The Scottish capital city of Edinburgh really knows how to throw a party so much so that it hosts almost a dozen festivals every year. The citizens of Edinburgh are very passionate about art and culture and they, along with visitors to the city, really enjoy the various performances, spectacles and events which feature in these festivals. The bulk of Edinburgh’s festivals however, seem to be held in the month of August. These festivals which are usually six in number, are collectively known as the Edinburgh festival and this year they kick off on the last day in July with the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.
Fringe Poster- Photo Credit:theedinburghblog
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Summertime around the world is associated with a plethora of events, festivals and other happenings as people like to be out and about rather than cooped up at home like they are during the winter months. Accordingly, several European cities will host major contemporary art exhibitions during the summer of 2009 which are bound to enthrall and delight the hordes.
These art fests usually feature many allied local events and boisterous parties as the entire host city comes together to celebrate its art appreciation event.
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A mosque is a place of worship for the Muslim community. Islam is the world’s second largest religion after Christianity and it is estimated that are more than billion Muslims scattered all over the world.The religion is predominant in Africa and the Middle East and is followed in large parts of Asia and Eastern Europe as well. This monotheistic, Abrahamic religion originated with teachings of Prophet Muhammad, an Arabic religious and political figure who lived in the 7th century. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the teachings of Islam were spread throughout the world through the various Islamic empires like the Caliphs, Ottomans, and the Mughals.
As Islam spread to different parts of the globe, its promoters established many mosques at various locations.These mosques were built in a variety of styles depending on the region they were built in but they often had similar architectural aspects like minarets and domes. In some cases, even churches, temples and synagogues were converted into Mosques.
Hagia Sophia- Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia functioned as a church during Byzantine times after which it was transformed into a mosque when the Ottomans invaded Turkey. In 1935, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of Turkey converted it into a museum. Though all mosques are places of worship they have differing features, while some have educational centers called ‘madrasas’ located within their folds others have welfare centers and hospitals. The Mosque is an integral component of the Muslim community who regard it not only as a place of worship but as meeting place for the community.
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Buenos Aires which is one of the largest cities of the South American continent is a vibrant and pulsating city which has been influenced greatly by European style. Buenos Aires or ‘Bue’ as it is colloquially called is often referred to as the ‘Paris of the South. This city which is also considered to be the birth place of the dance form known as the Tango boasts of an exciting art scene as is reflected by its many fantastic museums like the Museo Nacional De Belles Artes, the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires/Colleccion Constantini( MALBA), the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo amongst others.
To further the interests and popularize Latin American art, Buenos Aires based ArteBA Fundacion each year holds a huge Contemporary Art Fair called ArteBA. This year this grand showcase of Latin American art is to be held from Friday, 22nd May to Tuesday, 26th May at La Rural Exhibition Center which is located in the barrio( district) of Palermo which is located on the north east side of this sprawling port city located on the west bank of the Río de la Plata.
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The Sydney Writers’ Festival is the biggest literary event in Australia. This literary event has been held annually since 1997 and it attracts an interesting mix of authors, poets, biographers, editors, publishers and book lovers from Australia and the rest of the world. More than 65,000 people attend this week long festival which is held at various venues like Pier 4/5 and the Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay and the City Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House and The Mint. The 2008 festival extended the scope of the Sydney Writers’ Festival to several locales in suburban Sydney like Parramatta, Ashfield, Blacktown etc. This year this expertly curated festival will be held from Monday the 18th of May to Sunday the 24th of May and will feature a whole host of events like workshops, talks, discussions and book fairs.
The Sydney Writers’ Festival 2009 assumes even more importance in a world where the written word is being constantly challenged by the digital age. Where newspapers are being forced to shut down every day due to loss in ad revenue and circulation and ‘old fashioned’ books are being replaced by digital readers like the Kindle which are equipped to read thousands of e-books. This year the writer’s festival will feature programs that have been inspired by current political and social events like the election of the first African-American President of the USA. read more
