Making a difference for world heritage

Manama

 Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) President Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa who has become the first Arab personality to win the Watch Award, will be honoured on October 21 in a function to be held in New York City. 

New York-based World Monuments Fund (WMF) has chosen Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa as winner of the 2015 award edition  in recognition of her  dedicated work to conserve human heritage.  Shaikha Mai will receive the award at a function to be held in connection with the 50th anniversary of World Monuments Fund at Cipriani 42nd Street New York. 

At the function, WMF will also be honouring 2015 Hadrian Award winner Queen Sofía of Spain, a champion of Spain’s cultural heritage.  Every year, World Monuments Fund honours accomplished individuals with the Hadrian Award and the Watch Award. Both awards are presented during the annual Hadrian Gala.

The 2015 Watch Award winner Shaikha Mai has led national efforts in the Kingdom of Bahrain to develop an infrastructure to support heritage conservation and sustainable tourism. Shaikha Mai plays a leading role in Arab culture and the arts, serving as President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and Founder and Chair of the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research. In a statement on this occasion, she extended thanks to World Monuments Fund (WMF), hailing its dedicated efforts to the preserve historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world for future generations.

She stressed Bahrain's efforts to conserve national heritage and promote vestiges locally and internationally, highlighting the establishment of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage in Manama under the UNESCO supervision.