 | The text below this notice was generated by a computer, it still needs to be checked for errors and corrected. If you would like to help, view the original document by clicking the PDF scans along the right side of the page. Click the edit button at the top of this page (notepad and pencil icon) or press Alt+Shift+E to begin making changes. When you are done press "Save changes" at the bottom of the page. |
7. BAHA’t PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
IN 1980, during the first Baha’i International Conference on Health and Healing, held in Ottawa, Canada, under the sponsorship of the Association for Baha’i Studies, a recom- mendation was made that an association of Baha’i health professionals be established. This recommendation was accepted by the executive committee of the Association for Baha’i Studies, approved in principle by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, and encouraged by the Universal House of Justice.
In 1982, the Universal House of Justice expanded the concept of Baha’i professional associations in a letter addressed to all National Spiritual Assemblies:
Consider convening gatherings, wherever possible, of Baha’i professionals to dis— cuss the means by which they, as individuals, can reach, and aid the Baha’i Community in fostering good relations With, persons of prominence in their re— spective professions.
In response to this letter, Baha’i pro- essionals throughout the world convened conferences and seminars to discuss not only the means to reach people of prominence
with the healing Words of Baha’u’lléh, but also to apply the Baha’i teachings to their own daily lives more effectively.
These interactions resulted in the for— mation of a number of Baha’i professional associations. Offering an exciting arena for intellectual reciprocity and the examination of spiritual concepts, these were a means of encouragement and support to fellow associ- ates, as well as coordinating and stimulating research and education in their respective fields. In addition, owing to the prestige that is conferred upon groups of career-minded individuals, these became a tool bringing the Teachings of Baha’u’llah to people of prominence in those professions. Hence, the F aith was taught more systematically and with greater efficacy.
The trend towards the formation and con- cretion of professional associations prevalent during the Six Year Plan exemplifies the development of the Baha’i community. One hundred years after the Ascension of the Blessed Beauty, real progress was being made from cognition to volition; in uniting “religion” and “daily life” in a world which advocates their separation.
A. THE BAHA’I’ INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AGENCY
0 thou loyal servant of God and thou spiritual healer Ofman! Whensoever thou dost attend a patient, turn thy face toward the Lord Of the heavenly Kingdom, ask the Holy Spirit to
come to thine aid, then heal thou the Sickness.
(‘Abdu’l~Baha, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu ’l— Bahd [Haifaz Baha’i World Centre, 1978], p. 181).
The Baha’i International Health Agency is an affiliate of the Baha’i International Com— munity and the Association for Baha’i Studies, and functions under the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada.
The Association was created in response to a recommendation made at the first Baha’i International Conference on Health and Healing, as stated above. Its first formal meeting, held on 10 and 11 April 1982 in Ottawa, Canada, was attended by more than
[Page 472]
472
fifty Baha’is who were health professionals working in Canada, the United States, and Chile.
This agency was established to co-ordi— nate and encourage research and education among the Baha’is who are health profes- sionals, and others who have knowledge in this area. Its functions consist of: making articles and reviews on health and related topics available for circulation to members, interested individuals and institutions; en— couraging individuals to initiate the formation of local chapters dedicated to promoting health—eare projects; collaborating With the National Pioneering Committee regarding overseas posts for health—care workers; plan— ning annual conferences; discussing and acting upon con‘espondence from the Univer- sal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, and Agency members; and publishing a bulletin at least twice a year.
The proceedings of the annual confer- ences on health and healing fulfil, in part, requirements set by the National Spiritual Assembly, “...to encourage and facilitate ...education...in the field of health based on the teachings of the Baha’i Faith.” These gatherings focus upon the current moral and scientific discussions of the medical com- munity within the context of the Baha’i teachings.
The theme of the fifth annual conference, held from 20 to 21 August 1986, at the
THE BAHA’t WORLD
Mrs. Mona Grieser (front), aBahd’z' health professional, visiting the home of a Bahd ’1' Health Educa— tion Agent in Sarh, Chad. June 1988.
