A FESTIVAL celebrating the artistic talent of sufferers of sickle cell disease (SCD) and allowing them to express their hopes, dreams and fears is set to take place later this month.
‘Whisper of Hope’ (‘Hamsat Amal’ in Arabic) will feature a short film, a theatre play and a concert performed by SCD patients, along with an open visual arts exhibition, concluding with a charity auction, after Ramadan.
Organised by the Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Disease Patient Care, the festival will be held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Health head Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and, the art exhibition, held under the patronage of National Council for Arts chairman Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
SCD is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders in the country, with 8,664 Bahrainis – 4,271 males and 4,393 females – suffering from it. There is no known cure for the condition.
“The aim of the festival is to show sickle cell disease patients that they are as skilled and worthy as everyone else,” said SCD society public relations head Manahel Mansour, exhibition lead organiser and festival treasurer. “We want to tell them: ‘You are capable!’”
Ms Mansour, an SCD patient herself, explained that the visual arts exhibition will be open to submissions from non-patients too, about any theme, regardless of skill level.
“The reason the show is open to everyone is so that people with the disease can integrate with other artists,” she said, adding that it was a measure to avoid making any of them feel different or singled out.
A short film titled The Tree (Al Shajarah), which will be screened during the festival, was written by former GDN photo-journalist and SCD patient Hawraa Marhoon, directed by her husband Hassan Abadli, and produced by a cast and crew of Bahrainis with SCD.
The theatre play titled Homemade is written and directed by Adel Al Maliki, while the concert will be performed by singers Yousif Alashiri and Mohammed Sulaimani. The festival and art show will open on March 30 at 9pm in the Cultural Hall.
The art exhibition will then move to the Colours of the East Art Gallery in Seef Mall Muharraq from April 1 to 30.
On May 1, ‘Whisper of Hope’ will conclude with a charity auction, which will also feature artwork of renowned artists like Abbas Almosawi and Ali Alfardan, with all proceeds going towards supporting the society’s activities.
A ‘best artwork’ will be selected among the entries at the art show, and the winning artist will receive a BD200 prize. All proceeds of the artworks sold at the show will go to the artists.
‘Whisper of Hope’ is supported by the Cabinet and will be attended by ministers and top officials, added Ms Mansour.
“I believe the ministers will leave the festival with a new perspective about SCD. This festival will be a source of pride for us,” she said.
Submissions to the art exhibition remain open until tomorrow. Artists who want to participate in the art show can contact Ms Mansour at 33231311 or visit tinyurl.com/wop-artexpo.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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