Baghdad

:For other meanings see Baghdad (disambiguation)

Culture

Baghdad has always played an important role in Arab cultural life and has been the home of noted writers, musicians and visual artists.

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Institutions

Some of the important cultural institutions in the city include:

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• Iraqi National Orchestra – Rehearsals and performances were briefly interrupted during the second Gulf War, but have since returned to normal.
• National Theatre of Iraq – The theatre was looted during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, but efforts are underway to restore the theatre. http://csmonitor.com/2003/0716/p01s04b-woiq.htm.

The live theatre scene received a boost during the 1990s when UN sanctions limited the import of foreign films. As many as 30 movie theatres were reported to have been converted to live stages, producing a wide range of comedies and dramatic productions.http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0102-04.htm

Related Topics:
Theatre - 1990s - Sanctions - Films - Comedies - Dramatic

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Institutions offering cultural education in Baghdad include the Academy of Music, Institute of Fine Arts and the Music and Ballet School. Baghdad is also home to a number of museums which housed artifacts and relics of ancient civilizations; many of these were stolen, and the museums looted, during the widespread chaos immediately after U.S. forces entered the city.

Related Topics:
Academy of Music - Institute of Fine Arts - Music and Ballet School - Museums - Artifacts - Relics - Ancient civilizations - U.S.

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During the 2003 occupation of Iraq, AFN Iraq ("Freedom Radio") broadcast news and entertainment within Baghdad, among other locations.

Related Topics:
2003 occupation of Iraq - AFN Iraq

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Sights and Monuments

Points of interest include the National Museum of Iraq, whose priceless collection of artifacts was looted during the 2003 invasion, the iconic Hands of Victory arches, and the Baghdad zoo. Thousands of ancient manuscripts in the National Library were destroyed when the building burnt down during the second Persian Gulf War. The Al Khadimiya Mosque in the northwest of Baghdad (in Kazimain) is one of the most important Shi'ite religious buildings in Iraq. It was finished in 1515 and the 7th (Musa ibn Jafar al-Kazim) and the 9th Imams (Mohammad al-Taqi) were buried here.

Related Topics:
National Museum of Iraq - Hands of Victory - Baghdad zoo - Al Khadimiya Mosque - Kazimain - 1515 - Musa ibn Jafar al-Kazim - Imam - Mohammad al-Taqi

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One of the oldest buildings is the 12th century or 13th century Abbasid Palace.

Related Topics:
12th century - 13th century - Abbasid Palace

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