Tunis — From December 2 to March 31, 2009, Kairouan will host a cultural exhibit dubbed "Mediterranean civilizational innovation: exchange and communication". The exhibit which is hosted by the Rekada Museum of Islamic Arts and Civilization, is organized by the Ministry of culture and heritage preservation.

The event is also part of the El Kantara (bridge) Euro- Med project, aiming at fostering exchange and communication between East and West, in order to highlight the shared civilizational heritage between the countries bordering the Mediterranean.

Launched by the Paris based Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe), the project groups seven countries from both shores of the Mare Nostrum, namely Tunisia, Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, France and Spain and Algeria, with the contribution of Egypt and Syria.

The exhibit which consist in historic documents, photos, and sound presentations will be simultaneously shown in the afore mentioned countries, primarily targeting young people and students.

The choice of Kairouan to host such a symbolic exhibit, is certainly not fortuitous.

The city is actively readying itself to be promoted as "the Capital of Islamic Culture" in 2009. Several rehabilitation works have already been engaged by the local authorities who are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to give a new shine to the prestigious city.