University of Western Ontario in Canada, was health and peace. The objective was to explore the role of health in the service of humanity, and to study the Baha’i approach to health services. More than one hundred and fifty people participated in workshops and presentations on the topics of medical ethics, food and nutrition, and the link between international health and peace. Par— ticipants concluded that health—care workers must help Change attitudes; and that the most difficult task is the changing of the hearts of men. They determined that the world needs the Baha’i principles as the tool for change; that there is a great need for cultural under- standing, for a universal language, and a deep empathy for other people’s sufferings. The seventh annual conference, held in Evanston, Illinois, United States of America, from 26 to 28 August 1988, focused on primary health care and the integration of alternative methods of healing. Approxi— mately sixty friends attended. The issue addressed at this event was the challenge of ensuring that the needs of the recipients are met in any project. It was agreed that this problem can be overcome with the utiliza— tion of Baha’i principles, with the key being true consultation. A firm belief in the spiri- tual equality of all peoples helps to focus on the development of individuals. The role of women in the promotion of primary health care and the larger implications for world
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’l ACTIVITIES 473
peace were also discussed. Women as first educators have enormous influence on the community and will pass their skills and information to their children.
In 1989, more than seventy people partic— ipated in the eighth annual health conference in Irvine, Califomia, United States. This conference’s theme dealt with women’s issues in health. The concept of the em— powerment of women in the deliveiy of health was discussed, with the suggestion that empowerment must be based on Baha’u’llah’s first Hidden Word in which the qualities of kindness, radiance, and purity are linked to sovereignty. Women were invited to realize the importance of bringing their specific positive strengths into their new fields of responsibility and action, and to eliminate the old stereotypes that link femininity with passivity, compliance, and weakness. Other issues presented at the con- ference were strategies to attain health for all by the year 2000, and the ethical challenges faced by Baha’i health professionals.
More than thirty—five participants took part in the ninth annual conference on health and healing, held in November 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The focus of this conference was discrimination in health care. Studies on the effects of active patient involvement in their own health care, and its impact on improved health care out- comes, were reviewed. It was noted that these data complement the Baha’i teachings that encourage the individual to seek medical attention when necessary, but for the individual to determine for himself what is competent medical advice. The topic of “Discrimination and the International Human Immunodeficiencey Virus Epidemic” was addressed. Statistics were given which out- lined the disproportionate number of urban poor, blacks, and hispanics with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in North America—numbers representative of the discrimination already faced by these social groups. A third presentation, entitled “Towards a Concrete Understanding of
Illness”, challenged the audience to consider the effect of the diversity of cultures and behaviors on shaping different world Views on health and its maintenance. The successful development of a universal framework for the conceptualization of health and illness will occur in an atmo— sphere of respect for the validity of the contributions of persons from all races and ethnicities, it concluded.
In addition to annual gatherings, the Association sponsored two conferences aimed at increasing the Baha’i community’s awareness of the AIDS epidemic, and a third conference focusing on the topic of homo~ sexuality. The two conferences highlighting AIDS were held in Montreal, Canada, in 1989 and at the Green Acre Baha’i School in Maine, United States, in 1991; and the conference on homosexuality was held in 1992 at Green Acre. Participation in these conferences was by friends from Canada and the United States with a personal or profes- sional interest in the subject. The goals of these events were to study and consult on the Baha’i Writings which relate to these issues; to create a network of Baha’is who will share information and encourage one another; and to consult on future activities.
Members of the Baha’i International Health Agency participated in various inter— national health conferences and seminars. As a result, members of the Agency presented the principles of the Baha’i Faith to those of the highest calibre in the medical field.
In May 1986, the World Health Organi- zation invited members of the Baha’i International Community to its thirty-ninth Health Assembly. Dr. Ethel Martens, a Public Health Educator and the Executive Secretary of the Baha’i International Health Agency, was one of the Baha’i delegates Who attended this gathering. More than five hundred people participated, among whom were a large number of Ministers of Health.
Dr. Abdul Missagh Ghadirian [‘Abdu’l- Mithaq Qadiriyan] an executive member of the Baha’i International Health Agency
474
and a psychiatrist, represented the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations Interregional Conference of Non— Govemmental Organizations for Prevention of Drug Abuse, he1d in Stockholm, Sweden, from 15 to 19 September 1986. One hundred copies of an article by Dr. Ghadirian, entitled “Prevention of Drug Abuse: A Baha’i Per— spective” were distributed among delegates. In addition, seventy copies of his book In Search osz'rvana were given to dignitaries and delegates of national and internationa1 reputation who participated in the Confer- ence.
