Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, SBA Chairperson, recently paid a visit to Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) in Paris with an objective of increasing cultural cooperation between Sharjah and France. She sat down with BNF President Gilles Pécout and discussed collaborations that highlight the two countries’ concerted efforts towards literary heritage and cross-cultural exchange .
Most notable areas of cooperation include the coordination of mutual exhibitions, online and on the ground, of rare manuscripts and historical documents owned by both institutions. These exhibitions will enhance cultural ties between Arab and French societies through the common heritage of books and archival material .
The two parties also committed to working together in the field of children’s literature, encouraging reading in the native language among young generations. This encompasses creating specialized programs to promote the visibility of Emirati and Arab children’s content and youth content in France, as well as enhancing the presence of French children’s literature in Sharjah and the UAE. The program will cover workshops, field activities, and mutual visits .
As an act of cultural exchange, Sheikha Bodour gifted copies of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language to both wings of the French National Library. This gesture represents the mutual commitment towards safeguarding linguistic heritage and promoting cross-cultural appreciation .
