Paris: The House of Wisdom (HoW) explored collaboration opportunities with the Arab World Institute (AWI) in Paris in the fields of culture and knowledge.
According to Emirates News Agency, the discussions focused on enhancing the Arab cultural and literary presence internationally through hosting specialised exhibitions and launching multilingual joint publishing projects that reflect the richness and diversity of Arab intellectual output.
The discussions took place during a visit to the institute's headquarters in the French capital, bringing together Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, and Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute, in the presence of Dr. Shawqi Abdul Amir, Director of the Arab World Institute. Both sides explored ways to expand the scope of cooperation and to develop joint cultural programmes that highlight the beauty and history of Arab culture, while opening new windows for dialogue with world cultures.
The meeting featured knowledge and expertise exchange on the potential for hosting roaming artistic and cultural exhibitions between Paris and Sharjah, as well as the development of multilingual intellectual, literary, and artistic publications to be presented to international audiences. It also included a review of both institutions' experiences in curating events focused on building bridges of understanding and promoting cross-cultural exchange among nations.
Commenting on the visit, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of the HoW, emphasized the engagement with the Arab World Institute, a reputed institution with decades of experience in promoting Arab culture across Europe. She highlighted the shared belief in the transformative power of culture and the meeting's role in providing a platform to explore joint initiatives and align efforts in amplifying Arab intellectual and artistic contributions on the global stage.
For his part, Dr. Shawqi Abdul Amir, Director of the Arab World Institute, noted the shared belief in the essential role of culture in fostering mutual understanding between peoples. He expressed confidence that the collaboration will provide new momentum for both institutions' initiatives and programmes and emphasized the importance of innovative partnerships that focus on projects with lasting civilizational and intellectual impact.
During the visit, Marwa Al Aqroubi toured the Arab World Institute, including its renowned library, one of the largest in Europe dedicated to Arab affairs. She explored the permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, including the exhibition 'Rescued Treasures of Gaza: 5000 Years of History,' currently on display at the Institute until November 2. Al Aqroubi expressed her appreciation for the exhibition's professional curation and the effort to showcase Palestine's rich historical legacy through rare archaeological artefacts.