Summer festival to go virtual this year

BAHRAIN’S much-awaited annual summer festival this year will be held online – for the first time.

The 12th edition of Bahrain Summer Festival will see all events, workshops and performances live-streamed to a global audience from August 2 until August 31.

Held under the slogan ‘Together, Virtually,’ the initiative follows efforts to implement precautionary measures to combat Covid-19.

It is organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) in collaboration with ministries, authorities, private companies and 18 embassies in Bahrain.

The event will start with a live performance by Bahrain’s own Ismael Dawas Band on August 2. The Dar Shabab Al Riffa band will also perform live on August 13.

The rest of the shows will be streamed online.

The famous Italian performing arts group Gen Rosso from Italy (August 6), Ningxia Performing Arts group from China (August 7), Symphony Orchestra from Russia (August 13), Cendrawasih dance group from Indonesia (August 14) and Kuwaiti Takht Band (August 16) are among cultural showcases organised from across the globe in collaboration with embassies in Bahrain.

A musical performance by the US-based band ‘Vocal Trash’ (August 19) and a Jordanian play (August 21) are among other highlights.

The performances will conclude on August 23 with the animated movie Open and Epin held in collaboration with the Malaysian Embassy. “For the 12th year in a row, we continue to create joy and provide a different cultural activity through the Bahrain Summer Festival, which is being organised remotely for the first time,” said Baca president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, during a Press conference held remotely via the authority’s social media platforms yesterday.

“Despite our regret that we aren’t able to communicate directly with our fans in the Nakhool Tent and at our other cultural sites, we have invested this exceptional circumstance to turn the festival into a cultural event that isn’t limited by geographical borders, but through virtual electronic space reaches across the globe.”

She highlighted that organising the annual event remotely is in line with precautionary measures in place to ensure social distancing.

Shaikha Mai praised the vast participation from embassies, along with the private and public sector to enrich the festival programme and activities.

Meanwhile, Baca Culture and Arts director general Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said this year’s festival reflects the rich culture of Bahrain and its intangible heritage.

“The organisation of the Bahrain Summer Festival this year, in these exceptional circumstances the world is going through, stresses the importance of providing continuous spaces for creativity and communication,” she said.

“The success of the festival was the result of constructive co-operation between the authority and the public and private sector as well as the embassies in Bahrain.”

She highlighted that two traditional musical performances will be held live at Bahrain Fort and Arad Fort on August 2 and 13.

Festival mascots Nakhoul and Nakhoula will take the audience on virtual tours to cultural sites such as Bahrain National Museum, Bahrain Fort and historical houses on the Pearl Path.

The Star of Nakhoul contest will also be held for children who can showcase their talent online.

Meanwhile, workshops will be held remotely and range from handicrafts, music, theatre and calligraphy. Cooking sessions will be livestreamed as well as story telling and physical fitness sessions.

Eighteen ambassadors took part in the Press conference emphasising the importance of celebrating the annual festival to enhance communication between the kingdom and other countries.

The embassies taking part in this year’s edition include France, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, Indonesia, the US, Palestine, Japan, China, Russia, Jordan, Turkey, Morocco, Brunei and the Philippines.

For more details and to take part in the festival visit @Nakhoolbah on social media platforms or visit @culturebah on social media platforms or visit www.culture.gov.bh

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/838664/Summer-festival-to-go-virtual-this-year