Building Bridges Through Art and Dialogue: Visit to the Chinelo Theaterhaus and Bremen World Theatre Project
Date: May 7, 2026
Location: Chinelo Theaterhaus – Bremen World Theatre Project, Bremen, Germany
As part of the International Bremen Peace Award Week 2026, Mahdi Yahya, founder and Chairman of Peace of Art International, visited the Chinelo Theaterhaus and Bremen World Theatre Project in Bremen for an inspiring exchange centered on the transformative power of arts, culture, and dialogue in building more inclusive and peaceful societies.
Founded through the vision of theater practitioner Abiud A. Chinelo, the Chinelo Theaterhaus has been a recognized intercultural cultural space in Bremen for decades. Through theater, music, literature, and community-based artistic projects, the organization brings together people of different backgrounds, generations, and cultures while addressing themes such as migration, identity, racism, social justice, and coexistence. The organization has also become known for creating opportunities for young people and community groups to engage in creative expression and intercultural exchange. (welcometobremen.de)
The visit created a meaningful platform for mutual learning and collaboration. During the gathering, Mahdi Yahya presented the story and mission of Peace of Art International, sharing how the organization emerged from a desire to use art, culture, and education as tools for peacebuilding and social transformation. Participants learned about Peace of Art’s work in youth empowerment, intercultural dialogue, humanitarian action, civic engagement, environmental initiatives, and community resilience across Lebanon and internationally.
Mahdi Yahya and representatives of the Chinelo Theaterhaus engage in dialogue on arts-based peacebuilding, cultural cooperation, and future collaboration during Bremen Peace Award Week 2026.
A special screening introduced attendees to the work and impact of Peace of Art International, providing visual insights into the organization’s projects, partnerships, and peacebuilding initiatives over the years. The screening sparked thoughtful discussion on the role of creativity and culture in addressing social challenges and strengthening community cohesion.
Members of the Chinelo Theaterhaus and Bremen World Theatre Project also presented their own work, sharing their experiences of using theater and artistic expression to foster encounters between people from diverse backgrounds. The conversation revealed many shared values between the two organizations, including the belief that culture can create spaces for dialogue, challenge prejudice, strengthen empathy, and inspire collective action.
The exchange quickly evolved into a broader discussion about the future of arts-based peacebuilding, community participation, and international cooperation. Participants explored possibilities for future collaboration between Peace of Art International and the Bremen World Theatre Project, including cultural exchanges, educational activities, youth engagement programs, and joint initiatives that connect communities across borders.
The evening concluded with a warm and moving musical performance presented by the Chinelo Theaterhaus team as a gesture of welcome and friendship. The performance reflected the spirit of the encounter itself: people from different cultures coming together through creativity, dialogue, and shared humanity.
The visit served as a powerful reminder that while languages, histories, and experiences may differ, art remains a universal language capable of building bridges where divisions exist. Through dialogue, culture, and collaboration, organizations like Peace of Art International and the Bremen World Theatre Project continue to demonstrate how communities can come together to imagine and create more peaceful futures.
