Gazelle | Page 67

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© Mejdi El Bekri

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hird holy city of Islam, Kairouan is renowned for its beautiful mosque named Okba Ibn Nafaa
dating from 670. Nestled in the heart of the medina, it is the city’s emblematic building and
one of the most prestigious religious monuments in the Maghreb. Today, Kairouan is still the
cultural and religious capital, proclaimed “Capital of Islamic Culture“ in 2009. After the success
of the first Euro-Maghreb meeting for photographers organized in 2013 and entitled “The Sfax
Project“, the European Union delegation in Tunisia has organized from 25 to 31 May 2015 the
second session named “The Kairouan Project“. This initiative is a part of the European Union’s
constant effort to bring Mediterranean peoples together in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
This project has allowed 27 photographers from 17 European and North African countries to sublime Kairouan with
their cameras. This initiative was represented by Her Excellency the ambassador Laura Baeza, with the help of Leïla
Souissi, Commissioner of the event. “The Kairouan Project“, extraordinary artistic and cultural experience, is an
exceptional opportunity to share and enhance the city’s thousand years old heritage. Participants were invited to
discover the architectural and historical wealth of this ancient city, as well as its fabulous traditional craftsmanship.
Looking at the photographs, one can imagine a stroll in the maze and the most beautiful buildings of the medina.
After this residency, two successive exhibitions will take place in Kairouan, at the Centre of Interpretation and
Heritage from 9 to 29 November 2015 then in Tunis, at the palais “Al Abdallya“ in La Marsa, from 7 to 31 December
2015. After these two exhibitions, a selection of the best photos will be published in an art book. “The Kairouan
Project“ has a strong will to promote the Tunisian heritage and to show the value of this beautiful but still little
known city. This artistic event gives hope to transmit Kairouan’s cultural and patrimonial legacy. I

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