invest in culture!

A major display is being organised aimed at wooing investors to support cultural initiatives and projects around the kingdom as part of the National Day celebrations.

Entitled 'Investing in Culture', the bilingual exhibition, in English and in Arabic, will be spread out on a digital impression of Bahrain's map, which will be approximately 1,600sqm in size.

Designed by architects Marwan Nasri Basmaji and Kamila Bielinska, it will be presented in the main hall of Bahrain's National Museum.

Manar Sirriyeh, strategic planning advisor for the Ministry's Culture and National Heritage Sector said: "The main aim of this project is to attract the private sector to invest in culture, specifically those related to the protection of architectural sites, building museums and cultural events.

"It will be a comprehensive display of the architectural elements of the kingdom and will celebrate Bahrain. We also want to send the message of the importance of Unesco (United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organisation) support to the island's heritage as it will exhibit projects that are supported by the international body and those that have been nominated as world heritage sites."

Marwan Basmaji added that the emphasis of the exhibition, Organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture, is to show how valuable the region is.

Architect Marwan Nasri Basmaji highlighted the importance of preserving cultural sites. He said: "We have cultural elements here such as the burial mounds that date back to the Bronze Age, around 5,000 years ago. They are treated badly possibly because of a lack of awareness of their meaning and importance. The dilemma is always about what a historic cultural monument stands for and what its value is.

"The value is always in the memories or treasures of the ages before. So it is very difficult to translate it in economic terms although its benefits can exceed those of a new tower which has no cultural meaning except that of power.

"When you travel to a new country you don't look for the tower, you look out for the 'old' and that's why we have to appreciate the renovated houses of Muharraq. This is an unbeatable investment that ensures the continuity of the stories that have been told and retold in the past.

"The return to an investor here is emotional - these historical evidences are the physical proof of belonging. It is the support for the people of a country and the history of this country."

One of biggest examples in the exhibition of such a support is the upcoming National Theatre that has been sponsored by His Majesty King Hamad and the generous support of Arcapita Bank who sponsored the Qal'at al Bahrain site museum for BD3 million.

Visitors, tourists, students and citizens will also be encouraged to visit the exhibition as it serves as a live introduction to the cultural heritage of Bahrain. Full details will be announced closer to the date.

They will walk over the Bahrain's map, entering from the south of the island and will be then free to weave their way through to discover various historical sites, its location and understand its urban context and importance. All projects will be provided a three-dimensional view using multiple mediums such as videos, pictures, plans, drawings and models.

Marwan added: "Even the intangible aspects of culture such as events and heritage festivals have been included so that everybody can understand the entire spectrum of cultural activity that is happening here because it showcases the past, present and the future.

"Culture is nothing but the heritage passed down from our ancestors. We, as architects, are showing how it's explained in architecture - in the houses, in the museums, in the urban context.

"For instance, the location of the project is extremely important. Take the Bahrain Fort museum that is located in front of Bahrain Fort. It is taking the past and exposing it to the current generation and enabling a dialogue between old and new.

"It is important to give a feeling of pride to things that we have an easy access to. Bahrain has untouched heritage that does not exist anywhere else like the burial mounds and the oyster beds. We want people to know that they are living in a very culturally rich country."