Cultural Cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Italian Republic has increased since 2006. The two Governments are negotiating a cultural, educational, scientific, technological and information cooperation agreement.

Such an agreement should help exchanges and joint projects in the fields specified above will allow collaboration strongly desired by both Countries which so far has been difficult to realize due to the absence of an agreement of this nature.  

In December 2006 the Italian Embassy in Manama organised a piano concert held by Cristiana Pegoraro, an internationally renowned pianist.  

The first Italian Cultural Festival in Bahrain was held from the 31st October to the 8th November 2007. The programme of the festival included classical music concerts, folkloric performances, a film review and two exhibitions.
Further details on the festival events can be found in the News section of this website.

An Italian delegation visited Bahrain between 9th and 12th December 2007 on the occasion of the conference “Twenty Years of Bahrain Archaeology”. The head of the delegation was the Undersecretary of Cultural Heritage. The delegation also included: Dr. Angelo Iacovella, representing ISIAO (Italian Institute for Africa and the East) and Dr. Oscar Nalesini of the National Museum of Oriental Art in Rome. The conference took place at the Bahrain National Museum under the patronage of the Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.  

Future cultural activities are still being defined and will also be announced via this website.  

IBFA – ITALIAN BAHRAINI FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION

The Italian Bahraini Friendship Association (IBFA) was founded in 2006 thanks to the desire of both Countries to increase cultural cooperation.
IBFA is a non profit organisation, established by the Ambassador Calogero Di Gesù with the collaboration of the Italian community in Bahrain. It aims to be a point of reference and information for citizens of both Countries who are are interested in the following fields:  

• cultural and social;
• tourism and travel;
• education and science;
• sport;
• charity.  

The purposes of the association are:  
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• to reinforce the general image of Italy in Bahrain;
• to promote cooperation between the two Countries;
• to encourage exchange of information at citizens, corporate and association’s level;
• to organise and promote seminars and conferences regarding Italy or Bahrain on any current matters except political and religious issues;
• to promote a mutual knowledge of the culture and civilization of the two Countries;
• to promote the best image of Italy in Bahrain and the best image of Bahrain in Italy.

The association will promote its initiatives through different channels such as events, media and press releases and, in the future, through a website and a newsletter.  

Italian and Bahraini citizens interested in the association are invited to utilise the following contacts:  

email: segreteriaamabasciatore.manama@esteri.it
telephone: 00973 17 252 424 ext. 2  

To join the IBFA complete the membership form downloadable from this website.  

SOCIETA’ DANTE ALIGHIERI  

Società Dante Alighieri was founded in Italy in 1889 thanks to a group of intellectuals amongst who was Giosuè Carducci. It is a non profit organisation with the purpose of protecting and spreading the Italian language and culture around the world, fostering the bond with the homeland for Italians living abroad and developing a passion for Italian civilization for foreigners.  

Dante Alighieri has more than 500 Committees, of which more than 400 are outside Italy. The activities of Dante Alighieri are not limited to Italian language and culture courses, but also include cultural events which aim to promote Italian culture in all its varied distinctive aspects, from art to cinema, from sport to music, from theatre to fashion and to literature.  

Since 1993 Società Dante Alighieri has certified knowledge of Italian language with its own certificate: PLIDA (Dante Alighieri Italian Language Project). This certification is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and by the Ministry of Education, University and Research. PLIDA is therefore very useful to foreign citizens who wish to study or work in Italy or in Italian companies and institutions abroad.  

A Dante Alighieri Committee in Manama was recently established and the first Italian language courses should begin in 2008. The president of the Committee is Shaikha Noora Rashed Al Khalifa.  

For further information on Società Dante Alighieri you can log on to their website: www.ladante.it