US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1564

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001564 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA/PE/C/CU, NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO, BA 
SUBJECT:  Proposal for Cultureconnect Envoy Muslim American 
Calligrapher Program in Bahrain 
 
1.  (U)  This cable contains a proposal for a Cultureconnect 
Envoy Visual Arts Program entitled "Muslim American 
Calligrapher in Bahrain." 
 
2.  (U)   Begin proposal text. 
 
CULTURECONNECT ENVOY REQUEST 
Project Type: Visual Arts 
"This project meets the ACULSPEC Request Criteria" 
 
CONTACTS FOR THIS REQUEST 
Main Contact 
First+Last Name: Mario Crifo 
Title: Assistant Public Affairs Officer 
Country: BAHRAIN 
Post: MANAMA 
Telephone: +973-3941-9883 
Fax: +973-1727-0547 
E-mail Address: crifomn@state.gov 
 
Other Contacts: 
Janan Shaikh Abdulla, Cultural Affairs Assistant 
ShAbdullaJ@state.gov 
+973-1724-2712 
Wyn Hornbuckle, Public Affairs Officer 
hornbuckpw@state.gov 
+973-1724-2717 
 
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION 
Project Name: Muslim-American Calligrapher in Bahrain 
Project Description: Muslim-American Calligrapher visits 
Bahrain to display calligraphic artwork at local arts and 
religious institutions, conduct workshops with local 
calligraphers, and speak on the topic of Islamic culture in 
America. 
 
MPP Goals: Combating Terrorism, Democracy, Mutual 
Understanding, Information Resources 
Project Objectives and Relationships to MPP Goals above: 
This project will bring the artwork and perspective of an 
accomplished Muslim-American calligrapher to broad audiences 
among Bahraini artists, museum professionals, academics, 
students and youth. Our specific goals are: 
 
1. Increase mutual understanding by educating target 
communities about Islam and Muslims in America, and by 
illustrating the prevalence of and respect for Muslims and 
Islamic art in America. 
 
2. Engage academics in dialogue about the role of religious 
freedom and tolerance in American society. (Comment: This is 
especially important given Bahrain's sectarian challenge of 
harmonizing divisions between Sunni and Shia sects.) 
 
3. Educate Bahraini artists and curators about cutting edge 
techniques in calligraphy that are practiced by accomplished 
American artists. 
 
HOST INSTITUTIONS / SUBJECTS & METHODS OF DELIVERY / 
AUDIENCES 
#1 A. Beit Al Quran 
B. A joint project of the Ministry of Information and the 
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the Beit Al Quran is a museum 
and cultural center devoted to the curation and display of 
Quranic texts in various calligraphic forms. / A. We would 
like Mr. Zakariya to present and dicuss his work, the 
selection of manuscripts, and the calligraphic techniques 
used. We would like him to hold a master class on 
calligraphy techniques with calligraphy students and artists 
who have a basic level of pre-professional proficiency. 
 
B. lecture-demonstration and master class / 1. museum 
curators and patrons 
 
2. pre-professional calligraphers and calligraphy students 
 
3. Bahraini public 
#2 A. University of Bahrain Department of Islamic Studies 
B. The U of B is the primier public institution of higher 
education in Bahrain. The Department of Islamic Studies has 
close ties to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. / A. We would 
like Mr. Zakariya to display his work and discuss text 
selection and historical significance, as well as the 
prevalence of Muslims and Islamic artwork in America. 
 
B. lecture-demonstration / 1. Department of Islamic Affairs 
students and faculty 
 
2. broader University of Bahrain community 
#3 A. Al Eskafi Arts Society 
B. With a membership of 300, Al Eskafi is the largest 
collection of artists in Bahrain and is also the most grass- 
roots in orientation. Their artwork dons city buildings and 
highway partitions. / A. We would like Mr. Zakariya to 
present a workshop with selected young untrained artists 
from Al Eskafi Arts Society on basic techniques in Islamic 
calligraphy. 
 
B. workshop / 1. members of Al Eskafi Arts Society 
 
2. students from Bahrain public schools 
 
 
Equipment & Materials: Prints or posters of the artist's 
work, slides, supplies for master classes and workshops 
ACULSPEC Expertise: Professional Islamic Calligrapher 
Foreign Languages Required: English. Arabic not required. 
 
PREFERRED PROJECT DATES 
First Choice: January 23-28, 2006 
Second Choice: February 27-March 4, 2006 
Blackout Dates: Fridays, January 31-February 23 
 
PER-DIEM RATES: 
Lodging Rate: US$175 per day 
M&IE Rate: US$96 per day 
 
MONETARY AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 
Post Contribution: Money: US$1355 / In-Kind: (None) 
Host Contribution: Money: US$(None) / In-Kind: meeting 
facility, in country transportation, some meals, art 
supplies 
 
REQUESTED ACULSPEC (OPTIONAL) 
Citizenship: U.S. 
First+Last Name: Mohamed Zakariya 
Title: 
Institution: Zakariya Calligraphy 
Street Address: 536 North Littleton Street 
City+State+Zip: Arlington, VA 22203 
E-mail: 
Phone: 703-243-9210 
 
COMMENT 
Post Manama welcomes working with neighboring posts to 
develop a multicountry program with regional impact. 
 
3.  (U)  End proposal text. 
 
MONROE