Sharjah24: Her Excellency Amel Sarrarfi, Tunisia’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, has praised Sharjah's efforts in promoting culture and the arts across the Arab world, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. She emphasised the emirate’s vital role in encouraging creativity, which fosters excellence across all literary fields. Sarrarfi highlighted how Sharjah's cultural initiatives have enriched the Arab world’s creative scene through a series of ongoing forums and festivals in various Arab cities and capitals, describing these achievements as significant contributions to Sharjah’s civilisational and humanitarian accomplishments.
This statement was made during a meeting between Sarrarfi and His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, and Mohammad Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs Department, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Tunis. The meeting marked the launch of the 20th edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum.
Sarrarfi also stressed the strong, long-standing relationship between Tunisia and the UAE, noting the close cultural cooperation with Sharjah. She expressed Tunisia’s pleasure in such broad cultural partnerships, which have a deep impact on the creative sector both locally and across the Arab world.
She added that Tunisia is celebrating alongside Sharjah for the 20th edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum, which travels throughout the Arab world and is currently being held in Tunisia. The forum aims to conduct in-depth discussions analysing the latest developments in narrative forms and to explore the significant transformations in the field. Sarrarfi stressed the considerable cultural importance of Sharjah’s presence in Tunisia.
The Tunisian Minister of Culture also expressed her fondness for Sharjah, recalling a visit she made nearly 20 years ago with a women’s musical ensemble. She emphasised the importance of music, describing it as the “twin of poetry,” and commended the cultural and artistic initiatives Sharjah has been involved in.
Abdullah Al Owais stated that, following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sharjah remains dedicated to a sustainable cultural approach with its partner institutions. He noted that Sharjah’s cultural activities continue to evolve, driven by innovative and dynamic initiatives.
He added, "We are pleased to begin the Department of Culture’s annual programme in Tunisia with the Sharjah Narrative Forum. After the success of the House of Poetry in Kairouan, we have found that Tunisia, as we know it, remains rich in cultural offerings. This collaboration allows cultural work to progress towards new horizons, and the efforts of the Ministry of Culture have always opened the door to any initiative proposed by Sharjah."
Both parties agreed to organise new cultural forums focusing on Arabic calligraphy and music, with the goal of providing genuine support to creative individuals and contributing to the development of key artistic skills in these important fields.
Al Owais presented the September issue of (Sharjah Cultural Magazine), published by the Department of Culture, to Her Excellency Sarrarfi. He noted that the magazine celebrates Tunisia by featuring a cover image of the coastal city of Sousse and includes an article on Tunisian writer Ali Al-Du’aaji, titled "The Father of Tunisian Short Stories." Al Owais also provided a detailed overview of the various cultural topics covered in the latest issue.
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