The Minister of Culture for the Kingdom of Bahrain H.E. Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed al-Khalifa met with DAI’s Director General Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah’s new cultural centre in Yarmouk. Sheikha Hussah al-Sabah shared with her plans for the new cultural centre and discussed future plans and initiatives at DAI.   October 16th 2014

Beirut is the last destination for a trip that started in Genoa, worked its way up to Geneva, and back down to Athena and Kavala in the Northern eastern tip of Greece. Beirut is a magical city buzzing with vibrant cultural activities. My first day started with a visit to a den of creativity – the Dar Embez – which was established by Nadine Touma, a children’s story teller who has dedicated her life’s work to writing and illustrating stories she had once heard from her grandmother. It is a truly remarkable private initiative that promotes literary works for children.   October 15th 2014

Lunch with the Director of the Benaki Museum, Prof. Angeleos Delivorrias. A picture with Mina Moraitou – Curator of the Islamic Collection – at the Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece.   October 12th 2014

DAI’s Director General Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah and former Deputy Prime Minister of Greece Theodoros Pangalos.   October 12th 2014

Genoa, the charming Italian city, witnessed a remarkable energy within two days in early October. Two exhibitions on Ottoman Art opened their doors in two of its most spectacular palaces to ten collectors from all over the world to enjoy such unique experience. They came from Kuwait ( Sheikha Hussah Sabah Salem al-Sabah), Switzerland, Iran, France, Hungary and Poland in response to an invitation extended to them by Christie’s, the renowned auction house’s International Head of Group, Mr. William Robinson and his colleagues ; Rachele Guicciardi, Louise Broadhurst, Romain Pingannaud and Sara Plumbly. We were graciously welcomed by the owners of three magnificent 17th century palaces and to their generosity,…