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Bahrain Information Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: ‘Al Dana Drama Award’ Boosts Gulf TV Productions

Bahrain’s Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bahrain’s Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Bahrain Information Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: ‘Al Dana Drama Award’ Boosts Gulf TV Productions

Bahrain’s Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bahrain’s Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Bahrain’s Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi, said the “Al Dana Drama Award” award, the Gulf’s first for TV series, aims to support Gulf artists and creators.

He added that the Gulf Radio and Television Festival, where the award is presented, boosts Gulf cinema and drama as platforms for cultural understanding.

Al-Noaimi explained in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that artists themselves oversee their work, stating that Gulf information ministries don't control creativity.

The winners of the Al Dana Drama Award will be honored at the opening of the 16th Gulf Radio and Television Festival in Bahrain later this month.

“The award has emerged to boost Gulf drama production, uniting countries with strong ties and a shared goal of supporting artists,” affirmed Al-Noaimi.

“It aims to motivate writers, directors, actors, and composers through healthy competition, recognizing their hard work and emotional impact,” the minister added.

Under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), this award provides a significant incentive for talented individuals in radio and TV to participate.

With ten diverse categories and awards for actors, composers, scripts, and directors, Al Dana Drama Award offers ample opportunities for recognition.

“In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), we have a special history of working together in media and the arts,” said Al-Noaimi.

“It all started with the Joint Program Production Institution back in the mid-1970s. This institution played a crucial role in shaping Gulf cooperation in media and the arts,” he added.

The debut of the award has sparked considerable interest, with over 70 diverse Gulf and Arab TV series submitted for consideration.

This highlights its importance in shaping the future of Arab and Gulf drama, encouraging artists to strive for excellence.

Positioned as a major milestone, Al Dana Drama Award enriches competition among Gulf and Arab artists, thanks to the Gulf Radio and Television Festival, a leading platform in the region’s artistic scene.

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Culture

Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
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Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour, one of the most prominent names in Palestinian art, has died at the age of 79, his family announced.

Mansour, whose vivid artwork depicted both Palestinian traditions and his people's struggles under Israeli occupation, died on Monday at his home in east Jerusalem, his family said.

"The final chapter has been written. With hearts gripped by sorrow beyond description, we announce that our dear father has left this world," the family said in a statement.

"For the world, he leaves behind a life filled with beauty and memories, and a legacy that will continue through everyone whose lives he touched. As for us, we have lost a father who was the source of our love, our strength and our refuge."

Mansour was born in Birzeit, north of Ramallah, in 1947 and studied art and design in Jerusalem, graduating in 1970.

The Palestinian Culture Ministry mourned Mansour, calling him "one of the most important pillars of contemporary Palestinian visual art, whose career over decades formed part of the Palestinian visual and national memory".

The ministry hailed his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships", depicting an elderly Palestinian porter carrying the city of Jerusalem on his back, as "an artistic and national icon", adding that his work served "as witness to Palestinian history and guardian of identity".

Mansour was the recipient of numerous awards, among them the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in 2019.

Culture

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris
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Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

The Saudi Ministry of Culture announced on Monday the establishment of a Saudi cultural center in Paris on the sidelines of the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to France.

The center will serve as a platform for promoting Saudi culture and highlighting its historical depth and creative diversity through high-quality cultural programs and initiatives involving French practitioners, institutions and the public.

It will support the international presence of Saudi cultural practitioners, strengthen communication between intellectuals and creative professionals in the two countries, and build strategic partnerships between Saudi and French cultural institutions, facilitating the exchange of expertise and implementation of joint cultural initiatives.

The establishment of the center reflects the continued development of Saudi-French relations and underscores the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its international cultural presence and presenting an authentic cultural image that introduces the world to its rich heritage and contemporary creative output.

Culture

Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla Underlines Commitment to Deepen Partnership

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla Underlines Commitment to Deepen Partnership

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)

The joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla held a meeting in Paris on Monday, chaired by Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif, and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Commission for AlUla Abeer Al-Akel. Also present were French Minister of Culture Catherine Pegard, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Roland Lescure, and Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The officials welcomed the signing of an agreement to extend and amend the agreement concluded between the Saudi and French governments on the cultural, environmental, tourism, human, economic, and heritage development of AlUla Governorate.

They reviewed the partnership's achievements and discussed avenues for future cooperation, reflecting the strength of relations between the two countries and affirming AlUla's position as a meeting point of civilizations and a global destination for culture, creativity, and sustainable development.

They underlined their commitment to further deepening the partnership, which has become a global model for international cooperation based on the exchange of mutual benefits and knowledge, contributing to the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development goals.

The meeting reviewed the scale of joint investments and areas of ongoing cooperation in the sectors of archaeology, arts, culture, sports, hospitality, and human-capital development.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development through strategic projects, such as the AlUla Tram and the Sharaan Resort, designed by Jean Nouvel, as well as investments in renewable energy, water, and mobility, supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to attract one million visitors and global investments while preserving AlUla's cultural and natural heritage.