On Wednesday evening, the Abbaye de Neumunster in Luxembourg-Grund was the setting for the launch of the Arabic Association for Cultural Exchange (AACE) in Luxembourg.

With the tag-line "Culture for humanity", the organisation was launched in Luxembourgish and English. Tarek xxx said that culture can heal disagreements and can bring people together, not separate them.

The AACE President, Nezar Al-Rawi, thanked everyone involved in setting up the association, as well as the volunteers involved in the evening's organisation. He explained that the association has been set up to use Arabic culture for humanity. The mission of the association is to build a cultural bridge between the Arab World and Europe in order to show the peaceful and beautiful side of Arabic culture. He added that the world has become smaller due to advances in communication and technology; similarly, the war in the Middle East has affected everyone world-wide. He acknowledged so many people welcoming and helping the millions of people fleeing from war, bringing Arabic culture with them.

Arabic art and culture is one of the richest in the world; he called for the association to use music and art to make solutions and bridge backgrounds, with education, architecture and technology also helping to bring communities together. With painting, calligraphy, music and other diverse activities in the world of culture - all will be used in workshops, exhibitions and other events to spread the word of Arabic culture to young and old alike.

He mentioned the association's plans to hold an International Arabic Music Festival, as well as promote Arabic cinema, here in the Grand Duchy, in keeping with the association's aims of promoting intra-cultural exchange and thus increase values of understanding and tolerance.

Renée Aakrann-Fezzo, the association's secretary general, talked about the diverse backgrounds of the people behind the association, including the founding members. Bob Krieps, recently retired from Luxembourg's Ministry of Culture and formerly in media, is the association's vice-President; and Paul Thiltges, from the film industry, is the association's Treasurer. Fari Khabirpour and Pina Delvaux complete the committee.

Following the formal part of the evening, the hundred or so attendees were treated to a range of Arabic culture, including a video on Arabic art as well as music and song, courtesy of the Luxembourg musician and composer David Ianni (piano) together with the Iraqi musician and composer Anwar Abu Dragh (Oud and Maqam), with a walking dinner concluding the programme.

For details, see www.aace.lu