Ghavan: Kuwait and France... 65 Years of Shared Ties
Olivier Goffin, the French Ambassador to Kuwait, affirmed that the 65-year history of Kuwaiti-French relations cannot be reduced to mere years, but is embodied in a vast network of human, cultural, educational, and scientific ties that have been strengthened between the two countries year after year. He emphasized that students, researchers, artists, and institutions developing joint projects between Kuwait and France “contribute to writing the beautiful story of friendship between our two countries.”
Goffin made these remarks during the launch of the French Institute in Kuwait’s cultural season for the second half of 2026, held at its premises in the Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cultural Center area in Al-Jabriya, in the presence of the Institute’s Director, Soraya Sa’ad, along with partners, sponsors, key figures in the Kuwaiti cultural scene, and heads of diplomatic missions.
Goffin praised the ongoing partnership between the French Institute and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, affirming the Council’s fundamental role in supporting culture and enhancing its presence in Kuwait. He noted that cultural cooperation constitutes one of the important components of the historical relations between the two countries.
He stated that “65 years of relations between France and Kuwait, and more than 200 years of friendship, are measured not only by the passage of time, but also by the richness of the human, cultural, educational, and scientific ties woven year after year,” adding that these relations derive their strength from the continuous interaction between the peoples and institutions of both countries.
The new cultural season includes the performance “Agamemnon and Perfumes,” which will be held at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center on October 13, in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, in an experience that combines music, art, and sensory dimensions. The performance is part of a diverse program through which the Institute seeks to present different forms of cultural and artistic expression and enhance exchange between French and Kuwaiti experiences.
The French Institute will also participate in “French Week,” to be held at The Capital Mall from October 28 to 31, with the participation of educational institutions and French companies operating in Kuwait.
The week will showcase multiple facets of French expertise in the fields of culture, education, culinary arts, automobiles, and high-tech industries, allowing the Kuwaiti public to discover diverse models of the French presence in Kuwait.
The Institute will also participate in the Kuwait International Book Fair through a program featuring a series of literary encounters. Additionally, December will witness a new event for “The France-Kuwait Diwaniya,” marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event will be organized in cooperation with the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, held simultaneously in the French capital and Kuwait, with the participation of figures and actors from the cultural scenes of both countries.
Soraya Sa’ad, Director of the French Institute in Kuwait, affirmed that the Institute “wishes to be a place open to the Kuwaiti artistic and cultural scene,” where French and Kuwaiti artists, creators, and professionals can meet, exchange ideas, and work on new projects.
“Galerie 41” will continue to host quarterly exhibitions of contemporary art, while the Institute will launch “Club France,” a new space dedicated to engaging with French culture through music, films, and literary encounters, alongside cultural and digital experiences, including virtual reality.
