The Lebanese community and friends of Lebanon in Poland met in the Palace of Wilanów to celebrate this historical day of 22 November 1943 commemorating the victory of freedom. Chargé d’Affaires a. i. of the Lebanese Republic in Poland Mr. Ara Khatchadourian and Mr. Paweł Jaskanis, director of the Palace of Wilanów organized a memorable event attended by over 200 guests from the diplomatic corps as well as major figures from the political, academic and cultural world.

The choir Cantores Minores of the Archdiocese of Warsaw opened the celebration with the Lebanese and Polish national anthems. The publishing house Nowy Horyzont presented a new publication of Khalil Gibran’s book The Prophet translated by Bogusława Koziorowska-Jurkievich, whose fragments were played by the famous Polish actor Jerzy Zelnik.

But the star of the evening was the wonderful Lebanese soprano Nadine Nassar, who gave a concert in three languages, captivating the audience with her voice and charm. The anniversary of Independence of Lebanon certainly reminded to the Lebanese living abroad the importance of gathering every year.

17-31/10/2010
Exhibition in Warsaw Museum of Modern Art
Address: Warsaw, 4 Frascati Street.

Karol Schayer (1900-1971) is a Polish architect who lived in Lebanon during the Second World War. His professional activity has left its permanent mark on the architecture of Beirut and the main cities in Lebanon.

Conference about Karol Schayer
The opening of the exhibition is followed by a lecture given by Professor George Arbid from the American University of Beirut.
Time and place: 17/10/2010 at 4 p.m., address: Warsaw, 3 Pańska Street.

Read more: “From Frascati to Beirut”– Gazeta.pl

President of the Board of Warsaw Book Fair Ms. Aldona Zawadzka, President of the Board of Murator Expo Mr. Jacek Oryl and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Lebanese Republic H.E. Ambassador Michel Bitar co-hosted a Gala Concert crowning the Warsaw Book Fair in the Concert Hall of the Palace of Culture and Science.
The Lebanese Soprano Nadine Nassar performed works by Frederic Chopin to the accompaniment by Ms. Alina Hoffman. The second part of the concert was given by Włodzimierz Nahorny Sextet who also performed works by Frederic Chopin. The meeting included the award ceremony of the first stage of “Edycja Chopin 2010” competition.
National refreshments were provided from  Lebanese restaurants „Le Cedre” and „Samira”.

Jolanta Szala, fashion designer invites to an extraordinary evening on art and fashion held on 7 March 2010 at 5 p.m. in the Copper Roofed Palace of the Royal Castle in Warsaw Old Town.
In the frame of the Museum Oriental Carpet collection a discussion will be led by the journalist Klaudia Carlos on qualities and values common for modern women regardless of cultural differences.
Among distinguished guests participating in the discussion are Agata Passent (writer), Dariusz Chyb (art historian), Anna Sobczak (turkolog) and Rana Gabi who represents the Middle East women. The program includes Jolanta Szala’s fashion show inspired by the Orient.

Lebanese storyteller Jihad Darwiche and the Association Grupa Studnia O. tell:
The Epic of Gilgamesh, Tales of Arabian Nights and other wonderful stories all in the charming frame of the Museum Oriental Carpet collection of the Royal Castle in Warsaw on December 5th 2009 at 9 p.m.

Pałac pod Blachą (Copper Roofed Palace of the Royal Castle in Warsaw Old Town).

Read more:
Jihad Darwiche
Association Grupa Studnia O.

23/11/2009  On the occasion of the 66th Anniversary of the Independence of Lebanon, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Ambassador Michel Bitar met officials of the Polish Government, representatives of Diplomatic Missions and the Lebanese community in Warsaw at a reception in Kyriad Prestige Hotel.

After welcoming his honorable guests, H.E. Ambassador Michel Bitar spoke about struggle of the Lebanese people for independence and the important challenges in regaining stability in a tumultuous region. He also paid tribute to the admirable dedication of Polish Troops who have been engaged for a long time in peacekeeping duties in South Lebanon and thanked the Polish Government for its great contribution.

After the speech, guests were invited to savour Lebanese specialties prepared by the Lebanese restaurants “Le Cedre” and “Samira” as well as the Embassy’s own cook.

