How does a festival begin and why? What are the ideas behind the creation of a whole series of national exhibitions, lectures and concerts? How do these ideals survive when faced with the reality of co-ordinating dozens of institutions and acquiring hundreds of priceless objects from over 250 museums in 30 different countries? Is it possible to convey a new interpretation of a totally different civilisation? These are the questions posed by the World of Islam Festival, which opened in various centres in this country in April. The answers are given by the Festival Director, Paul Keeler, and the individual creators of the exhibitions.