Dar Al-Athar Launches Its 31st Cultural Season on the 28th

The Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya will open its 31st cultural season on Monday, September 28, with the annual lecture by Dr. Ziad Tariq Rajab, titled “Threads of Beauty: How Textiles and Ornamentation Connect Civilizations,” at the Yarmouk Cultural Center. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m., and the lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m.

This event is part of the cultural program for the 31st season of Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya, which launches its activities with this annual lecture, bringing together enthusiasts of culture, arts, and heritage.

As is customary with the start of each cultural season, Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya has issued an introductory catalog outlining its program, which includes a diverse range of events, cultural activities, and educational and artistic programs. In the catalog’s introduction, the institution states: “As usual, Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya opens its doors each September. The current 31st season features a bouquet of varied weekly events and activities, but with a fresh twist. We begin on Monday, just as the famous rhyme goes: ‘Saturday is Sabmboot... and Monday is Babain.’ Here at the Dar, we open on Monday with two doors: one for knowledge, through lectures that nourish the mind, and another for the soul, watered by musical notes.”

The institution added that “the season is rich with local and international exhibitions centered on artifacts from the Al-Sabah Archaeological Collection. These artifacts and archaeological pieces draw journeys to various corners of the world, from Gulf Cooperation Council countries to Europe and the United States in the west, and the People’s Republic of China in the east. Locally, the Dar inaugurates two new exhibitions: the first, titled ‘Ihsan: The Craft of Beauty in Mosques,’ and the second, ‘The Mystery of the Three Emeralds: The Green Path.’

It continued: “We continue this season by staging theatrical performances and the Autumn and Spring festivals. The Dar also offers workshops for all ages and special activities for children and families at its two locations in Yarmouk and Al-Amiriya. We strive, together with our friends and guests, to enjoy, learn, and gain knowledge together.”

The cultural season presents a series of lectures, typically held on Mondays from September 2026 to May 2027, covering diverse topics in history, art, and culture. They feature a number of researchers, academics, and specialists.

Among the prominent speakers are Prof. Raymond Farrin; Dr. Mohammed Al-Banna, a PhD researcher at Royal Holloway, University of London; Prof. Ahmed Saeed; Dr. Yousef Al-Badr; Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, a political science researcher; and others.

On another note, the season includes two theatrical performances. The first, in November, is titled “As You Like It,” directed by Hamad Al-Jenaibi, offering a contemporary vision of Shakespeare’s play. The second, in January, is the puppet play “New Hairstyle of Umm Al-Saf,” written by Huda Al-Shawa, based on characters from folk heritage in a social format.

The Al-Amiriya Cultural Center presents a diverse program for children throughout the season, combining learning, skill development, critical thinking, and interactive artistic activities. The program also includes the Children’s Arts Workshop (CAW) for ages 7 to 12, running from October to May under the slogan “I Am Art.”

The Dar has prepared a carefully curated musical program featuring a series of musical evenings hosting various artists and ensembles. These evenings include the Hamad bin Hussein Folk Arts Ensemble, the Ahmadi Musical Group, and artists such as Saud Al-Muzayel, Salman Al-Amiri, Abdulaziz Al-Musbah, and others.

The program offers a diverse range of musical selections, spanning from traditional Gulf music to classical compositions, reflecting the variety of musical experiences and styles celebrated by the season. The season also dedicates a diplomatic music program in collaboration with several embassies, including evenings with the Argentine Embassy on October 11, 2026; the Ukrainian Embassy on October 25; the Italian Embassy on November 1; and the Polish Embassy on November 29, 2026.

Within its cultural season, the Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah (Islamic Heritage House) organizes cultural tours both within and outside Kuwait, in line with its approach to combining learning with enjoyment. The season also features two major festivals: the Dar Autumn Festival, held on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Yarmouk Cultural Center, which includes interactive activities for children and adults, alongside handicrafts, music, and a variety of local foods.

The Dar Spring Festival will take place on Friday, April 9, 2027, offering diverse events for all ages, including tours of exhibitions at the American Cultural Center and workshops.

The season’s cinematic program includes a series of documentaries and classic films. A documentary series titled “Arabs – A Living History,” consisting of ten episodes, will be screened, along with a program featuring seven classic films.

The cultural season will host several external exhibitions in collaboration with international institutions and museums, including: “Wonders of the Ancient East” at the Shandong Museum in the People’s Republic of China, opening on October 10, 2026; “Spices and Wonders” at the Louvre Abu Dhabi on October 12, 2026; “Cultural Exchanges in the Afro-Eurasian World” at the Fondazione Prada in Milan on November 4, 2026; “Flowers and Blades” at the Hebei Museum in China on January 30, 2027; and “Wonders of the Ancient East” at the Inner Mongolia Museum on February 4, 2027.