In This Issuel A wealth of international visitors

l DAI explores Failaka Island

l British Council Museum Management Seminar

Bareed ad-Dar, Newsletter of the Friends of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Year 10, Issue 2. 2008

RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEEDFriends of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah

National Council for Culture, Arts & Letters

P.O. Box 23996, Safat, 13100, KUWAIT

T: +965 563 6528

F: +965 565 3006

E: publications@darmuseum.org.kw

Dear Friends, Another cultural season is drawing to a close and I think we’ll all agree it’s been a very good year. We’ll be publishing the programme for the 14th Cultural Season in the next issue, but I’ve had a sneak peak and can tell you it promises to be one more of our most dynamic.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the DAI raises mixed emotions for me. I am very proud of what’s been accomplished in the last quarter century; and a bit sad for the opportunities lost by the destruction of the museum during the Iraqi invasion. Mostly, I am optimistic . . .

Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you all again in the autumn.

Best regards,Bader al-Baijan

ChairmanDAI Steering Committee

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since its inception in 1983, the DAI has grown from a single focus organization created to manage the loan of the prestigious al-Sabah Collection to the Kuwait National Museum to become an internationally recognised cultural organisation, with a strong focus on education.

Today, the DAI organises an annual lecture series that attracts noted scholars from around the world; produces a quarterly magazine, Hadeeth, and a quarterly newsletter, Bareed; plans and executes traveling exhibitions based on segments of the al-Sabah Collection; participates in thematic exhibitions at museums throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas; hosts seminars on a variety of social/cultural subjects; offers conservation training programmes for interested young Kuwaitis;

hosts an interactive cultural awareness programme for children; supports several research and archaeological projects throughout the Middle East; publishes books on art and culture in the Islamic world; hosts an international music circle; and is actively working with the Kuwaiti government to restore the National Museum destroyed during the Iraqi occupation of the country.

The story of the DAI actually starts more than 30 years before, in the 1960s. It was then that Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah discovered an appreciation for Islamic

artistic achievements when he was student in Jerusalem. In 1975, an enamelled glass bottle on a shelf in a London art gallery was the first item to catch Sheikh Nasser’s eye. Dating from the mid-14th century, from either Egypt or Syria, he purchased it on the spot. This action ultimately launched the al-Sabah Collection of art from the Islamic world, dedicated to ensuring that pieces of his cultural heritage were gathered, studied and protected for future generations. As Sheikh Nasser’s interest grew, Sheikha Hussah embraced his quest to preserve what he describes as “these thrilling remains of the past”.

While Sheikh Nasser and Sheikha Hussah were building their collection, the government was completing the construction of the Kuwait National Museum. The couple immediately agreed with the Amir’s suggestion that the al-Sabah Collection be displayed in Kuwait’s new cultural institution. This was the first step in the transformation of a private collection to an educational tool that helps share the history and culture of the Islamic world with those from the relevant areas and visitors from abroad.

On February 25, 1983 the al-Sabah Collection exhibition opened at the Kuwait National Museum and the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah was born. When the museum was opened by HH the Amir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Salem al-Sabah, it was the first purpose-build modern museum in the Gulf. The hall housing the al-Sabah Collection had been modified to best meet the needs of the collection.

During the 25 years since then, the quarter century we’re celebrating, the organisation survived the Iraqi occupation – diminished in size, but never in spirit. It shifted its focus from museum-based educational programmes to cultural outreach programmes that include the internationally recognised lecture series soon to start its 14th season, Hadeeth ad Dar, Bareed ad Dar, and a number of art/culture specific books.

In the interest of promoting cultural understanding and awareness, pieces from the al-Sabah Collection are frequently lent to other museums.

Of course, we have also organised and executed several traveling exhibitions of our own – including two which are on the programme for the near future. A collection of objects related to the five pillars of Islam is being curated by Dr. Robert Hillenbrand for exhibition at the Hood Museum in the United States in 2010. “Treasury of the World”, which opened at the British Museum in May 2001 and toured uninterrupted for six years to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA, The Cleveland Museum of Art, USA, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, USA, The Saint Louis Art Museum USA, Palacio Real-Patrimonio Nacional, Spain, Museum fur Islamische Kunst & Martin Gropius Bau, Germany, is traveling again. It’s traveling to a Kremlin museum, where it will open in March 2009.

