Syrian- British active Cultural co-operation
Syria-UK, Culture, 2/2/2001

"The British Council has evolved considerable since it was established in Syria in the late 1940s. From humble beginnings in the Halbouni district of Damascus and limited activity, we have now a modern and spacious building in the center of town which we offer a wide range of activities and programs", said Mr. Fares Kallas the Arts Manager at the British Council in Damascus in a statement to Arabic News.

Outlining current activities carried out by the British council in collaboration with the Syrian side, Mr Kallas noted the conference for teachers of English at the University of Damascus.

He elaborated that the British Council, in co-operation with the English for Special Purposes Center at the University of Damascus and with the support from the Syrian ministers of Higher Education and Education, is organizing a TEFL ( Teaching English as a Foreign Language) conference.

He said that the emphasis will be on practical classroom issues and will include the use of technology in teaching. The conference is aimed at all teachers of English from throughout Syria. It will take place at the English for Special purposes Center at the University of Damascus from 27 to 29 of March.

He said that the British council will support the participation of up to 8 speakers from British universities.

Citing other activities by the British council for the beginning of the new year, Mr. Kallas said that "Ultravision" a brand new exhibition of the best in British graphic design, has been commissioned by the British Council to tour overseas, will arrive in Syria in February.

Work by leading designers such as Angus Hyland at Pentagram, Bump, Bless the Artist, Tomato, Multi Storey and Graven Images, will be displayed in a revolutionary news display unit called ³ the Chameleon ³. Each unit displays three images in sequence giving the illusion of one image dissolving into the next.

Ultravision is part of a program of design activities organized by the British Council in partnership with the Department for Trade and Industry ( DTI), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ( FCO) and the British design community, aimed at enhancing perception of Britain as a forward- looking, creative nation.

He added that a well- known British writer, Robert Irwin, will tour the four Syrian universities of Damascus, Tishreen, al-Baath University and Aleppo in March and give readings from his books in the department of English. Robert Irwin writes both non-fiction and fiction. His non- fiction works include the highly acclaimed ³ The Arabia Night: A companion ( 1994) and Islamic art ( 1997) ³ His five novels have been translated into fourteen languages. They have all enjoyed critical and commercial success.

He continued that in November 2000 there was an exhibition of Fine Art Works by Six British Artists from Coventry University in the al-Assad Library Gallery in Damascus.

He explained this exhibition ³ the States of Grace¹ presented the artistic works of six professors and each had a different topic and technique which allowed the visitor to become acquainted with the contemporary European scene. All the art works were innovative and based on experience and extensive study. The exhibition showed artistic vision springing from creative freedom.

He added that the success of the exhibition has led us to tour the exhibition to Aleppo and Lattakia. The works will be exhibited at the Shibani Church in Aleppo from February 18 to 22 and at the National Museum in Lattakia from 24-28 February.

Mr. Kallas also indicated that the British Council in co-operation with the Ministry of Higher Education, the Syrian universities and the Chambers of Commerce is organizing a British Business Books Exhibition during the period 10 March- 16 April.

He said the exhibition will contain around 300 books and related materials and will tour Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Lattakia. The books will be displayed in the Faculties of economics, the Chambers of Commerce and the al-Assad Library.

He said that the British Council in Aleppo has expanded its premises in al-Sabeel, Franciscan to the third floor to meet the increasing demand for English Language teaching.

Following the move upstairs the council can now cater to a larger number of students at all levels from beginners to advanced.

Mr. Kallas added that to commemorate the new Millennium, the British book publisher Every-man has published books of world literature that it considers to be the greatest works of the last 2,000 years.. All the works have been translated into English and the collection includes the Holy Koran and A Thousand and One Nights. The British Council has donated a collection of these books to the department of English at each university.

Among other activities carried out by the British council in collaboration with the Syrian side concerned, Mr Kallas noted that archaeological excavations at the Citadel in Homs took place in October and November, 2000. He added that the excavations were led by the School of Oriental and African Studies at London University and are undertaken in co-operation with the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, with funding from the Council for British Research in the Levant ( CBRL). There were some exciting finds and more excavations are likely to take place in the coming years .

Previous Stories:
  Six British artists display in Damascus for the first time in 40 years   (11/8/2000)
  British Council director: A wide and growing interest to retain cultural links with Syria   (3/25/2000)

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