Under the Patronage of H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al Sabah Arabian Heritage Project at AUK to hold its Second Annual Al-Kout Festival

The American University of Kuwait's Arabian Heritage Project (AHP) will hold its Second Annual 'Al-Kout Festival' under the Patronage of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, State Minister for Housing Affairs and State Minister of Development Affairs, H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on April 21-22, 2010, from 12 pm to 7 pm. The Festival is open to the public and will host many prestigious organizations throughout Kuwait, including the National Museum, Youm Al Bahar, Sadu House, Dar al-Athar al-Isalmiya, and leading artisans in the community. 

Different units on campus will also have displays or present presentations, including the student clubs and the academic programs. Also, several noted craftspeople will be giving demonstrations and there will be repeated performances by at least two sea bands as well as musicians and bands from Bahrain and India. 

Under the motto of "Where Kuwaiti Past Meets Kuwaiti Future" the festival will present a microcosm of old Kuwait where the community visitors and students can see up close what life was like in the past. One can ride a camel, taste Kuwaiti bread cooked on an open fire, watch a carpenter make part of a boom, hear traditional poetry and listen to old sea songs. But also, we will present the Kuwait of the future, with examples of future dara'a clothing, poems by young poets, and the union of Modern and traditional music.

The 'Al-Kout Festival' is sponsored by KIPCO Holding Co., Gulf Insurance Company, Burgan Bank, GulfNet and Kuwait Hotels. 

The Arabian Heritage Project (AHP) is a center at AUK dedicated to fostering, documenting, and celebrating the traditional cultures of the Arabian Peninsula. The project is involved with a variety of traditions, including those of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the Yemen, and related Middle Eastern countries and parts of Africa and India. The Project serves the needs of Kuwait and the region through education and outreach pertaining to a myriad of customs including music, crafts, folklore, literature, poetry, ritual, and community traditions.

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is a liberal arts institution, based on the American model of higher education. It is dedicated to providing students with knowledge, self-awareness, and personal growth experiences that can enhance critical thinking, effective communication, and respect for diversity. AUK seeks to create leaders and life-long learners who aspire to the highest standards of moral and ethical responsibility in their societies.

For more information about Al-Kout Festival, please contact:

Dr. Lisa Urkevich
Director, Arabian Heritage Project
Associate Professor 
American University of Kuwait
Tel; +965-2224-8399 Ext. 410
M: + 965 6611 8298
Email:ArabaianHeritage@auk.edu.kw 

Images from last year's Al-Kout Festival