FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
West Östlicher Diwan Festival Weimar gGmbH
National Network
Germany
Address
Mittelstrasse 14, D-99425 Weimar (Oberweimar) Weimar GermanyCountry
GermanyCity
WeimarStreet address 2
Mittelstrasse 14, D-99425 Weimar (Oberweimar)Mobile Phone
+49.175.5677705Telephone
0049 / 3643 / 90 89 88Website
Click HereYear of Establishment
2009Contact Person1
Dr. Klaus GallasOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
International/Cultural relationsGeneral Information
The ambitious aim of the yearly recurring festival West Eastern Divan is meant to vividly shape cultural bridges between the countries of the oriental Arabic world, that is between countries of Islamic culture, and countries of the Christian Occident, that is Europe. It is aimed at revealing mutual delicate issues, prejudices and misunderstandings that exist on both sides, and to make them intelligible in order to creatively use this chance to come closer to one another and to understand people who have different cultural and religious backgrounds. It is our aim to comprehend that in particular in meeting the unknown it is possible to realize differences which are a significant precondition when trying to understand another culture. The aim is to shape bridges of understanding that promote peace, and to impart educationMission and Objectives
Naturally, such a festival considers itself a multi-cultural event between orient and occident in order to lower the threshold between the people in Germany and the Islamic world. The town of Weimar that honours the two great poets Goethe and Hafis with its West Eastern Divan Memorial is a very suitable place to perform such an event which needs to be close to the citizens in terms of content, but on the other hand has to meet great artistic demands in order to initiate international interest in the message that is to be transported through this festival. The festival was designed in a way that a positive effect is likely thanks to the anticipated media association.Main Projects / Activities
The festival shall consist of three complementing main pillars. Each year, one country of the Middle East will be invited to come to Weimar, and together with them the respective annual programme will be designed. These three emphasis consist of the following cultural areas: Festival Programme with the subjects Music ■ classical music interpreted by artists from the host countries ■ traditional and contemporary music from the host countries Dance ■ this part of the programme is supposed to particularly attract young people from the age of 16 Plastic Arts ■ exhibition presenting works (paintings) of artists from the host countries ○ film week presenting films of the host countries ○ lectures of authors from the host countries (including simultaneous interpreting into German and/or in German) and presentation ○ presentation of the host countries in the form of accompanying lectures