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As part of its strong belief that culture can overcome geographical barriers, unite nations and bring human beings closer together, H.E Shaihka Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, received an invitation to visit France’s Centre Pompidou-Metz. The Minister of Culture was received by Centre Pompidou director Hélène Guenin and Paris-based Palais de Tokyo President Jean de Loisy on 1st July 2014. H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa was updated on the cultural role of the Palais de Tokyo, which was first inaugurated in 2010, commending its architectural design and prolific cultural activities. H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, also visited “Simple Shapes” exhibition, which brings to the fore our fascination with simple shapes, from prehistoric to the contemporary era. It reveals how the culmination of five centuries of simple shapes was decisive in the emergence of the Modern Age.

H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa praised the outstanding beauty of the Centre Pompidou-Metz, which is an art centre dedicated to modern and contemporary art, its detailed design and its gorgeous visual murals as well as the various cultural activities and events organized by the center. Indeed, Centre Pompidou-Metz public art includes a huge range of works from the fine, decorative, and plastic arts, to architecture and sculpture. It includes painting, stained glass, ceramics, mosaics, and tapestry, as well as numerous forms of contemporary art, such as earthworks, assemblage, installation art and performance. The Minister of Culture argued that Bahrain is seeking to bridge gaps by reaching out to the world through cultural pathways. H.E said, “ Culture is our discourse channel and humane message to the Other. Today, we have a choice; we can build our own future by creating better ways to come together. A beautiful world based on respect for cultural diversity, which is a prerequisite for dialogue, unity and entente”.

H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa stressed the importance of building cultural bridges with all countries around the world, particularly France, the beacon of beauty and culture. The Minister of Culture said,” We are trying to contact the world’s museums and arts centers because they epitomize and reflect the beauty and ways of thinking among cultures and civilizations of the globe. These centers will certainly enable us to overcome barriers and get together to innovate and create artistic manifestations common to humanity”. The Minister of Culture added, “ The Exhibition, which has attracted, in a short period of time, more than 1 million visitors since its opening will come to Bahrain and will meet with Bahrain’s ancient artifacts, which tell the story of a glorious country, deeply-rooted in history via its art center and main museums.”