-

Thursday (Dec 3)'Bahrain in the eyes of the world' - a four-day national art festival celebrating the kingdom's social and cultural exchange with different civilisations and cultures begins today at the Cultural Hall, near Bahrain National Museum. Along with a photography exhibition, the festival will feature traditional dancing, music concerts, plays, poetry recitation and comedy shows.

Local artists Abbas Al Mosawi and Aqeel Al Dorazi will also display their paintings. Participating nations include Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia and Yemen. Entry is free. For more information call organisers on 3928815 or 36430069.

Artist Ella Prakash is hosting an exhibition at the Ella Art Gallery in Hoora until December 10. 'Rhythm of Colours' will feature figurative paintings in an abstract style. For details contact 39073299 or 17292815 or log on to www.ellagallery.com

Award-winning Bahraini photographer Ghada Khunji will premier her 'Hindustan' exhibition at La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art in Manama. Ticket is BD20 and with dinner BD30. The exhibition begins at 6pm and concert at 8pm. For details, contact 17230123, log on to www.lafontaineartcentre.net or email lfccart@batelco.com.bh

Oliver! will be staged at the British Club today, tomorrow and the day after. With a cast of 37 professionally trained singers and actors, the M.A.S.K's (Music and Stage for Kids) first production in Bahrain, the musical appeals to all age groups and tells the story of a young orphaned boy who finds himself on the mean streets of Victorian London and meets some crafty and witty characters. A 15-piece band will accompany the actors. Ticket are BD6 and available at the British Club in Umm Al Hasam, Al Osra Supermarket Budaiya and The Sar Music Centre. For details contact 39875782.

Friday (Dec 4)

The Gulf Chamber Philharmonia will present Dmitri Torchinsky with Sonja Park at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Arts in Manama at 8pm. For details contact 17230123 or email lfccart@batelco.com.bh

The Filipino Club in Bahrain will celebrate its 30th anniversary on December 4 at the Andalus Garden in Gudaibya. The event will highlight some of the regional festivals in the Philippines as well as showcase Filipino dishes, traditional games, arts, photography and crafts bazaar, karaoke singing as well as information booth for government services available for Overseas Filipino Workers and special interest groups. The event is open to all. For details contact Nestor Buhay at 39854790 or Leslie Garduque at 36311563 or visit www.filipinoclubbahrain. org

More than 30 teams representing corporate, government and NGOs will participate for the Treasure Hunt Day starting at the Marriott Hotel in Juffair at 9am and ending at the Lagoon in Amwaj at 6pm. Event organiser Eventscom-Bahrain has made the main focus "Changing Behaviour Towards The Environment".

Activities for this event are designed to steer people and organisations alike towards the path of a cleaner and greener Bahrain and urge them to take up active role in the well being of the environment.

Teams will simultaneously be competing to solve clues, leading them along a pre-determined map route to a wide spectrum of locations around Bahrain, whilst being monitored by team marshals. The winning team will take home $1,000. For details contact 17226775 or 39421401 or visit www.ethbahrain.com

The Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Lions Club of Riffa, KPMG Fakhro and the Art of Living group in coordination with Universal Projects is organising a beach cleaning event at Jazzayir Beach, Zallaq from 8am to 11am. More than 200 people are likely to promote environmental consciousness. Bus transport starts at 7.30am and will return by 11.30 am. For details contact Sanjay Gupta on 39415356 or Nitin Mahajan on 39784087.

Saturday (Dec 5)

St. Christopher's School in Saar is hosting a series of first aid courses. It includes Child Care Emergency Aid today and December 12 from 9am - 12.30pm as well as December 9 from 6pm-9.30pm, Emergency Aid on Sunday and December 13 from 6pm - 9.30 pm. Each course is BD25 and includes manual and certificate. For details contact Pam Kamal on 36732223.

The American Women's Assocation (AWA) will hold its 31st Annual Fall Craft Fair from noon to 5pm at the Bapco Club in Awali. Handmade jewellery, art, holiday ornaments and decorations, homemade baked goods, toys, stationery and hundreds of other items will be on display for purchase.

Children will have plenty to keep busy. There will be basket weaving demonstrations, painting with Studio Ceramics and AWA Art Group, henna, face painting and cupcakes to decorate and purchase. Entry is 500 fils and supports many of the AWA's Community Service Projects. Children five and under are admitted free with accompanying adult.

For details contact avhenzel@hotmail.com

Artist Demi McLeod will be holding an open studio day from 10am at her residence in Zinj. She will introduce her new and unfinished paintings inspired by a visit to Florence this summer. For details contact Demi on 36425701 or email demi.mcleod@hotmail

Sunday (Dec 6)

Al Riwaq gallery in Adliya is presenting 'Bytes and Pieces', a workshop over technologies applied to art led by video artist and sound performer Tarek Atoui until December 11. Ten participants have been already selected among Bahraini artists, musicians and video makers focusing on the use of new and interactive technologies in the fields of interdisciplinary performances and installations. The programme will also discuss the live aspect of these disciplines and their relation to the performer, the spectator and to their environment. For more details email info@alriwaqgallery.org

Monday (Dec 7)

The Al Riwaq gallery in Adliya is hosting a solo exhibition by Waheeda Malullah until December 28. The show entitled 'visual games' will take the perspective of children's point of view in order to trace their process of creating games. The work, driven by Waheeda's interest in child psychology, will be exploring the way in which children structure their thought process. The artist will convey this through photographic and video works which will deal with this theme in a playful manner. For details email info@alriwaqgallery.org or contact 17581176.

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park is offering fun lovers attractive discounts on its annual pass. It can be purchased for BD 50 per person for a limited time.

Splashdown pass holders will also receive a 10 per cent discount on food and beverages when presenting the annual pass at any of the eight outlets in the park, a free locker worth BD2.5 every visit and a 15 per cent discount on selected merchandise from the park's retail section 'Souk'. For details contact public relations manager Adam Page at 36048649 or email adam.page@LPODwaterpark.com. For group bookings email group.sales@LPODwaterpark .com

Tuesday (Dec 8)

A movie night will be held at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Arts in Manama featuring 'The Nutcracker Ballet' at 7pm. The Christmas ballet by the Bolshoi Ballet, tells the story of a young girl Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads. The ballet is a fantastic tale presented in the choreography of Yuri Grigorovich. Dinner and movie is at BD15 with a 50 per cent reduction for children aged 12 and below. For details contact 17230123 or email lfccart@batelco.com.bh

Studio Ceramics in Budaiya is exhibiting works of two Bahrain-based artists Shelly Harrigan and Manjiri Shah until December 12 from 9.30am to 6pm. Shelly has enjoyed painting for the past six years. This is her first exhibition and it features pieces were inspired by the art and colours of Central America mainly Honduras. Manjiri is influenced by Indian art and her art features different aspects of beauty using bold colours. She has lived in Bahrain for eight years and started painting five years ago.

For details contact 17599026 or email studioceramics@batelco.com. bh