16 February 2015
H.E Shaikha Mai Receives a French Delegation
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammad Al- Khalifa, Bahrain Culture and Antiquities Authority (BCAA) President, received on Monday, 16th February 2015, the French ambassador to Bahrain, H.E Bernard Regnauld-Fabre, Dominique Philippe Chastres, Cultural Cooperation Counselor, and Dr. Michel Mouton director of the French Research Centre for Archaeology and Social Sciences in the Arabian Peninsula (CEFAS, Jeddah / Sanaa).
After welcoming the delegation led by the French ambassador, Shaikha Mai expressed her happiness for this high-level visit, stressing the strong relations between both countries in the cultural field. H.E Shaikha Mai underscored the key role played by France in boosting cultural exchange between both countries, thanking the French embassy for its role in further enhancing bilateral relations by supporting the youth and cultural momentum in Bahrain. Many French cultural events were organized during recent years; Bahrain National Museum celebrated a significant and exciting milestone in 2014—a quarter century of building communities and bringing people and ideas together through the annual Fine Arts Exhibition in December. Bahrain National Theatre hosted the most fantastic play, Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), which is one of Wolfgang Mozart’s most famous works, on the 5th & 7th of December 2014. ‘Sleepless Night in Manama’ in celebration of Bahrain National Museum’s 26th anniversary was also organized by the Ministry of Culture by launching the ‘Manama Nuit Blanche’ festival. ‘Manama Nuit Blanche’ was organized in collaboration with the French Embassy which showcased a music concert performed by a group of French musicians as well as a French photographic exhibition.
Bahrain National Museum also hosted a ‘Berber Women’ exhibition which is dedicated by Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Paris and pays homage to the richness of the Amazigh civilization and honors Berber women in their new exhibition, which will run until 15 April 2015. The exhibition displays the diverse and extraordinary beauty of Berber adornments.
The meeting also discussed ways of bolstering fruitful cultural cooperation between France and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bahrain-France’s relations are deeply-rooted in history and are based on mutual cooperation and promoting dialogue between East-West. Long decades of French archaeological expeditions and the constant presence of French experts, which includes Pierre Lombard, the Archaeology Counselor at the Ministry of Culture, testify to the fruitful relationships between both countries.
The new French ambassador, for his part, praised the kindness and hospitality of the Bahraini people, hailing the strenuous efforts deployed by the Bahrain Culture and Antiquities Authority (BCAA) President to develop culture and tourism in Bahrain. H.E Bernard Régnauld-Fabre, France’s ambassador to Bahrain, was briefed on major future cultural events and activities and stressed the importance of cooperation between both countries.
