Meridian International Center and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), along with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, partnered to launch A Tale of Two Seas: From Dilmun to Bahrain, a widely anticipated cultural diplomacy exhibition that brings Bahraini heritage to the United States for the first time. This project debuts the bilateral cultural relations between the United States and Bahrain, with a signed Memorandum of Understanding between Meridian and BACA.
At the opening event, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa underlined the role of culture and the arts in upholding human and civilizational advancements, noting that the exceptional heritage sites in the Kingdom of Bahrain bear witness to the abundance of the rich cultures that once inhabited the island, bestowed with the designation "The Land of Immortality." Due to their significance as an intersection of civilizations and cultures in the Arabian Gulf for many millennia, two archaeological sites were inscribed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Her Excellency Shaikha Mai also conveyed her delight at the exhibition of Bahraini historical artifacts and artistic offerings at Meridian, as the international exposition of Bahraini culture strengthens bridges and breaks barriers between peoples in an era in pressing need of purposeful dialogue and openness.
His Excellency Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, asserted, “The rich culture of Bahrain merits recognition on a global scale for its contributions to musical, artistic, and aesthetic tradition. The vast potential for intercultural collaboration between Bahrain and the United States is an encouraging bridge between our two nations.”
A Tale of Two Seas: From Dilmun to Bahrain was on view October 24 – November 8, 2015, at Meridian’s Cafritz Galleries.