And while the days of “business as usual” ended with the Iraqi invasion in 1990, the organisation is settling in to its adulthood quite well. At 25, we are wiser and more effective and we will get better – just watch.

Opening Night 25 Years Ago

Sheikha Hussah and Sheikh Nasser at the Treasury of the World

opening at the Louvre last year

Bareed ad-Dar is the bi-monthly newsletter of The Friends of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI).Gulf Museum Consultancy Company WLL (GMCC) is the commercial entity authorized to exploit & promote the commercial and other rights relating to The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah.gmcc@darmusuem.org.kw© 2008 GMCC, Kuwait

2 Bareed ad-Dar

A Trip Back . . .

It is the hope of most speakers that their lecture will cause some in the audience to take action. On 26 March, Mr. Shebah A. H. Shehab, director of the Department of Museums and Antiquities, NCCAL, and Dr. Lucia Benedikova, field director of the Kuwaiti-Slovak Archaeological Mission to Failaka (KSAM) gave a stirring lecture at the Maidan Cultural Centre. Two days later, 30+ Friends of the DAI boarded the fast catamarans for a special archaeological tour of Failaka Island.

After rockin’ and rollin’ across the Gulf, the group arrived on Failaka and was greeted by Chris Hartley and his wife, proprietors of the island’s Heritage Village. Loading into cars provided by Hartley and the NCCAL, we were off to see the places so lovingly described by Shebah and Lucia just two nights before.

Our first stop took us past a herd of camels to the centre of the island.  Al Qusur is a pre-Islamic village, dating back to 5th – 9th century AD. The remains of approximately 100 buildings and a Nestorian (Christian) Church can be found on the site.

Al-Khidr, a Bronze Age site, was our next stop. Located on a natural bay, excavations revealed evidence of inhabitation from both the Early Bronze Age (c. 3500-2000 BCE) and the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000-1600 BCE), when it was part of the Dilmun Kingdom. It was easy to see people chose to settle at this site, the view was lovely and the breeze delightful. Of course, Lucia and Shehab pointed out critical factors like easy access to fishing, a good mooring for boats, and the ability to see any approaching ships . . .

Our final archaeological stop was the variety of excavations around F6.  F6 is another 

Bronze Age site and is located on southeastern side of the island. Excavation of this site began in the mid-1900s and a temple to the Dilmun god Inzak has been uncovered. A Hellenistic site is nearby, originally populated perhaps by soldiers of Alexander the Great. There is a temple to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, and the remains of many other structures on the site.

Shehab and Lucia were great hosts and clearly enjoyed sharing their knowledge with the group. But lunch beckoned, so it was off to Heritage Village for a tasty buffet of traditional and continental dishes, including really terrific lentil soup.  

After lunch, we just had time for coffee before heading back to the ship. Three jet skiers provided a lovely escort across the Gulf and a fitting end to a day of education and adventure.

Bareed ad-Dar 3

No. 8 in C Minor, Op.110 came next; followed by Ahmed El Saedi’s String Quartet in F# Minor. After three pieces were brilliantly performed, though the quartet seemed to take more pleasure playing the El Saedi piece – perhaps because it was composed by EPS founder and conducter Maestro Ahmed El Saedi.

Anna Ballian18 February 2008(a lecture in English)

Speaking on Islamic Metalwork at the Benaki Museum is clearly a labour of love for Dr. Anna Ballian. As the senior curator of the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art and a lecturer at the University of Athens, Dr. Ballian is unquestionably to best person to hear on the subject. She was able to share her knowledge of pieces dating from the earliest Islamic Times (7th century AD) until the 19th century. More important, she shared her passion for the pieces, particularly those from the Fatimid and Mamluk periods.

Antony Johae3 March 2008(a lecture in English)

Writing ‘The Other Side’ in Amin Maalouf’s “The Crusades Through Arab Eyes” focused on the France-based Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf and his first major publication, Les croisades vues pas les Arabes (Paris: JClattès/FMA, 1983). Dr. Antony Johae, a teacher at Kuwait University, discussed the process of perspective in both fiction and historical writing and how flexible “history” could be when stretch in different directions based on the perspective of the writer/storyteller. For example, he explored the ambiguities inherent in “the other side”, noting that the other side will vary depending on the view-point or location of writer, narrator, reader or character.

