The French Institute Returns with a Cultural Season Celebrating Kuwaiti Creatives

Maysa Al-Suwaidi – After months of suspension, the French Institute in Kuwait has resumed its activities, restarting French language courses and launching its new cultural season with an exhibition of Kuwaiti artist Mariam Al-Salem, which will be open to the public until December 12 next year. In remarks made on the sidelines of the exhibition’s opening, French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Guéven confirmed that Kuwaiti-French relations, spanning 65 years, extend beyond official visits and political dialogue to encompass education, scientific research, the arts, and joint projects. “Relations between the two countries are also measured by the students learning French, the researchers working together, the artists exhibiting their work, and the institutions building joint projects,” Guéven said. He emphasized that culture serves as one of the most prominent bridges of closeness between the Kuwaiti and French peoples, noting that the French Institute’s mission goes beyond language instruction to provide a space for communication, dialogue, and cultural exchange. He added that hosting Kuwaiti artists and providing them with opportunities to showcase their work lies at the heart of the Institute’s mission. Guéven revealed that the new cultural season includes a diverse program of musical concerts, art exhibitions, film screenings, literary meetings, and educational activities, alongside events and projects carried out in collaboration with partner institutions across Kuwait. Regarding the selection of Mariam Al-Salem to inaugurate the season, Guéven said, “What distinguishes her experience is the way she looks at Kuwait,” explaining that she starts from familiar scenes and re-presents them through a unique artistic vision, utilizing composition, color, and movement.