Rich culture springs to life

Grammy award-winning Canadian jazz pianist and singer, Diana Krall, will be one of the major attractions alongside Saudi singing sensation Mohammed Abdo, popularly known as 'The Artist of the Arabs', at the fifth Spring of Culture festival that opens with a workshop tomorrow. The festival is set to run throughout March and promises an exciting range of diverse events from music, theatre and dance to films, art and book exhibitions and lectures. Young Bahraini talent will also be showcased through a new initiative that sees musicians, artists and performers present their creativity alongside international and well-established artistes. Among other 'must see' performances will be the modern version of Mozart's opera classic, The Magic Flute, brought to life by Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio from Italy who will combine the talents of a 20-nation orchestra to blend musical styles from reggae to jazz.

Your calendar of events February 25 Tarek Atoui Empty Cans: Workshop and game Date: February 25 to March 6 Time: Afternoons and weekends Venue: Al Riwaq Gallery Type: Educational workshops Minimum age: 12 to 18 years

March 1 Trio Tomb Time: 8pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Song Minimum age: 8 years

March 2 As the land expands the world gets closer November Paynter Time: 7pm Venue: Al Riwaq Art Space Type: Exhibition

My experience at The Baalbeck Festival May Arida Time: 8pm Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre Type: Lecture

March 6 My Dream China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe Time: 8pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Dance Theatre Minimum age: 8 years

Film screening for children and adults Dates: 6, 13, 20, 27 Time: 11am and 5pm (Children), 7pm (Adults) Venue: Al Riwaq Art Space Type: Film Screening

March 7 Distorted Reality Faisal Samra Dates: 7 to 28 Time: 7pm Venue: Albareh Art Gallery Type: Exhibition

March 8 In honour of Turfa bin Alabed Mohammed Moncef Ouhaibi Time: 8pm Venue: House of Poetry Type: Poetry

March 9 And 10 The Human Jungle Gym Galumpha Time: 3.30pm and 5:30pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Theatre Minimum age: 5 years

March 11 Amirat Attarab, Arab Divas Dorsaf Hamdani Time: 8pm Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre Type: Song Minimum age: 8 years

Dikakeen Waheeda Malullah Dates: 11 to 13 Time: 10am and 4pm Venue: Manama Souq Type: Exhibition

Galumpha A workshop in acrobatic partnerships Time: 4pm to 5pm, 6pm to 7pm Venue: Salman Cultural Centre Type: Educational workshops Minimum age: 7 years

March 12 Diana Krall Time: 8.30pm Venue: Arad Fort Type: Song Minimum age: 8 years Tickets: BD15, 20 and 30

March 14 Oud around the world Omar Bashir and his Band Time: 8pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Music Minimum age: 8 years

Collective Design Dates: 14 to 31 Time: 7pm Venue: Albareh Caf? Type: Exhibition

March 15 Fluidity and design Zaha Hadid Exhibition Date: 15 to April 30 Time: 6pm Venue: Memory of the Place - Bin Matar House Type: Exhibition

Philippe Aractingi Time: 8pm Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre Type: Lecture

March 16 Farida Mohammed Ali and The Iraqi Maqam Ensemble with special guest Omar Bashir Time: 8pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Song Minimum age: 8 years

March 17 Bal? De Rua Dates: 17 and 18 Time: 8.30pm Venue: Arad Fort Type: Dance and Percussion Minimum age: 8 years Tickets: BD10, 15 and 20

Bahrain 14th International Book Fair Dates: 17 to March 27 Time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 10.30 pm Friday 4.30pm to 10.30pm Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Type: Exhibition

March 18 Animalia Learn the Ancient Art of Shadow Puppetry Time: 5pm to 6pm Venue: Bahrain Fort Museum Type: Educational workshops Minimum Age: 7 years

March 19 Animalia Hobey Ford Dates: 19 and 20 Time: 11am and 3:30pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Theatre Minimum age: 2 years

Bal? De Rua A Vibrant Brazilian Dance Fusion Time: 4pm to 6pm Venue: Salman Cultural Centre Type: Educational workshops Minimum age: 14 years

Afro Moses Everyone has Rhythm, Everyone Can Play the Drums Time: 5pm to 6pm Venue: Bahrain Fort Museum Type: Educational workshops Minimum age: 13 to 18 years

March 20 Afro Moses Time: 5pm Venue: Arad Fort Type: Music Minimum age: 1 year Tickets: BD7

March 22 Opening of the extension of Abdulla al Zayed house for Bahraini Press Heritage Time: 7pm Venue: Al Zayed House Extension Type: Opening

The importance of a solid foundation for culture Gisele Khoury Time: 8pm Venue: Al Zayed House Type: Lecture

March 23 Amazing Thailand Sbun-nga Dance Company Time: 8pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Dance Minimum age: 8 years

March 24 An evening of song with Ahmad Kaabour Time: 8pm Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre Type: Song / Encounter Minimum age: 8 years

March 25 The Magic Flute Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio Time: 8:30 pm Venue: Arad Fort Type: Song Minimum age: 8 years Tickets: BD10, 15 and 20

The Italian Garden Children's Cheering Carpet Dates: 25 to 27 Time: 11am and 5pm Venue: Salman Culture Centre Type: Theatre Minimum age: 4 years Entry: Registration required March 26 Jungle Book City Dance Dates: 26 to 27 Time: 5pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Theatre Minimum age: 5 years

March 29 New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century Salwa Mikdadi Time: 8pm Venue: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre Type: Lecture

March 30 Mohammed Abdo Time: 8.30pm Venue: Arad Fort Type: Song Minimum age: 8 years Tickets: BD30, 40 and 50

Samaia A Georgian Dance Lesson Time: 5pm to 6pm Venue: Arad Fort Type: Educational workshops Minimum age: 7 years

March 31 Let it be Jewellery Dates: 31 to April 5 Time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm Venue: Bahrain National Museum-Hall 1 Type: Exhibition

Samaia Georgian Legend Time: 8pm Venue: Culture Hall Type: Dance Minimum age: 8 years

Convex: A new perspective Rashid Al Khalifa Date: April to May Venue: Bahrain National Museum Type: Art Exhibition

l For more information on events call 39900630; for workshops call 39230848 or visit www.springofculture.org Tickets for Arad Fort events are available at Seef Mall West Extension and Al Osra supermarket in Saar.