Sergey Turkin17 March 2008(a lecture in English)

For agriculture-oriented portions of western societies, the almanac is a common source of information, especially about the weather. Mr. Turkin’s lecture, Two Manuscripts from the al-Sabah Collection, seemed to raise awareness of the importance of almanacs in the Islamic world. It was an interesting lecture, in part because it focused on two pieces that we’ll be able to see when the museum re-opens. Turkin used a compare and contract approach to illustrate his points, sometimes using just these two pieces and other times bringing in works of a similar kind. As a result, everyone left with a greatly enhanced understanding of the art and import of two stunning manuscripts.

Lambros Liavas24 March 2008(a lecture in English)

Professor Liavas’s lecture Greek Musical Heritage Through the Ages featured a documentary film entitled “The Breath of the Earth” (60’), directed by Panos Karkanevatos, under the scientific direction of Prof. Liavas.  Filmed on location from 2000 to 2003, during ethno-musicological field research, the documentary presents some of the most important Greek folk rituals connected to the ancient Dionysian cultural heritage and the Byzantine tradition. Professor Liavas set the stage for the documentary by providing some background information on the social context of the eras under discussion and then allowed the documentary to speak for itself – it did, loud and clear!

Dromos Bouzouki Band25 March 2008

In a fitting follow-up to Professor Dr. Lambros Liavas’s lecture, The Dromos Bouzouki Band performed several works that demonstrated the heritage of Greek music. From their opening number Taximi Zeimbekiko, written by the most famous rembetiko composer Markos Vamvakaris, through to probably the most recognisable piece of Greek music, Mikis Theodorakis’s Zorba The Greek the band had the audience in the palm of their hands. And while one might expect that the song following Zorba would be a bit of a letdown, Geitonia ton Angelon (Neighbourhood of Angels) proved to be a wonderful way close the evening.

Mr. Shehab A. H. Shehab and Dr. Lucia Benedikova 26 March 2008(a lecture in English)

Archaeology on Failaka Island, presented by Mr. Shebah A. H. Shehab, director of the Department of Museums and Antiquities, NCCAL, and Dr. Lucia Benedikova, field director of the 

Kuwaiti-Slovak Archaeological Mission to Failaka (KSAM) was an eye-opening lecture on two fronts: many people were unaware of just how much archaeological work was being done on Failaka and few people knew how exciting some of the finds really are. By the end of the lecture, which presented the work going on at select sites, especially Al-Khidr, the audience was ready to go see Failaka for themselves. [A report on the DAI trip to Failaka can be found on page 4 of this issue of Bareed.]

Nabil Safwat31 March 2008(a lecture in English)

Dr. Safwat, one of the best known voices on Islamic art history, presented an invigorating and highly illustrated lecture that was especially timely, coming shortly after Dr. Johae’s lecture. Where Johae discussed in impact of personal perspective in recording history, in Image as Insight: Visual Interpretations in Arab Painting Dr. Safwat addressed the same subject in the context of Arab paintings. He explained how illustrated manuscripts not only throw light on the life of the times, but give us the artist’s visual interpretations of the text, which may differ from that of the author.

Kavita Singh7 April 2008(a lecture in English)

Fantasies of History in Indian Painting, the lecture of Dr. Kavita Singh, an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, focused primarily on the Akbarnama and Jahangir’s memoirs – specifically the contradictions between the text and/or history and the stories told by the paintings created to be included in the books. She explained the roles served by these paintings in their contemporary context, particularly exploring the relationship between the reality that these paintings depict, and the realities that these paintings create.

The Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) 13th Cultural Season continued its string of success in February, March and April. The lectures and musical evenings covered a wealth of subjects, all adding texture to our appreciation for art and culture.

Marina Tolmachëva4 February 2008 (a lecture in English)

Dr. Marina Tolmachëva, President of the American University of Kuwait (AUK), gave a fascinating lecture on The Indian Ocean in Medieval Maps and Stories. She focused on the themes of the Indian-ocean cartography echoed in the medieval writings of Arab travelers and scholars. Interspersing descriptions of the finer points of various medieval maps with excerpts from relevant books, including old travelogues (known as Rihla), she was able to create a more solid understanding of early navigation in the Indian Ocean. The stories gave the maps purpose; the maps provided context for the stories, and Dr. Tolmachëva brought them all to life.

The Dream Dealer7 February 2008Musical Theatre

Three very talented women, Marita Phillips, who write the book and lyrics, Harriet Petherick Bushman, the composer and musical director, and director Alison Shan Price, combined their skills to present The Dream Dealer. The Dream Dealer is a musical about choices, a 12 year old boy named Finn, Finn’s friends (and enemies) and the search for happiness. Recruiting actors, musicians, and production people from the local community, the trio delivered an evening of action, song and, above all, fun.

Egyptian Philharmonic Society11 February 2008

The Egyptian Philharmonic Society (EPS) String Quartet treated the audience to an evening of light-hearted classical music. Light-hearted, of course, should not be interpreted to mean less than professional; these musicians were incredible. The opening piece, Wolfgang Schröder’s Eine Kleine Lachmusik, played off the classic A Little Night Music and was a bit of a frolic. Shostakovich’s String Quartet 

Cultural Season 13

4 Bareed ad-Dar

Guest BookThe DAI enjoyed visits from a plethora of guests over the last few months. Some were

visiting for diplomatic purposes; others for business, but always it was a pleasure.

H.E. Seung Hoh Choi, special envoy of the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, accompanied by H.E. Keun Ho Song, Korean Ambassador in Kuwait and Mr. Sang Jun Kim, first secretary, had a very successful meeting with Sheikha Hussah during his visit to Kuwait.

Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts, H.E. Dr. Balaji Sadasivan enjoyed the respite from a full meeting schedule.  On his visit  to the collection office, he was accompanied by HE Mr. Wong Kwok Pun, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore, Mr. Desmond Wee, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Cairo, Mr. James Soh from Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority, and Ms. Husim Tan, deputy director of the Asian Civilisations Museum.

A delegation from the Hood Museum was here for meetings related to the upcoming “Five Pillars” exhibition at the Hood Museum in the United States. The delegation included Katherine W. Hart, Hood Museum associate director, Patrick Dunfey, Hood Museum exhibition designer, Robert Hillenbrand, curator of the upcoming exhibition at the Hood Museum, and Carole Hillenbrand.

A large delegation from Canada, led by The Hon. Noel Kinsella, Senator and Speaker of the Canadian Senate and his wife Ann, included a stop at the collection office in their Kuwait itinerary. Accompanying Speaker Kinsella were Ambassador Denis Thibault, Mrs. Isabel Rodriguez Alonso, Senator James Cowan and his wife Shelagh, Senator Donald Oliver and his wife Linda, Mr. Paul Belisle, clerk of the Parliament, Ms. Janelle Feldstein, chief of staff to the Speaker, Ms. Stephanie Bond, secretary to the delegation, Ms. Fryda Ataya, public diplomacy officer, Embassy of Canada - Kuwait.

Prof. Hillenbrand with visiting librarian Mr

Ibrahim Kamel.

Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Sheikha Hussah, Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, Minister of Media and Ms.

Husim Tan (behind Singaporean Minister)

H.E., Professor Marie Bashir, governor of New South Wales, Australia, was accompanied by Australian Ambassador Glenn Miles and his wife Kathryn, and Mr. Brian L Davies Esq., LVO, official secretary and chief of staff for the governor’s office, on her visit to the collection.

A crew from Russian TV came to interview Sheikha Hussah in anticipation of the upcoming collaboration between the al-Sabah Collection and the Kremlin Museums.

A delegation from The State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin also made an exhibition-related visit, preparing for the Treasury of the World exhibition in Moscow early next year. In the delegation were Mrs. Elena Gagarina, general director, Mrs. Zelfira Tregulova, deputy director for exhibitions, Mr. Vladimir Vychuzhanin, Mrs. Elena Tarasova, main exhibition designer, Mr. Nikolay Volkov.

S.A.S. Princess Ira de Fürstenberg with Sheikh Mubarak al- Sabah and Cigdem Samavi

Mr. & Mrs. Antaki and Anis Demirbag visited the collection office, with Sue Kaoukji as their guide.