Due to the Baha’i International Commu- nity’s signing of the “working relations” agreement With the World Health Organiza— tion in March 1989, the Baha’i International Community was officially invited to partici- pate at the World Health Organization’s con- sultation with various international women’s non-governmental agencies on the issues of AIDS prevention, control, and care, held from 21 to 22 December, 1989, in Geneva, Switzerland. The Baha’i Intemationa1 Com— munity was represented by Dr. Denise
THE BAHA’i WORLD
Belisle, a physician from Montrea1, Canada, and an executive member of the Baha’i International Health Agency, and Mr. Gio— vanni Ballerio from the Baha’i Internationa1 Community Office in Geneva. The primary Baha’i contribution to this consultation was on the theme of the equality of women and men, specifically the importance of empow- ering women who are at a high—risk of developing HIV—AIDS because of a lack of information, a lack of access to information, or because of non—assertive behavior due to, among other things, a low socio—economic status. A second contribution by the Baha’i delegation emphasized the need for spiritual transformation, not only at the individual but also at the institutional level, and referred to the Baha’i concept of unity as a basic prerequisite for the solution of most social problems. This meeting was successfuI from the perspective of the Baha’i International Health Agency because it facilitated the establishment of personal arid professiona1 contacts between the Baha’i participants and representatives of diverse women’s non- governmental organizations.
B. THE ASSOCIATION MEDICALE BAHA’I’E
The Association Médicale Baha’ie, under the auspices of the National Assembly of France, was registered in 1985 in confor- mity with the requirements of French law and of the French Medical Council. Mem- bership is essentially open to all Baha’i medical practitioners and students in legally licensed professions concerned with health care.
During the Six Year Plan, the Associa- tion’s activities included the study of Baha’i principles relevant to health and their diffu- sion to non-Baha’i professionals and to the Baha’i community at large. Study sessions open to all included topics such as ethics,
patient-doctor relationships, stress, health and nutrition, life and death, mother and child relations, environment, and communi— cation. Renowned non—Baha’i lecturers participated in many of the sessions and greatly enhanced the professional quality of the meetings. In addition, these gatherings generated a greater appreciation of the Faith amongst professionals in the medical field. The Association’s members also took part in commissions for preserving family unity, taught dental and general hygiene to chi1dren at summer schools, and partici— pated in several humanitarian projects in Chad, Niger, Yugoslavia, and A1bania.
[Page 475]
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’i ACTIVITIES
475
C. THE BAHA’i BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION
Your criterion should be to pursue your commercial activities with such fairness and equity as to be a cause ofguidance to others. T he friends ofGod should, through the instrumental- ity of their business, lead the people to God’s path, and make them so astonished as to exclaim: ”How great is their truthfiilness, how high their trustworthiness, and how true is
their good will! ”
(Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in Compilation ofCompilations, vol. 2 [Mona Vale, NSW: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1991], p. 341).
The Baha’i Business and Economics Associ— ation was formed in 1991 as an affihate 0f the Association for Baha’i Studies in Canada. Its members are business pe0p1e and econo- mists Who want to bring the spiritual guidance of Bahé,’u’11ah to the worldwide business community. In particular, they hope to demonstrate the positive impact of the application of spiritual principles in the work- place and on the lives of those involved in business.
One Association goal is to have a direct and constructive influence on the business community by supporting grassroots initia— tives of Baha’i business people. Another goal is to be instrumental in promoting network- ing and advocating the increase of wealth within a spiritual framework. The Associa- tion strives to increase cooperation and collaboration as tools for resolving conflicts and disputes within the business community, and tries to serve as a forum for reaching people of capacity in the field of commerce.
The primary purpose of this Association is to provide its members with information. An internationa1 directory has been compfled
D. THE BAHA’i BUSINESS AND
The Baha’i Business and Professional Asso- ciation in Australia is a non-profit grassroots organization concerned with the promotion of social and economic development in the community by fostering the fulfillment of human potential in the work environment. It has no direct connection with the National Spiritual Assembly and is completely self- funding.
of individua1s and organizations concerned with the practical aspects of the application of spiritual principles to the business com- munity. This directory could be used to support world-wide networking efforts“ putting individuals with similar concerns in touch with one another, enabling peop1e travelling to share the results of their experi- ence with others, and making interested parties aware of opportunities and needs that the business community may be able to address.
The Association has also provided its members and associates With a resource directory of material on socio-economic developments that reflect the principles of the Baha’i Faith in practice.
