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For the next few weeks, the District will be a hub of Arab culture as the Kennedy Center presents Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World, a festival that begins tonight and runs through March 15. The festival will feature artists from all 22 nations that comprise the League of Arab States. The performances, many of which are free, will cover multiple artistic media, ranging from spoken word, to music and dance, to visual art.
Arabesque is the most recent example of the Kennedy Center's longstanding tradition of providing exposure to international artists.
"We've got a long tradition of doing these festivals," said Alicia Adams, the Center's Vice President of international programming and dance. "We set on a course to look at places in the world that haven't had that much representation on our stages."
Also on tap are exhibitions and installations on fashion, Arab calligraphy, cuisine, and the region's contribution to the world of science.
"Artists we approached felt this was an extraordinary opportunity," Adams said. "It's a way of putting a new and different face of this region."
One aspect of a Kennedy Center festival that sets it apart from similar venues is its focus on contemporary art. While there are traditional artists among the nearly 800 appearing in Arabesque, the festival does not focus on the past.
The curators of Arabesque selected participants after a great deal of research and field work, with Adams having visited 15 countries while working with consultants, ministries, and embassies.
"We have a mandate to put on the best in performing arts and education, so the international work becomes an important piece," she said. "People will be surprised by what they see."
Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World takes place at the Kennedy Center, beginning tonight and running through March 15. Tickets and performance schedules are available here.
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With so many performances scheduled, it would be great if you could offer up some possible highlights. I have no idea how to choose which to attend.