A cultural week with countries of the Arab world took place in Hamburg from 28 November to 4 December 2005. First Mayor Ole von Beust was its patron. Organised in cooperation with the Asia–Africa Institute at the University of Hamburg, it carried the theme “Images of Arabia: Current Perspectives on Cultural Diversity and Global Developments”.
Events in the Hanseatic city explored the following themes:
Images in art
Images of opinion
Poetic images
Fashion role models
The programme included photography and art exhibitions by participants from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar; South Arabian handicrafts presented alongside an exhibition of Jewish silver jewellery; Arab jazz by Ali Shibly; media roundtables and panel discussions with prominent figures from the media and politics; academic lectures; readings of Arabic poetry; and even a fashion exhibition.
There was something for everyone attending the cultural week. First Mayor Ole van Beust was enthusiastic about the events and looked forward to a future in which Hamburg and the Arab world would grow even closer.