The development of local Baha’i business forums throughout the world has been en- couraged and supported by this Association, with the Vision that once sufficient numbers of these local forums are functioning within a particular country or region, the Associa— tion will actively support the formation and development of National and Regional Baha’i Business and Economic Associations.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
The Association was formed when inter— ested Baha’is gathered in Sydney in March 1984 to discuss the business and profes- sional needs of the community. Two months later a committee of nine was elected to conduct the affairs of the group, and this committee was re-elected annually at general meetings. In 1988, a similar organization developed in Melbourne and the National
47 6 THE BAHA’i WORLD
Assembly requested that the two groups form a national association With an appro- priate constitution. The first National Board of Directors was elected in 1989 and the concept of local chapters of the Association was instituted.
The objectives of the Association were defined to include: establishing forums for communication between members; stimulat- ing and improving the dissemination of the Baha’i standards of behavior and ethics to career—minded and professional people; and advancing the interests of the Baha’i Faith by assisting the Universal House of Justice and National Spiritual Assemblies to achieve their goals.
During the Six Year Plan, communication among members was achieved through a quarterly newsletter initiated in 1987, and by the hosting of seminars and lunch meetings. These seminars usually examined the Baha’i outlook on pertinent social issues.
The organization used several approaches to promote Baha’i standards of behavior and ethical conduct in the business and profes— sional environment. First it ventured to educate the Baha’i community on the subject of Baha’i ethics. In 1989, at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, the Association prepared and presented a draft paper on “Baha’i Business Ethics”, which was subsequently printed in the Aus- tralian Bahd ’1' Bulletin. In conjunction With this paper, the Association organized a public
seminar on ethics, which was recorded. Tapes of the proceedings were sold through the Baha’i Distribution Service.
Public promotion of Baha’i standards was achieved through the participation of non- Baha’is in seminars hosted by the Associa- tion. In addition, the Association and the Australian National Spiritual Assembly co—sponsored a service at the Baha’i House of Worship in 1990 entitled “Transformation to Globalization.” It was designed to attract members of the business and professional communities and to mark the commence- ment of the last decade of this century. More than three hundred people attended the service, including all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly. Official guests included a representative of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales.
The final objective of the Association, advancing the interests of the Baha’i Faith by assisting wherever possible the Universal House of Justice and National Assemblies in achieving their goals, was primarily achieved by providing the National Assembly of Australia with expert opinions about aspects of the Assembly’s business dealings, such as property purchases, credit unions, and comments on National Convention recom— mendations. The Association was also of assistance to the National Assemblies of the Pacific region, and continually responded to queries from Baha’i institutions and individu- als in relation to economic and social matters.
B. THE EUROPEAN BAHA’t BUSINESS FORUM
The European Baha’i Business Forum, a network of Baha’is interested in the applica— tion of the Faith’s principles to business and industry, and in reaching people of capacity in the field of commerce, was initiated at a conference held in September 1990 in Chamonix, France. The twenty-four Baha’i participants from throughout Europe, the United States and Canada decided to create an informal association of Baha’is involved in business and industry, with the hope that
the group would evolve into a formal asso—
ciation. This decision was conveyed to the
Universal House of Justice, which directed
its Department of the Secretariat to reply: The Universal House of Justice was most interested to receive your letter of 1 Oc- tober 1990 and to learn of the aims of the proposed European Baha’i Business Forum. There are undoubtedly many ways in which such an association can be of value to the Cause of God.
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’l ACTIVITIES 477
The European Bahd ’1' Business F 0mm held its second annual conference in Paris,
F rance from 30 August to I September 199] .
This association, registered in France as a non—profit organization, provides an arena for its members and for business people in general to explore ways of applying Baha’i ethical and social teachings to their business activities. This is accomplished through annual conferences and by calling upon experi— enced individuals to make presentations on various topics of interest to the business community.
In heeding the call issued by the Universal House of Justice in its 1990 Ridvan message, that the time had become ripe “to embrace increasing numbers of people of capacity, including persons of accomplishment and prominence in the various fields of human endeavour”, the Forum sought ways of reach- ing outstanding managers, leaders of business and industry, and economists of Europe.
During its annual conferences, Forum members examined the kind of support they could lend the European Baha’i community in proclamation and teaching activities. They also considered how they could assist Baha’is operating in the economic field to better understand, respect, and comply with the principles of the Faith in their own work.
At the second annual conference, held from 30 August to 1 September 1991 in Paris, Counsellor Patrick O’Mara encouraged the thirty friends present to develop the Forum, and to go back to their communities and link up with other Baha’i business people. He
also emphasized the role which Baha’is with professional and business experience could play in teaching and proclamation work in Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. In response, the Business Forum offered the abilities and expertise of its members to all the National Spiritual Assemblies working With the Eastern European Countries.