21-27/11/2009    
Fiction in Action
Exhibition of Young Lebanese Artists in Warsaw

Ali Cherri – video works
Randa Mirza – series of photographs
Walid Raad – selection from the Atlas Group Archives
Mounira al Solh – video installation “As if I Don’t Fit There”

Opening: 21/11/2009, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Exhibition – open until December 16, 2009

22/11/2009, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Lecture by Stefanie Baumann from the Université Paris 8 devoted to the Lebanese contemporary art

27/11/2009, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Meeting ending workshops „Fenix Cities – Art Workshops and Exhibitions in Warsaw and Beirut” for young Lebanese and Polish artists and cultural operators.

Curators of the project:
Marta Bogdańska, Magdalena Kępka
Contact: 605 10 20 47
The exhibition and meetings are held in Raster Gallery
42 Hoża str. apt 8, 3rd floor
00-516 Warsaw
Read more: Fiction in Action – raster.art.pl

19-20/09/2009
Exhibition and cultural event “Glow of life in the desert” in cooperation with the Institute of Regional and Global Studies of the University of Warsaw.
This Scientific Picnic of the Polish Academy of Science includes a tent with special program on everyday life in Arab societies.
The Embassy of Lebanon for this occasion organizes:
– Culinary shows (how to prepare regional dishes, Tabouleh, Hummus etc.) in cooperation with the restaurant Le Cedre
– Short lecture of the Arabic language
– Dancing and music
– Photo exhibition
– Slide projection on tourism in Lebanon
– Drawing workshop for children with the assistance of artists from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts (Ms. Jagna Wróblewska and Mr. Alexander Pawlik).

Institute of Regional and Global Studies: dr. Izabella Lecka, dr. Anna Dudek, dr. Marcin Solarz. Warsaw School of Human Sciences: Mgr. Katarzyna Skrzypiec. Embassy of the Lebanese Republic: Responsible for Cultural Affairs, Ms. Rana Gabi.

On the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the Independence of Lebanon, Ambassador of Lebanon H.E. Hikmat Aouad invited together with the Director of Wilanów Palace Mr. Paweł Jaskanis prominent Polish personalities, actors, politicians and journalists to a cultural evening in the context of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Gibran Khalil Gibran followed by a reception.

Among the guests were Mr. Bogdan Borusewicz – President of Polish Senat, Mr. Jerzy Andrzejewski – Senator, Ms. Małgorzata Manka-Szulik – President of the city of Zabrze, Polish actor Karol Strasburger and Polish TV presenter Mr. Jaroslaw Kret, Ambassadors accredited to Poland and diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland as well as the Lebanese community in Poland.

The famous Polish actor Mr. Andrzej Seweryn red excerpts from the newly published book “The Prorok” which is a translation to Polish of Gibran’s book “The Prophet” by the Polish writer Ms. Boguslawa Koziorowska- Jurkevich in cooperation with the Embassy of Lebanon in Warsaw.

The program also included a concert by the brilliant Polish singer Ms. Aneta Barcik who sang Lebanese songs for Fairouz .Another book “Life nearby the war” by father Kazimierz Gajowy, which describes the suffering of Lebanese people during the war against Lebanon in 2006, was launched during this cultural evening.
The Polish journalist Mr. Stanislaw Strasburger also presented his newly published book “Handlarz wspomnień albo bitwa poetów” and performed as a moderator for the evening which was broadcasted on Polsat TV and TVP.

On the 6th of November 2008, the Ambassador of Lebanon Mr. Hikmat Aouad invited together with Le Cedre restaurant journalists and media representatives to a cultural evening to launch the new translation to the Polish of the book “The Prophet” by the Lebanese writer and philosopher Gibran Khalil Gibran. The evening was organized on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Khalil Gibran and 85th Anniversary of the first edition of his book “The Prophet”. The newest edition (Polish-English ) has been translated by Ms. Boguslava Yurkevich and published by Agencja Wydawnicza Nowy Horyzont.
In his speech H.E. Mr. Hikmat Aouad welcomed the participants and the guests and talked about the writings of Gibran and his life.
On the program of the evening were lectures on various topics connected with the Lebanese culture and literature. The speakers included Professor Elżbieta Rekłajtis from the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, Mr. Tadeusz Strulak, former Polish ambassador to Lebanon, General Stanislaw Woźniak, former chief of the Polish Military Contingent in Lebanon and Ms. Monika Antkiewicz, journalist. Ms. Grażyna Skowron-Matkowska, a Polish singer, gave a recital of Edith Piaf’s and Hanka Ordonowna’s songs.

Read more: ttg.com.pl