Sharjah24: The Sharjah Department of Culture (SDC) has unveiled its annual program for festivals and ongoing forums, set to commence in September 2024 and run through August 2025. More than forty events and conferences arranged locally, regionally, and globally are part of the ambitious strategy, which aims to further establish Sharjah as a leader in a wide range of artistic, intellectual, and cultural activities.
The Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, stressed the significance of these cultural events and forums throughout the Arab world.
He highlighted that this program,originating in Sharjah and extending across the Arab world and African nations, reflects the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The initiative highlights the importance of supporting culture as a crucial factor for societal development and showcases His Highness’ dedication to promoting a comprehensive cultural renaissance.
Al Owais also highlighted the significance of Sharjah in hosting a wide range of cultural events, establishing it as a central point for Arab intellectuals to display their creative works by actively engaging in various activities.
The Department of Culture is set to kick off its inaugural event, the Sharjah Narrative Forum, on September 10th in Tunisia. This marks a significant milestone as the event celebrates its 20th edition and establishes a new Arab hub. The forum is expected to draw a diverse group of Tunisian and Arab intellectuals, ensuring a wide range of perspectives and insights. This will be followed by the 11th Khorfakkan Short Plays Festival.
In October, the 11th Sharjah Calligraphy Forum will be launched, showcasing the artistic contributions of both local and international artists from the UAE and the Arab world. In a series of upcoming events, the 9th Mafraq Arab Poetry Festival will mark the beginning of a number of poetry festivals throughout the Arab world. This will be closely followed by the 6th Marrakesh Moroccan Poetry Festival.
November will be a month filled with exciting events in the world of Arab culture. The 9th Luxor Arab Poetry Festival is set to captivate audiences in Egypt, while the winners of the prestigious Sharjah "UNESCO" Prize for Arab Culture will be revealed in the beautiful city of Paris, France.
In December, there will be an array of exciting events lined up. It all kicks off with the highly anticipated 15th Sharjah Prize for Artistic Criticism, followed closely by the 8th Sharjah Desert Theatre Festival. In the upcoming month, there will be various events to celebrate the Arabic language. These include the World Arabic Language Day at the House of Poetry in Sharjah, the 9th Kairouan Arab Poetry Festival in Tunisia, and the 12th Sharjah Scout Theatre Festival, which will mark the end of December's activities.
New Year 2025
January will see the start of the 21st Sharjah Arab Poetry Festival, followed by the 20th Sharjah Cultural Honor Forum in Tunisia, and the 10th Khorfakkan Theatre Festival. These events mark an exciting beginning to the new year.
In February, a series of cultural events will take place, including the 19th Sharjah Nabati Poetry Festival, Wadi Al Helo Popular Poetry Days, and the 10th Nouakchott Arab Poetry Festival. These events will be accompanied by the 34th Sharjah Theatrical Days, providing a diverse range of artistic experiences for attendees.
The House of Poetry will kick off March with a grand celebration of poetry and its creators on World Poetry Day. Coming up next is the 8th "Katateeb" Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition. Coming up in April, Egypt will host the 21st Sharjah Cultural Honor Forum, which will be accompanied by the House of Poetry's Prosody Art Workshop and the 28th Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity, First Edition.
Coming up in May, there will be a series of exciting events taking place in Amman, Jordan. These include the 6th Tetouan Moroccan Poetry Festival, the Exhibitions at the Sharjah Calligraphy Center, the 12th Sharjah School Theatre Festival, and the 22nd Sharjah Cultural Honor Forum. It's going to be a month filled with cultural celebrations and artistic showcases. In addition to that, the 8th Dibba Al-Hisn Dual Theatre Festival will also be taking place during the month.
In June, the 23rd Sharjah Cultural Honor Forum will take place in Mauritania, alongside the 4th African Arab Poetry Forum. August will see the continuation of the African Poetry Meetings in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and South Sudan, along with the 12th Theatrical Performance Elements Course taking place at the Khorfakkan Cultural Center.
Throughout the year, the Sharjah Department of Culture will be hosting a series of poetry evenings and seminars at various literary councils, including the House of Poetry, Al-Hira Literary Council, Khorfakkan Literary Council, and Kalba Literary Council. In addition, the Sharjah Calligraphy Center will be hosting artistic workshops, as well as the "Katateeb" program.
The department will also continue publishing its cultural magazines, providing coverage of a wide range of local events and news from Sharjah's cities.
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