T award A New Paradigm of Manage— ment, a paper exploring the shift both in the values of business leaders and the practices of management towards a standard reflect- ing the spiritual principles and teachings of Baha’u’lléh, was presented at the annual conference held in 1991. Subsequently, this article was translated into French and dis- tributed to non-Forum members.
During the same time, the association published, in English and French, Group Decision Making and Bahd’z’ Consultation, an article concerned with assisting business organizations to fulfil their goals through the medium of consultation. .
Through the distribution of a regular newsletter and a directory of its members, the Forum provided a network for the exchange of information among the Euro- pean Baha’i business community.
The F orum was also successful in coun— selling and informing young people about career opportunities in relevant fields of endeavor, as well as encouraging educa- tional and training activities.
[Page 478]
478
THE BAHA’i WORLD
F. THE BAHA’t JUSTICE SOCIETY
0 Son ofSpirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away there— from if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verilyjustice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving—kindness.
Set it then before thine eyes.
(Bahé’u’lléh, The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 2 [Wilmette, Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1982], p.3.)
The Baha’i Justice Society is dedicated to the promotion of justice in a manner consis— tent With the principles of the Baha’i Faith. Formed in 1986, the Society has members throughout the United States, and affiliates in Cameroon, Canada, England, Germany, India, Mozambique, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, and the Virgin Islands. The members of the Justice Society represent a diverse range of occupa- tions including judges, lawyers, teachers, musicians, administrators, and students. In 1992, the Society’s membership included one hundred and forty people.
This agency functions under the guidance of the National Assembly of the Baha’is 0f the United States. Its objectives are: to con- tribute to the improvement ofjurisprudence, the world’s legal systems, and the practice of law; to discover, train, and encourage legal and related talents to promote the principles of justice and their application to all aspects of human society; to promote an understand- ing of the relationship between the Baha’i Faith, jurisprudence, the administration of justice, and the practice of law; to promote the communication of the principles of the Faith t0 justice-related institutions; to advance the honor and dignity of the profession of law; to promote the highest ethical and moral standards within the profession of law; and to promote the rule of law in the world.
The second annual meeting of the Baha’i Justice Society was held fiom 27 to 29 March 1987, in the shadow of the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, United States. The conference discussion topics included
professional ethics and world peace through international law. One of the significant out— comes of this event was the completion of the Society’s charter and by—laws.
Also, a scholarship was established by the Board to encourage participation by the eco— nomically disadvantaged. Initial expenditure from the fund provided financial assistance for individuals desiring, but financially unable, to attend Baha’i Justice Society functions.
The third annual meeting, at the Bosch Baha’i School in California, included such speakers as Dr. Wilma Ellis, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Administrator-General of the Baha’i Inter— national Community, and members of the National Spiritual Assembly. Also addressing the more than one hundred participants were former California Supreme Court Justice Frank Newman, professor of law at the University of California at Berkeley, and Juana Conrad, President of Women for International Peace and Arbitration.
More than eighty participants attended the fourth annual conference of the Baha’i Justice Society, held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from 9 to 11 June 1989. The conference theme was “Economic Justice— Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor”. Topics addressed at this event were the role of education in economic justice; justice only through oneness; interdependence, law, and the international economy; and the future role of the Baha’i Justice Society. In conjunction with the conference, a delega- tion of five Baha’is, headed by Judge James Nelson, presented a copy of The Promise of
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’1 ACTIVITIES
World Peace to six State and Superior Court Judges in the area.
Seventeen American states, as well as Canada, Israel, Liberia, and the Virgin Islands, were represented at the fifth annual conference of the Justice Society held in June 1990 in Illinois, United States. The pre— sentations at this conference focused on the theme “Advancing Toward a Just World: Our Challenge for the 1990s”. Among those present at this event was Mr. Hugh Chance, a member of the Universal House of Justice. Mr. Chance, who practiced law prior to being elected to the House of Justice, addressed the conference on the challenges facing Bahé’i lawyers into the twenty-first century. Judge Dorothy Nelson, member of the United States Court of Appeals and the National Spiritual Assembly, spoke on “Jus- tice, Peace and Professional Responsibility”.
