Documentary exhibit celebrates British Council legacy

08/07/2025

Documentary exhibit celebrates British Council legacy

British Ambassador Belinda Lewis listens attentively to Issa Dashti during the documentary exhibition at the National Library of Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, July 8: The National Library of Kuwait on Tuesday hosted a documentary exhibition by British affairs researcher Issa Dashti, marking the 70th anniversary of the British Council in Kuwait and the 250th anniversary of Kuwaiti-British relations. Sheikha Hala Al-Bader Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, British Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis and Director General of the library Siham Al-Azmi attended the event. In a statement on the sidelines of the event, Sheikha Hala Al-Bader expressed her appreciation for the British Council and its pioneering role since its founding in the 1950s. She pointed out that “relations between Kuwait and the United Kingdom are not only political, but also extend to social, economic and cultural dimensions.” She revealed that “the British Council, in its early days, enjoyed widespread interest among Kuwaitis keen on learning English, at a time Kuwaitis were fluent in multiple languages due to their travels and openness to the world.” She confirmed that “the exhibition reflects this passion through photographs and documents chronicling historic visits by members of the British royal family, such as Prince Charles when he was Crown Prince, and Princess Anne.”

Meanwhile, Al-Azmi emphasized that the exhibition is in line with the commitment of the library to document historical milestones that reflect the depth of cultural relations between Kuwait and friendly countries. Al-Azmi stressed that “celebrating the 70th anniversary of the British Council is a platinum occasion that is part of the strategy of the library to enrich its archive of historical documents and photographs. Culture, art and literature are bridges that strengthen the presence of Kuwait on the Arab cultural map. We appreciate the role of the British Council in this context for more than seven decades.” Through the exhibition, Dashti showcased his personal collection of original photographs and artifacts documenting the British Council’s activities since the 1950s; including educational materials, books and study aids that were distributed to council members to facilitate learning English. He highlighted the vital role of the council in supporting reading, traditional architecture and the arts, which contributed to strengthening ties between the two friendly peoples.

By Fares Ghaleb
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff