. Audience will also enjoy Japanese drums and Japanese bamboo flute music in a Taiko Legend show at the Cultural Hall by internationally renowned Japanese artist Eitetsu Hayashi on one of the first of his tours and shows in the Middle East. The Cultural Hall will also host the Greatest Street show from Egypt, Shaolin Temple show from China, and Jody Sperling and her enchanting dance.
This year’s Festival will present to the intellectual and political lectures audience a number of seminars, mainly a lecture on “The Pros and Cons of Arab Spring”, by leading Egyptian diplomat, politician and writer Dr. Mostafa Al-Fiqi, the current Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee at the Egyptian Parliament. The lecture will be held at Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa  Centre for Culture and Research Another lecture titled “Is Arab Media capable of reaching or building the truth?” by playwright and journalist Ibrahim Jaber Ibrahim, to be held at Abdullah Al Zayed House. Ibrahim has a long track record in all fields of journalism since the 1980s, and was awarded the Palestine Journalism and Media Studies Award in 2011.
Poetry lovers will enjoy this year’s Festival programme, with famous Palestinian poet Samih AlQassim, at the House of Poetry. AlQassim is one of the best Palestinian poets. He is also editor-in-chief of Kul Al Arab Palestinian Newspaper. Bin Mattar House will also host an exhibition in memory of renowned late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, where the poems of the late poet will be read in his own voice using state of the art interactive technology.
This year’s Festival programme also includes a number of art shows which truly cater to art gallery lovers and fans, including the “Diversity” exhibition organized by Albareh Art Gallery, showcasing artworks of a group of Arab artists which vary in their form, techniques and materials used. Artworks will also include a mixture of painting, photography and sculpture. Block 338 dwellers at Adliya will find it transformed during the Festival to a vibrant oasis with art, music, movie shows and numerous workshops organized by Alriwaq Art Space, in addition to “I am the Other” exhibition. The Festival will also see the opening of “Nuzul” in Muharraq, a project carried out with a contribution from Kuwait Finance House. It is one of the projects set up by Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research to rehabilitate and restore traditional Bahraini houses and heritage sites at Block 209 in Muharraq.
Children and youth in the family will enjoy exciting international shows with “Top Dogs” at Arad Fort, boasting over 11 million viewers in over 15 years and in more than 37 countries around the world, winning 11 international awards. It is a creative mix of musical shows, rock music and beautiful art forms erected at the site where the show will be presented.
Acrobatic dance and “Hip Hop” lovers will have an evening at Arad Fort with the “Tom-Tom Crew” from Australia, a vibrant show combining body and music with drums beating to present athletic skills and contemporary art. The show won the admiration of audiences in Europe, the United States and Canada.
Families and children will joyfully enjoy Grammy Award-winning “Dan Zanes and Friends” band at Arad Fort, who had successfully participated in Spring of Culture Festival 2009; in addition to the Kennedy Center’s “Knuffle Bunny: a Cautionary Musical” at Arad Fort, based on the internationally acclaimed children’s novel the show will bring laughter and joy to everyone; and the Italian show “Play - Please” to be organized at the Alumni Club, using photographic technology to add a joyful atmosphere, allowing everyone to contribute their skills in a mixture of music, motion and color. The Art Centre will host a muppet show from the United States titled “Walls and Bridges: The Muppet Show with Karen Conrath” featuring folk tales from all over the world.
Those who want to learn and gain new artistic and creative skills are invited to the educational workshops as part of the Festival’s rich educational program, organized by bands participating in the Festival, namely Kuffle Bunny, Dan Zanes and Friends, Tom-Tom Crew, Top Dogs and Jody Sperling. Those who wish to participate in the educational workshops are required to make reservations in advance by calling the  education  program’s hotline 39999521. Seats are limited.
As part of the Festival’s social responsibility program, participating bands Dan Zanes and Friends and Play- Please will present a number of additional shows for child care associations.
The Spring of Culture Festival continues to promote environmental awareness. All brochures were printed using a special user-friendly paper with reduced quantities, and relying on alternative publishing media such as the Internet. The Festival’s website ww.springofculture.org serves as the main source of up-to-date and detailed information on all events.
The Festival is organized by the Economic Development Board in collaboration with Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research, Ministry of Culture, Albareh Art Gallery and Alriwaq Art Space.
Seat-numbered tickets will be used for some of Arad Fort events. Tickets will be sold in the West Wing of Seef Mall. Tickets for Umm Kulthum and Andrea Bocelli events which will be held at the Bahrain National Museum stage, will be sold at Virgin Megastore and Virginmegastore.me.
For more information on tickets and events, please call the Festival’s hotline 39900630.
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