The UAE will be hosting the first annual Lebanese Cultural Week from the 15th to 19th of February 2007 which is initiated by Culture & Co the French bookstore of the UAE in association with the French Alliances in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The program will include a visit of the guest writers to the French schools in the UAE as well as a series of conferences in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with a painting and photos exhibition by Lebanese artists, themed around culture and history of Lebanese civilization.
Major writers and Lebanese artists will take part in this event; May Menassah, who will be signing her new book – first one in French – “Sarah’s garden”, bringing her long experience in journalism and literature as an editor in the Lebanese largest daily “An Nahar” since 1969, to the art of writing books. Her most famous opuses are novels she wrote in Arabic such as “I put on the dust and depart” in 2006 as well as many translations to Arabic of well-known authors.
Sharif Majdalani will also participate in the Lebanese week through the conference he will be holding in the French Alliances under the theme of “Lebanese French literature; Production and reception”. Bearing in mind Majdalani holds the pulpit of French literature at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. His regular contribution to the Lebanese French speaking daily “L’Orient-Lejour” brought him to writing books among which “The story of the Big House” and “Small treaty of the mixtures”. He also collaborated in putting together the “Four Centuries of Culture of Freedom in Lebanon” alongside other famous Lebanese writers.
The photo-journalist and reporter Youmna Medlej will be presenting an anthology of her photos on Lebanon as well as her latest book “Byblos, Jbeil”. Youmna had previously released a series of books on the Lebanese archeology among which “Excavations of Beirut” and “Cedars of Lebanon” written to address children starting the age of 6 as well as adult readers.
Alongside the photo exhibition, Chantal Ghoraieb another Lebanese artist will be exposing her latest paintings. New talents will also include Maya Waked whose first book “Closed for inventory” will be launched from the French bookstore in Dubai “Culture & Co.
The bookstore will be hosting all participating artists on Friday 16th February from 7:00pm for their books signing. Commenting on the event Renata Sader the owner of the French bookstore Culture & Co said” As part of the ongoing activities that we launched in 2007 and that started with our hosting Mr. Alain Gresh the renown Egyptian French writer and journalist earlier this year, the Lebanese Cultural Week comes in a bid to encourage all artists to express their arts through book signing, exhibitions and conferences. Our mission as the first French bookstore in the Gulf region is to support French speaking authors – with the participation of our on going partners the French Alliances - launch their opuses in the region. This first annual event ushers a series of yearly events that will shed the light on new releases during the course of the year in all aspects of artistic expression.
Sader added “The program of this year’s Lebanese week will include conferences by the guest writers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on journalism, Lebanese French culture and traditions. A tour in some French speaking schools is also scheduled with the objective of educating our young generation on the real values of the Lebanese culture. Activities will also comprise a photos and paintings exhibition at the bookstore as well as signing of the guests’ books on Friday 16th of February at 7pm.”
Sader conclude saying” The objective of these series of events, that will be taking place regularly throughout the year at Culture & Co, is to highlight the new talents and help them grow, through hosting book signings, exhibitions and other cultural activities. This will hopefully be followed by Cultural Weeks related to other French speaking countries in the Arab World; Finally, I would like to thank all those who contributed to making this event happen and especially: the French Alliances in the UAE, Middle East Airlines and the Lebanese Business Council”
Culture & Co – is the first French bookstore in the UAE, and the only French bookstore in the GCC. Opened in Dubai in April 2006, it caters for the cultural and educational needs of all the French speaking communities in the UAE. It’s aim is to promote the French culture in the region and offers an array of various books and novels for all tastes and ages – including educational multimedia material - , as well as educational material for schools and cultural centers in the GCC.