A German delegation of diplomats and senior Commerzbank officers enjoyed a spirited afternoon viewing pieces from the al-Sabah Collection. The delegation was led by Dr. Norbert Lammert, president of the German Parliament and vice-chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. He was accompanied by Ambassador Dr. Michael Worbs, Mrs. Sybille Koch, head of protocol of the German Parliament, Dr. Gerhard Wahlers and Dr. Hardy Ostry from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Mr. Klaus-Peter Mueller, chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Commerzbank, Mr. Martin Blessing, member of the Board of Managing Directors of Commerzbank, and Mr. Ralph Nitzgen.

Omar Koç inspecting a manuscript from al-Sabah collection

Myriam Antaki and Omar Koç

A distinguished group of art collectors from Turkey were welcomed by Sheikha Hussah at DAI. The group included H.H Princess Ira de Furstenberg, Mr. George Antaki and his spouse Mrs. Myriam Chaouf, Mr. Omer Koc, his mother Mrs.Cigdem Simavi, and his friends Mr. Ali Can Erlug, Mr. Enis Demirbag and Mrs. Maryam Massoudi. The visitors enjoyed inspecting many objects of al-Sabah collection. (Special thanks to Canvas magazine for providing us with some of the bove images.)

Ali Can Ertug,

Cigdem Simavi with

Sheikha

Iman al- Sabah

Bareed ad-Dar 5

6 Bareed ad-Dar

Sponsors الرعاة

Mariam Nasser al-Sabah

مرمي نا�صر ال�صباح

Ahmed Abdallah Al-Sarraf Dr. Abdulaziz al-Sultan

اأحمد عبداهلل ال�صراف د. عبدالعزيز ال�سلطان

الرعاة املتربعون

Patrons الرعاة امل�ساهمون

Benefactorsكبار الرعاة

Donors

عادل م�ساعد اجلاراهلل اخلرايف

Adel Musaed Al-Jarallah Al-Khorafi

نادية حممد البحر

Nadia M. Al-Bahar

�سرار يو�سف الغامن

Dirar Y. Alghanim

پوال ال�سباح

Paula Al-Sabah

علي في�سل حمود اخلالد

Ali Faisal Hamoud Al-Khaled

فراد املمولون الأ

ن�سطة اأ�سدقاء الدار لأ

Individual Sponsors

of the Friends of the DAI

Shafiqa Ali Al-Mutawa

�سفيقة علي املطوع

Kholoud Abdulrida Al-Feeliخلود عبدالر�سا الفلي

Dr. Ali Ashour Al-Jaffarد. علي عا�سور اجلعفر

Nasser Duaij Al-Sabahنا�سر دعيج ال�سباح

Munira Al-Khubaiziمنرية اخلبيزي

Enass Al-Marzoukاإينا�س املرزوق

Philip F. Bardawilفيليب باردوير

Mona Al-Khonainiمنى اخلنيني

Suad Al-Arfaj�سعاد العرفج

Tareq Bader Al-Mailemطارق بدر امليلم

Mohamed Mahmoud Rasheedحممد حممود را�سد

Margaret Al-Sayerمارجريت ال�ساير

Hilal Al-Sayerهالل ال�ساير

Eric Kuhneاإيرك كون

Afrah Mubarak Al-Sabahاأفراح مبارك ال�سباح

Basemah M. Al-Sabahبا�سمة ال�سباح

Brigit Al-Mutawaبريجيت املطوع

Hind Abdulla Al-Jaber Al-Sabahهند عبداهلل اجلابر ال�سباح

Munira Khaled Al-Mutawaمنرية خالد املطوع

Sabah Mohammed Amin Al-Rayees�سباح حممد اأمني الري�س

Rachad Habib Tabiat

ر�ساد حبيب طبيعات

هند حمد اأحمد البحر

Hind Hamad Ahmad Al-Bahar

Yasser Ashour Al-Jaffarيا�سر عا�سور اجلعفر

Intisar S.A. al-Sabah

انت�سار �سامل العلي ال�سباح

جميل اأ. وافا

Jamil A. Wafa

Khalifa D. Al-Ghanimخليفة د. الغامن

Marzouk D. Al-Ghanimمرزوق د. الغامن

Art and ArchitectureOn 2 January 2008, more than 100 people attended the opening of an exhibition of

photographs highlighting architectural aspects of the American Mission Hospital buildings. The exhibition included more than 40 photographs that demonstrated the art in architecture and the art of photography.

