The closing ceremony took place at the Supreme Council of Culture in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, attended by Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department, and the Secretary General of the Award, and Hussein Al Qabbahi, Director of the House of Poetry in Luxor, along with a large audience of Egyptian and Arab intellectuals and writers.
The final day witnessed the completion of the scientific workshop titled "Interactive Narrative: Characteristics and Aesthetics," featuring participation from Yassin Maeizo and Mohamed Ali Hassan from Egypt. Additionally, a poetry session was held with the participation of poets Obaid Abbas, Youssef Aabid from Egypt, and Yazan Qasim from Syria.
In his concluding remarks, Al Owais, emphasised that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah holds a special concern for Arab youth by nurturing their creativity and diverse literary and artistic outputs, evident in numerous cultural initiatives launched periodically.
Al Owais highlighted that the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity is part of this comprehensive support, as His Highness recognised its importance twenty-seven years ago. He conveyed His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's congratulations to the winners of this edition, wishing them further success and excellence in their literary creative paths.
In his closing statement, Mohamed Al Qaseer remarked, "The vision of the award is renewed with each edition, affirming His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's vision in nurturing creative Arab youth towards writing and enabling writers to confidently take further steps towards greater literary and creative contributions."
The Secretary-General of the Award noted that the twenty-seventh edition was distinguished by its attendance, introducing new names to the Arab cultural scene and discussing a prominent theme in contemporary novel narrative through research that garnered acclaim from Egyptian and Arab critics and academics.
Dr. Hussein Hamouda, the scientific supervisor of the workshop, concluded the sessions by stating, "This award fills a significant void in the Arab cultural and creative arena. After 27 editions under the patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, it has become a prestigious Arab award. It seeks to explore the talents of creators in various and diverse creative fields from across the Arab world, aligning with His Highness's vision to position Arab creativity and culture appropriately within the broader human cultures. Indeed, every year we witness new talents across all fields of the award. The accompanying workshops, held to discuss important topics, offer further insights, perspectives, and dialogues, fostering a form of communication and interaction that connects creators from Arab countries."
Hamouda further commented on the scientific workshop, stating, "The research of the current edition primarily focused on the fundamental issue related to the theme of this discussion on 'Narrative Techniques in Contemporary Fiction.' Discussions engaged with several important issues in this field, with each researcher and critic contributing their unique insights. This was evident in the book accompanying this workshop in Cairo."
Interactive Narrative:
Mohamed Ali Hassan, in his research paper, pointed out that literature remains a product of society, not merely a commodity marketed through social media. Ultimately, the writer plays their role within the expanding realm of knowledge and the depth of scientific theories capable of delving into the structure of humanity. He added, "Given the boundless boundaries of knowledge, we anticipate a new image of literature governed by social evolution."
Yassin Maeizo's research paper attempted to address the topic of "Interactive Narrative" within a comparative literary genre framework. He initiated the discussion by questioning how interactive narrative texts are formed and what their artistic and aesthetic characteristics are. He pondered, "Does the creator have exclusive authority in producing interactive narrative works, or does the recipient contribute significantly to the production process? If so, how do the efforts of the creator and the recipient converge in creating interactive narration? To what extent can this interaction establish a new aesthetic poetry?"
He stated, "Interactive narrative is based on a set of artistic characteristics aimed at narrating and addressing the story. In written narrative, this apparatus was reserved for the author, who was the creator of the literary work and held the reins of its creative formulation. This is no longer the case in interactive narrative, where it becomes imperative for the creator to shape their narrative work according to the technical and programmatic features available, which impose on the creator to not be decisive in the production process. This compels the creator to envisage, prior to the final output of the narrative work, the potential interaction possibilities with the recipient of their interactive narrative text. Consequently, the recipient, in the end, becomes akin to a secondary creator who, alongside the primary creator, undertakes the task of constructing the interactive narrative text. Hence, the term "interactive" arises, which is associated with intertextual literature in general; that is, the interaction between the creator and the recipient in creating a multimedia and aesthetic poetry."
Arab Unity:
Participants and winners affirmed that Sharjah has unified the Arab region culturally, building bridges of culture and love among peoples, translating its efforts into fostering a cultural movement and discussing issues of common interest among Arabs.
Winners expressed their overwhelming joy at achieving success in the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity (first edition), considering the award as the mother of all awards because, as the inaugural edition, it opens doors for creators to continue and excel.
Dr. Shareef Al-Ghayar, an Egyptian academic and critic, emphasised that Sharjah has unified the Arab region culturally, constructing bridges of culture and love among peoples. Through culture, it managed to establish a unified Arab cultural discourse. He expressed gratitude to Sharjah for the voices the award presents, especially those from Egypt and the Arab world.
Al-Gayar believes that the award offers hope to Arab youth because it acknowledges and appreciates their creativity. He stressed its uniqueness in providing opportunities for first-time publications, which is of great importance to creators who seek readers for their initial works. He added, "For a young person to receive such an Arab award at the beginning of their journey, even to be recognised, sends many important messages, such as the fact that the Arab creator is followed and read."
Dr. Mahmoud El-Dib, an Egyptian academic and critic, said, "Undoubtedly, every Arab intellectual thanks Sharjah for its diverse and varied creative awards. His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, thinks about Arab culture and the concerns of Arab intellectuals, striving to stimulate cultural activity and discuss issues of mutual interest among Arabs. Special thanks to this award for providing opportunities for young men and women from various Arab countries and diverse literary fields. All works emerging from this award truly deserve to win and be highlighted."
Egyptian critic Ahmed Ardesh, winner of the first prize in literary criticism, expressed his happiness with the win, stating, "The award gives Arab creators hope for the future, serving as an incentive and motivation for them to present more in their creative and literary works." Syrian poet Yazan Issa, who won second place in poetry, believes that the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity marks the beginning of all creative experiments, holding great promise for the future. He noted that many prominent poetic figures in the Arab world had their first stop at this award, launching them into wider horizons.
Syrian writer Manal Al-Ali, winner of second place in children's literature, expressed her joy at receiving such a significant Arab award for her first works, viewing Sharjah as an important cultural platform for all creators. Syrian writer Sarab Ghanem, also winner of second place in short stories, emphasised that the award attracts the attention of Arab creators because it focuses on the uniqueness of each writer. She said, "How beautiful it is for a writer to open their first publications with the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity, which serves as an entry into continuous creative endeavours."
Egyptian poet Obaid Abbas, a previous winner of the award, recalled the moment of his victory and the achievements that followed. He said, "I won the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity for the first time in 2008, and it was the first award I received. I tell my young friends to encourage them to participate, that this award, the Arab Creativity Award, is the mother of all awards, because as the first edition, it opens the door for creators to continue and to succeed."
Egyptian writer Ahmed Diab, a previous winner, highlighted that the award is an important platform for encouraging Arab youth to excel and innovate in various fields. It promotes innovation and supports young talents in the Arab world, contributing to the development of societies and the enhancement of cultural identity. He affirmed that the award provides a platform for young people to showcase their works and ideas, gaining international recognition and appreciation. Through its continuous support, the award inspires youth to achieve their aspirations and make contributions to the development of Arab societies.
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