Algerian Radio
The activities of the Algiers International Projection Mapping Festival kicked off on Saturday evening at the Bardo Museum in Algiers, presenting an innovative artistic experience in the field of digital arts that highlighted the aesthetics of Algerian architectural heritage.
The signal for the launch of the first edition of this festival, running from February 21 to 28, was given at the Bardo National Public Museum in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture and Arts and a representative of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises, both sponsoring this digital event. Also present was the Ambassador of Canada to Algeria, Robin Lynne Wettlaufer, whose country was chosen as the guest of honor for this edition.
The Director of the Bardo Museum, Zoheir Harichane said that this festival is an "initiative" that falls within the vision of the Ministry of Culture and Arts aimed at "modernizing the museum experience in Algeria and integrating digital media in the presentation and valorization of cultural heritage." In this regard, he pointed to the modern experiences and exhibitions witnessed by museum institutions in recent years, which reflect, he added"a strategic orientation towards an open and interactive contemporary museum."
The speaker confirmed that "the Bardo Museum hosting this festival is not just a celebration of contemporary art, but a deep expression of a new cultural vision that sees heritage not as rigid material preserved behind walls, but as a living memory capable of dialogue, renewal, and reinterpretation through the languages of the era and its creative tools."
He also highlighted the value of the immersive artistic experience provided by the projection mapping festival, which relies on digital arts and modern visual technologies to "reread" the historical architecture and cultural assets preserved at the Bardo National Public Museum, particularly those related to prehistoric eras and ethnographic collections, in a creative interaction between the past and the future, and between memory and technology."
For her part, the Canadian Ambassador to Algeria valued Algeria's organization of such an "important" event where "imagination and architectural heritage blend with technology," expressing her hope that it would become a "firmly established annual tradition contributing to consolidating a successful and sustainable cultural industry."
Regarding the choice of Canada as the "guest of honor" for the first edition through the participation of a number of Canadian creators in the field of projection mapping, the Canadian Ambassador affirmed that what distinguishes this festival is "expanding the field of partnership between practitioners and specialists in both Algeria and Canada," and "working on developing future joint projects that enhance cultural and creative exchange between the two countries."
In turn, the Festival Director, Samy Lamouti, confirmed that this event is organized by a newly established startup, "Ifi," specialized in cinema and cultural activities. He stated that it "seeks to create spaces for artistic exchange and strengthen cultural cooperation," having initiated the launch of the first festival dedicated to the art of projection mapping as a "qualitative step aimed at supporting and developing the field."
The speaker explained that the festival will allow the specialized audience and the general public to "live an immersive visual experience in the field of mapping by exploiting a symbolic space such as the Bardo Museum and through it presenting Algerian and Canadian creators in the field, in order to enhance cultural and knowledge exchange."
The program of this festival includes, according to the speaker, holding training sessions (masterclasses) for "more than a hundred trainees, in partnership with the School of Fine Arts," with the aim of "enabling participants to benefit from specialized academic and professional expertise."
On this occasion, an innovative artistic experience employing digital arts and "mapping" techniques was presented, highlighting the architectural heritage of the Bardo Museum with a contemporary vision that preserved its historical identity and gave it a joyful aesthetic dimension, which won the admiration of the audience present and aroused their curiosity.
