ABCC Cultural Director wins UNESCO prize

June 3, 2020- The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Cultural Director Silvia Alice Antibas won the 2019 UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in a historic victory that was announced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Antibas, who was one of the recipients, is the first Brazilian woman to get the award.

She and the other winners were recognized for their contributions to and achievements in helping spread awareness of Arab art and culture around the world.

Over the past 30 years, the historian has devoted her career to promoting a deeper understanding of the Arab culture in Latin America, with an emphasis on Arab migration to Brazil. She also promoted the works of many Brazilian-born writers of Arab descent by having their masterpieces translated into Arabic.

Antibas said: “My work at the Secretariat for Culture of the State of São Paulo has allowed me to promote the Arab culture in Brazil. The board has always been supportive of me, and, for that, I am grateful. My appreciation also goes to the ABCC for providing the platform for me to connect with key people outside the country. The ABCC, which has long realized the importance of culture in relations between different peoples, has always provided the space for me to host lectures and meetings.”