The Culture Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a coordination meeting, on Monday, 14 September 2026, with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and the Bahraini National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture to discuss preparations for celebrating International Day of Islamic Art and to review scientific and artistic proposals, highlighting the richness of this heritage and promoting youth participation in its preservation and revitalization.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of Culture Sector at ICESCO, commended the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to preserve and promote Islamic arts, emphasizing the importance of leveraging this occasion to showcase the aesthetic and intellectual dimensions of Islamic and Arab art and to strengthen its standing on the global cultural scene.

For his part, Dr. Mubarak Abdullah Buti, Acting Secretary-General of the Bahraini National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, presented a series of proposals to mark the occasion, including a visual presentation, a scientific seminar, and workshops on calligraphy and Islamic arts, as well as competitions for young people and an award for the best artwork.
For his part, Dr. Idham Hanash, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts, stressed that the celebration should lead to sustainable initiatives that support research and training in the fields of Islamic art. He proposed the establishment of “ICESCO Chair for Islamic Art” at a Bahraini academic institution, giving the collaboration a scientific dimension that extends beyond activities associated with the annual event.

The International Day of Islamic Art is celebrated annually on November 18, following an initiative by the Kingdom of Bahrain. It was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 40th session in 2019, to raise awareness of Islamic artistic expressions, both historical and contemporary, and highlight their contribution to human civilization.