Winning Logo of Isa Award for Service to Humanity Unveiled

In a ceremony patronized by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa

Manama, 14 September 2011: Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, deputy prime minister and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, the Award's General Secretariat on Wednesday 14 September held a special reception at the Isa Cultural Center to unveil the winning logo which the Award has officially adopted. A number of senior local and international figures attended the ceremony alongside the artists and designers who participated in the logo design competition.

The Isa Award for Service to Humanity is an international Bahraini award established by royal order from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to recognize all kinds of outstanding philanthropic achievements and projects.

Members of the Nomination Committee were also present. Headed by Jan Paulsson, Head of International Arbitration and Public International Law at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Professor of Law at the University of Miami and Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics, these international experts have been meeting together to review the nominations for the Award and analyse the candidates work according to the Award criteria. The Committee members include Dr Fatima Al-Balooshi, Bahrain's Minister for Human Rights and Social Development; Mohamed Benaissa, Mayor of Assilah in Morocco and the Secretary General of the Assilah Forum Foundation; Dr Farhan Nizami, Founder Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and member of the Faculties of Modern History and Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford; UNESCO Ethics of Science and Technology Section Chief John Crowley; and former Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame. The Nomination Committee will shortlist a number of candidates and present the names to a secret Selection Committee, which will evaluate their achievements and select the Award winner who then obtains the US $1 million prize in an Award ceremony, scheduled for May 2012. The prize will be granted once every two years.

During the event, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa toured the exhibition hall to view more than 189 creative and innovative designs that took part in the logo design competition for the Award. The exhibition also showcased a rare collection of pictures for late Emir Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa highlighting the personal features of the Emir as an important leader in Bahrain's modern history.

In his speech at the ceremony, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa stressed the importance of the initiative that was launched to celebrate the humanitarian character for which the late Emir was known and the human relations he built with the people of Bahrain and neighbouring countries. He also thanked all the participants in the design contest, which numbered more than 69 individuals and firms.

Following his speech, His Highness honoured Bahraini artist Abdullah Yousef, who won the logo design competition, and awarded him the contest's BD5,000 cash prize.

At the end of the ceremony, a short documentary on the late Emir's philanthropic contributions that inspired the Award was also shown.

The logo design competition was launched in March when artists, professional designers, and specialist firms were invited to present designs according to detailed artistic specifications reflecting the spirit and essence of the award prior to its launch on the international level.

The winning design focuses on two prominent features that characterized late Shaikh Isa: his ever-present smile and his profile, in addition to some elements representing some of the late Emir's merits.

Artist Abdullah Yousef conveyed his pleasure at the selection of his design as the official logo of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity.

"The challenge was to find an idea that opens wide horizons for the creation of a work of art that sums up the essence of the award and reflects the originality and high status of Shaikh Isa's great personality," Yousef explained. "Although this appeared difficult at first, careful study and hard work helped me derive the structure and design of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity from the features of late Shaikh Isa, which were imprinted in the memory of the Bahraini people after his death."

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