The Society presented two workshop ses- sions focusing on mediation as a technique for resolving disputes at the Association for Baha’i Studies Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from 9 to 11 November 1990. The workshops, entitled “The Baha’i Justice Society: A Catalyst for Racial Unity”, addressed the efforts of the Society with regard to racial unity and justice. Approxi- mately sixty people took part in each of the two ninety—minute sessions, which featured a demonstration of mediation in a mock community dispute.
479
In October 1990, five members of the Society travelled to Leningrad and Kiev, Russia, to participate in the first Russian Baha’i Women’s Forums. During this trip approximately twenty-five Russian friends expressed interest in joining the Society. Presentations were made on the Baha’i Justice Society and the use of mediation in conflict resolution.
“Developing Baha’i Models of Dispute Resolution” was the theme of the annual conference and meeting held at the Los Angeles Baha’i Center in 1991. This gathering featured a talk on “Preventative Law” by former University of Southern California law professor Louis Brown. The conference was enhanced by the presence of Mrs. Jacqueline Delahunt, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors and a native Lakota Sioux, who gave an insight on dispute resolution in other cultures.
Also in 1991, the Justice Society co- sponsored the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The title of the conference was “Community in Conflict”, and its mission was “to pro- mote the use and acceptance of non~violent approaches to the resolution of conflict and to improve conflict resolution the01y and practice”. The conference attracted one thousand attendees. A fu11—day workshop on Baha’i consultation was presented.
G. THE BAHA’t ASSOCIATION FOR ARTS
The day‘will come when the Cause will spread like wildfire when its spirit and teachings will be presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole. Art can better awaken such
noble sentiments than cold rationalizing....
(Shoghi Effendi, quoted in Compilation ofCompz'lations, vol. 1 [Mona Vale, NSW: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1991], p. 7.)
The Baha’i Association for Arts (BAFA) was formed in August 1986 during a Peace Festiva1 held at the Landegg Academy in Switzerland. Friends from eight European countries gathered for workshops and talks that centered around the arts. An afternoon
of this event was set aside to form the Association.
The goal of this Association is to gain a greater understanding of the Baha’i View on the arts, and to provide a means for its mem— bers to encourage and support their fellow
[Page 480]
480
Art F orum East, held in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, in July 1991.
artists. Members receive the BAFA’S news— letter four times a year, which includes news from the Association’s board and members.
The most significant of the activities initi~ ated by the Association were the conferences on the arts. Art Forum 1988, held in De Poort, Netherlands, was the first conference of its kind which focused entirely on Baha’i artists and their Views. Participants from Britain, Denmark, Germany, Greece, 1ran, J apan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States took turns showing their work, sharing how they came upon their ideas, and answering questions about their presentation. In regard to this confer— ence, the Universal House of Justice stated, “Delighted news success first festival BAFA held De Poort. Gratified plans to serve goals plan throughout Europe.”
The next Art Forum, held in De Poort in July 1990, focused on the Choices Baha’i artists face. More than thirty participants, representing five countries, attended work- shops Which addressed artistic choices in
THE BAHA’t WORLD
connection to the media of artists’ expres- sion, the use of time, and service to the Cause. The keynote address of this event centered on the history of the relationship between the arts and religion, and outlined the task set by Baha’u’llah for artists in this most great Day.
Transformation through the love of Baha’u’llah and meditation on His Writings was the theme of Art Forum 1991. Painters, singers, an architect, a sculptor, a poet, a film—maker, an Indian classical dancer, and a story-teller were among those who demonstrated their talents at this event. They shared stories about their personal transfor— mation, their techniques, and the influences of the Baha’i Writings on their work. The questions of what is art and how the believ- ers can use their talents to serve Baha’u’llah were addressed, along with issues of personal development and service to the evolving administrative order.
In conjunction with Art Forum 1991, Art Forum East was held in Bratislava, Czecho— slovakia from 23 to 28 July. More than sixty people from fifteen countries participated. The theme of this gathering was “Crossing Borders”, and workshops were held on such topics as ethics, the ego, inspiration, and excellence. A great variety of artistic pre- sentations was displayed and demonstrated at the conference, including musical perfor- mances, dance and drama workshops, and mural exhibits. Six visual artists displayed their work in a gallery in the center of the city. Interviews and news about this event were carried by two radio stations and two newspapers. As a result of this gathering, a network for the Association for the Arts was established in the Soviet Union, and networks in France and Germany were strengthened. The Association reported that the participants left the Art Forum East with a better sense of the high station that is given to the arts in the Baha’i Writings.