What was unique about this exhibition is that the photographer/artists were twenty first semester photography students from the Kuwait University College for Women Art and Design Department.  Under the tutelage of assistant professor Dr. Yvonne Wakefield, the students photographed the buildings on the property, and the best were selected for inclusion in this exhibition.

Working with Farah Khajah from DAI, the students organised a one week exhibition of their work which was as compelling as any professional exhibition organized on the same subject. But don’t take our word for it, judge for yourself . . .

Dalal Al-Khalid

Muneera Alqnaee

Mays Abo Abdu

Sara Al Falah (above), Marwa Alarbeed (right)

بثينة م�ساعد ال�سالح

Buthainah Musaed Al-Saleh

Altaf Al-Essaاألطاف العي�سى

Bareed ad-Dar 7

w w w . t a m d e e n r e a l e s t a t e . c o m

Donors

بار�سون برنكرهوف

Parsons Brinkerhoff Int. Inc.

Arab Center for Commerce & Real Estateاملركز العربي للتجارة والعقار

Kuwiat Shell Ltd.�سل الكويتية املحدودة

الرعاة املتربعون

Corporate Supporters

Benefactors كبار الرعاة

ال�سركات الرئي�سية

Anwar Y. Al-Qatamiاأنور القطامي

Still Missing . . .

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the DAI and the exhibition of the al-Sabah Collection in the Kuwait National Museum, we can’t help but be aware of pieces missing from the collection. 53 works of art, each a witness to the extraordinary abilities on artists and artisans from the Islamic world, were stolen during the Iraqi invasion and have never been recovered.

The bell-shaped hookah base (LNS 12 G) shown here was free blown, tooled, cut and set with coloured glass. It is also one of two hookah bases still on the missing list.

In addition to these, seven hardstone pieces are missing, including several carved gemstones and a rock crystal lidded bowl inlaid with gold and set with rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

More than two dozen pieces of jewellery are still on the list. This includes several Moghul daggers, a necklace with a deep pink spinel bead inscribed with the name of Emperor Jahangir, and several gold rings created in Iran in the 10th century.

Manuscript pages from a 9th century Qur’an and a Tiraz fragment woven in Egypt during the same period remain missing, as does a complete 32 piece ivory chess set dating back to the 1800s. Nine rugs manufactured in the 16th centuries through the 19th; three metal pieces from Mughal India, and two wooden pieces – a carved mosque balcony, and a marquetry chess and backgammon board fill out the list.

A third wooden piece is still officially included as missing, but in reality we know it was destroyed with the museum. That is a pair of massive carved and painted doors from 14th century Fez, Morocco. A large photograph of this piece hangs near the entrance of the theatre in the Maidan Cultural Centre. There, it serves as a reminder to appreciate what we can see and to keep looking for that which is wrongfully unavailable to us.

LNS 12 GBell-shaped hookah baseNorthern India region

Mid-18th century

HE Sheikh Salim

bin Nasir Al Maskari,

Council for Higher

Education Secretary

General, flanked by

Abdulaziz Al-Duweesh

(right) and Mustafa Al

Ansari (left).

Conservator Abdulaziz al-Duweesh and conservation trainee Mustafa al Ansari recently spent five days in Oman, where they participated in a museum management seminar organized by the British Council Oman, in coordination with Mrs. Denise Waddingham, assistant director of The British Council in Kuwait. The conference was held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, minister of heritage and culture, at the Muscat Crowne Plaza.

Delegates and elite professionals from the UK, GCC and Yemen, representing museums and other relevant organization participated in the seminar, which focussed on leadership and staff development.

Steve McNolty, director of British Council, Oman said: “Museums are all about promoting inter-cultural learning and understanding. Especially in today’s age, when all that people think of is the present, and cultural awareness is being weakened. Museums are also about creativity, where you get to see another person’s work at its best. But that’s not enough. Museums also have to be managed ‘creatively’ in order to attract the public. So this seminar is significant in today’s times.”  “It is important to participate in such events as a region, because it allows for mutual learning and understanding. We can also pool in the resources of that region and use them more effectively. But again, while we work regionally, it is also important to focus on the local area and address issues tailor-made for that particular area,” he added.

