KUWAIT, Jan 4 (KUNA) -- The Sixteenth Qurain Cultural Festival will open at Al-Dasma Theater Wednesday evening under the auspices of His Highness the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Bader Al-Refa'ei said on Monday.
"The three-week event will be inaugurated by Minister of Oil and Minister of Information Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah who doubles as NCCAL President," Al-Refa'ei said in a press conference here.
"The annual event turned to be one of the main landmarks in the Arab cultural arena due to the diversity of the exhibits and the sideline activities," he pointed out.
"The organizing committee decided to introduce a new activity which the naming of one of the friendly countries as guest of honor. This activity will replace 'the personality of the festival' which used to take place in the previous editions.
The sisterly United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been chosen as guest of honor of this year edition," Al-Refa'ei disclosed, noting that the UAE will be able to hold a cultural week during the festival.
The UAE mission to the festival is scheduled to offer an operetta at the opening ceremony and hold a plastic art gallery and the prize-giving ceremony of "Al-Bourda Award for Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentations" on January 7 at the Avenues, Kuwait's biggest shopping mall.
"The UAE mission will also offer a lecture on 'the historical roots of Kuwait-UAE cultural ties and the cultural scene in the UAE' at Al-Rabeta theater in Al-Adeiliya neighborhood," Al-Refa'ei revealed, adding that Prof. Belal Al-Bodour and Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdullah will be the key speakers.
"The Emirates National Troupe For Folklore Arts will give a performance on the stage of Al-Dasma Theater in the evening of January 8, and another one at Al-Manshar complex, Al-Fehihil area in the following evening," he went on to say.
As usual the creative cultural celebrities from Kuwait will be honored at the opening ceremony of the festival.
Prof. Mohammad Al-Romeihi, Suleiman Al-Askari and Prof. Ahmad Abdul'Al will be given the state orders of merit while artists Hamid Khaz'al and Ali Al-Awadh will share the state incentive award.
On the sideline of the festival an exhibition of the maritime heritage will open Sunday morning, January 10, at Al-Sharqiyah School, Sharq Area. The exhibition will offer a panoramic view of Kuwait's maritime history, Al-Refa'ei added. - Kuna