7th Spring of Culture Festival to kick off in Bahrain

The Seventh Spring of Culture Festival will begin on 1 March and continue until the end of April offering a variety of artistic attractions. This year's festival is themed "Embrace the Experience" and will feature events in many artistic fields, including poetry, music, theatre, encounters and more, to audiences of all generations. The festival will make a special tribute to the iconic Egyptian singer, Um Kulthoum and a concert dedicated to her and including songs from her repertoire will open the festival on 1 March at the Bahrain National Museum. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Spanish singer Julio Iglesias will be among the most sought after concerts at the festival. Moreover, there will be a number of musical events including a concert by Osiris, a newly emerging Bahraini band playing progressive rock, along with a hip hop concert. There will also be performances especially tailored for younger audiences, such as muppet shows, interactive artistic activities and workshops. A traditional Japanese troupe will invite the audience to a taste of their culture and the house of poetry will host the well-known Palestinian poet Samih Al-Qassim. The festival will also hold a number of exhibitions showcasing contemporary art from across the Middle East, in addition to a number of seminars and conferences. Topics include "The Pros and Cons of Arab Spring" and "Is Arab Media capable of reaching or building the truth?" All activities will take place in locations across the Bahraini capital. From Al-ahram