Details of 11th Spring of Culture events unveiled

Details of the 11th Spring of Culture programmes were officially unveiled during a press conference held yesterday at Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fateh Fort in Riffa. 

Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Economic Development Board (EDB), and the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research and the participating art galleries (Al Bareh Art Gallery, Al Riwaq Art Space and La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art) unveiled the events. 

Speaking on the occasion, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of BACA, said, “The Spring of Culture once more affirms the role of culture as an effective tool to spread joy and facilitate constructive local and cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, which ultimately benefits and enriches all of humankind.’  

EDB Chief Executive Khalid Al Rumaihi said, “Over the years, the Spring of Culture has proven to be a benchmark for Bahrain’s rich culture and heritage, further strengthening the Kingdom’s tourism sector, which is a key sector for development at the EDB.”

The programme features an array of events and activities such as seminars, music concerts, theatrical productions, fine arts exhibitions, and more.

Exhibitions

The 42nd Bahrain Fine Arts Exhibition’s innovative creations of contemporary Bahraini artists and The Magnificent Maharajah Exhibition’s fabulous collection of traditional royal Indian costumes of Deepak and Diksha Hutheesing will be held until March 20 and April 15, respectively, at the Bahrain National Museum.

Memory of the Place - Bin Matar House will host Bahraini artist Waheeda Malullah’s exhibition entitled “Little Voice” will be held on February 28 and a photo exhibition documenting Bahrain on April 17. Al Bareh Art Gallery will host Rasmi Al Khafaji’s exhibition “Other Homelands” on March 1. “Identity Borders”, a group exhibition featuring the finalists of the 2015 artBahrain/The Nest Prize will be held on March 5 at Riwaq Art Space, and a solo exhibition by Ahmed Annan will be held on April 5 

 “Sleeping Cats” by Ebrahim Busaad will be held on March 16 at Busaad Art Gallery.

Jordanian artist Dr. Khalid Khreis will present his solo exhibition “Dialogue of the Dot” on March 24 at the Art Centre. Palestinian artist Bashar Alhroub’s exhibition “Nowhere” will be held on March 26.   

Music 

Music fans can enjoy an exceptional lineup of shows, starting with weekly shows of traditional songs sung by pearl divers and seafarers performed by Mohammed bin Faris Band every Thursday at the Mohammed bin Faris Hall.

The Centre will also host Japanese violinist Mika Nishimura on February 29 and Lebanese folklore music band TriOrient on March 28. Marking Arab Poetry Day on March 21, the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Centre for Culture and Research, in coordination with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation and the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, is set to host a symposium celebrating the poetry of Nizar Qabbani followed by a performance of his most famous works by Jahida Wehbe and Amani bin Tara.

On March 3, Turkish actor Halİt Ergenç will perform in a memorable music concert featuring the Cinema Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Serdar Yalçın at the Bahrain National Theatre.

The Cultural Hall will also host a series of musical concerts as part of the festival, starting on March 8 with a tribute to the music legacy of the late Lebanese diva Sabah performed by Rima Khcheich. This will be followed by the performance of young Egyptian singer and composer Mohamed Mohsen on March 24. On April 3, pioneering music band Tinariwen from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali will perform their singularly unique and original sound and melancholic tunes, dubbed “African Blues”. The hall will conclude its musical events on April 8 with a special concert and documentary screening honouring the Bahraini musician and composer Majeed Marhoon, a joint initiative by the Red Bull Music Academy and BACA in which the late artist’s compositions will be performed by the Bahrain Music Band, Hasan Hujairi, Esam “Cosmo” Hamad, and Henrik Shwarz.

The historic Arad Fort will serve as the backdrop for the performance of acclaimed American jazz singer Gregory Porter on March 5, followed on March 9 by the “Caesar of Arabic Music” Kadim Al Sahir. Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Seal will take the fort’s stage on March 24. Famous Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela will perform on March 31.

La Fontaine will also host a Fado concert by Liana on March 4 featuring renowned Portuguese singer performing the sultry music of her native country.  

The music scene in Bahrain will be enriched with the opening of Dar Al Muharraq, a project that will see the renovation and expansion of the existing Dar Jinaa in the old city of Muharraq to serve as a training and research centre for traditional folk music.

Performance arts

Caracalla Theatre kicks off the first of many entertaining theatrical productions with their whimsical Arabic heritage-inspired show Kan Ya Ma Kan on February 25 at the Bahrain National Theatre. The performance also commemorates the occasion of Arab Tourism Day. 

In conjunction, the Cultural Hall will host a lineup of distinguished shows, including the renowned Image Theatre on March 11 - 12 in a performance of black theatre, mime and modern dance based on the distinguished Czech tradition in this genre. 

On March 17 – 18, colloquial poet Salah Jaheen’s greatest work “El-Leila El-Kebira” will be performed in a new interpretation.  German production “Hotel Paradiso” will be played on March 27 – 28.  On April 19, the hall will host “Tafateef”, a theatrical production written by Bahraini writer Aqeel Siwar, directed by Ahmed Al Sayegh, and produced by BACA.

Choreographer Akram Khan will present his contemporary take on traditional Kathak dance on March 11 at Arad Fort. This will be followed on March 17 by a multi-cultural performance of Georges Bizet’s classic work Carmen. The daring feats of the award-winning circus show “Flown” will mesmerise the audience on April 7 – 9.

A number of family-friendly shows are also on the slate, including Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales on March 18 – 19 at the Alumni Club, featuring stories by Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. On April 8 – 9, the club will host Chaos in the Town, a Bahraini production, which teaches children kindness, cooperation, and friendship through a witty and fun play based on the books of the celebrated Arabic author Fatima Sharaffeddine from Lebanon.

Lectures and seminars

The Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research will host a number of lectures and seminars on various topics presented by leading intellectuals, thought leaders, and literary figures.  Anne Radiesse and Iris Love will share their insights on how beauty manifests itself in culture on March 14. 

On March 21, London-based Iraqi writer Khalid Kishtainy will discuss his native country’s heritage in his talk about the ancient civilization of Sumer and its budding democracy. On April 11, Palestinian writer Aisha Oude will talk about the power of writing and the role it plays in resistance and liberation. On April 18, Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazale will highlight the role of media in fighting terrorism. The lecture series will conclude on April 25.

Meanwhile, lovers of the spoken word will be treated to several poetry readings, including poets Badia Kashgari from Saudi Arabia on March 7 and Majida Dagher from Lebanon on April 4 at House of Poetry - Ebrahim Al-Arrayed. 

The Bahrain National Museum will host poet Gamal Bekheet on March 20, while the Art Centre will host a series of talks by prominent artists, including Abdul Karim Al Orayyed on March 2 and Marwa Rashid on April 6.  The 17th annual Bahrain International Book Fair will be open to the public from March 24 to April 3.

Famous Indonesian writer Andrea Hirata will host a signing at the La Fontaine of his best-selling novel The Rainbow Troops.

Pop-up theatre

All-new Spring of Culture free Pop-Up street shows will take place at different locations around the island, which includes The Yelling Kitchen Prince from March 3 - 5, Dancing Graffiti on March 10 and 12, Origami Story Teller from March 24 – 26, and storyteller Fatima Sharafeddine from April 10 - 11.

Cinema

Al Riwaq Art Space will host the Green Caravan Festival from March 17 - 18. On March 22, the Bahrain National Museum will host a special screening of the famous 1967 Egyptian film Qasr El-Shouq. Tickets for the shows will be sold at the festival kiosk located near gate 1 at Bahrain City Centre or online at www.springofculture.org 

For more information, call the festival hotline +973 39900630.