The ceremony, merging local heritage and modernity, will kick start at 6:30pm and will include a musical entitled “The Pearl Route”.
Arab Culture ministers or their representatives, leading media personalities and Arab intellectuals will attend the opening.
“I am greatly looking forward to the opening ceremony on Thursday, under the patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,” said Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, asserting that the success of the opening ceremony, in particular, and the Culture Ministry’s functions, in general, are the outcome of HM the King’s incessant support for cultural heritage activities that promote national identity.
The musical show marking the launch of the” Manama, Capital of Arab Culture” function; will bring together local and international talent.
Renowned Egyptian maestro Salim Sahab, the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra and local artists, include mainly the popular singer Hind whose song lyrics have been written by celebrated poet, Hassan Kamal.
With music specially composed by Julene Siddique, the audience will be treated to an exclusive performance by the Galali Popular Arts Group and the Ballard School of Performing Arts.
Manama, Capital of Arab Culture 2012 is an innovative programme of cultural dialogue and exchange running throughout the year with a different theme introduced at the outset of each month. January was the month of art and featured exhibitions by the Institut du Monde Arabe as well as Jordan’s Royal Society of Fine Arts. This month, February, celebrates architecture by engaging Arab audiences to examine the use of public space with a pioneering competition for the development of the Bab Al Bahrain square, which will be reviewed by a panel of international jurists and specialists in the field.
The programme continues in this vein henceforth, reflecting a diverse array of cultural fields, from design to heritage, environment and theatre targeting both local and regional audiences in the promotion of a continuous exchange of ideas and learning.
www.manamaculture2012.bh