Abdulaziz al-Duweesh echoed McNolty’s comments, noting that participating in seminars of this type gives us the opportunity “to connect with the other museums, especially in GCC countries. We have the chance to share and discuss our current challenges, find solutions, and develop recommendations for future projects tin order to build a better future in the museum world.”

In addition to working sessions, the participants had the opportunity to tour many museums and historic sites in Oman. The day before the official opening of the conference, the group toured the Nizwa, Jabrin, and Bahla forts. The next three afternoons ended with museum visit; first to the Oman Heritage Museum, then the Bait Al Baranda Museum, and finally, Bait Al Zubaire Museum.

As a conservator-in-training, Mustafa appreciated the exposure to non-conservation aspects of museum management. He listed understanding the roles of the managers and staff and “the importance of having a long term plan and a short term plan” as key components of the programme.

The Muscat conference is the second of three scheduled to be completed by 2010.

The first seminar was held in Bahrain in 2006. The third conference is scheduled to be held in Sharjah in 2009.

8 Bareed ad-Dar

Having completed 30 years of successful banking in Kuwait’s dynamic socio-economic landscape, Burgan Bank continues to adopt a customer-centric approach to tailor and design products and services around customer needs and preferences. In fact, the new corporate identity was designed to provide a visual endorsement of the bank’s commitment to putting the customers first when developing logistical and product development plans.

Burgan Bank, one of the leading commercial banks in the state of Kuwait,

announced a record profit of KD74.8 million for 2007, up 34% from KD55.7 million registered in 2006. This has resulted in strong earnings per share, which went up by 28% to 89.4 fils.

It is worth noting that over the last 4 years, the bank’s net profit consistently grew by a CAGR of 38%. The Board of Directors recommended a

proposed cash dividend of 60 fils in addition to 10% bonus shares subject to the approval of the Annual General Assembly, and this represents a yield of 18.5% on the average stock price for 2007.

Special Thanks to Burgan Bank     The Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Music Circle (DMC) is wrapping up its first full season 

with three exciting performances. The diversity of the upcoming performances is a brilliant demonstration of the depth of music knowledge and ability included in the DMC.

DMC: Hitting the Right Notes

30 AprilMixed MediaCombined performances of the musicians and members of the Writers’ Circleal-Maidan Cultural Centre, 7 pm

21 MayOrgan, Clarinet and Soprano Recitalal-Maidan Cultural Centre, 7 pm

4 JuneKuwait Youth OrchestraYoung Talents Concertal-Maidan Cultural Centre, 7 pm

Eager to get next season underway, the DMC has already schedule it’s first concert for the 2008/2009 season. On 15 October, Bartek Ribak will kick off the year’s performances with a Chopin Commemorative Concert.

For more information contact Helena, DMC administrative support:info@darmuseum.org.kw

The Friends of the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) plays an important role in the growth of the DAI. Cultural organisations like ours need to be part of a community; they need to live and breathe and serve. That is the difference between dull, static organisations and vibrant ones.

The Friends of the DAI gives us the community connection. As a “Friend”, you will be part of a success story that you help maintain – a success story that is recognised internationally and appreciated locally.

In order to show our appreciation for your support, every member of Friends of the Dar receives:

• an advanced copy of the cultural season programme,

• the DAI calendar, featuring pieces from the collection,

• weekly reminders for each event,• an invitation to the annual dinner,• invitations to any special events organised

for Friends of the DAI, • six issues of Bareed ad-Dar,• four issues of Hadeeth ad-Dar,• the opportunity to participate in

international cultural trips, • a 10% discount on all books and gift items

in the al-Maidan Cultural Centre Museum Shop, and, best of all,

• the chance to make new friends who share your interest in learning more about the culture, history and art in the region.

If you’re already a member, thank you and we hope you enjoyed all our activities this year. We also hope you’ll renew for Cultural Season 14.

You can join Friends of the DAI or renew your membership at the al-Maidan Cultural Centre in Maidan Hawalli. For more information on membership, call 563 6528 or email: membership@darmuseum.org.kw.

Be a Friend!

The Egyptian Philharmonic String Quartet

DAI Participates in British Council Museum Management Seminar

Abdulwahab Al Khaja, Bahrain National Museum collection manager, Mustafa Al Ansari, Denise Waddingham, British Council assistant director, and Abdulaziz Al-Duweesh.