Sharjah24: Amidst a festive atmosphere in the open-air theatre in the courtyard of the Egyptian city of Luxor, the Luxor Arabic Poetry Festival put the final touches on the activities of the ninth edition, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and organised by the Department of Culture in Sharjah and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, over 4 days, with the participation of more than 100 poets, critics, academics, writers, and artists.
The closing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs in the Department; Major General Ahmed Abu Zeid, former Assistant Minister of Interior of Egypt’ Dr Muhammad Hassani, Director of the Egyptian Public Library, Director of the Luxor Centre for Cultural Heritage; Hussein Al Qabbahi, Director of the House of Poetry; and a large number of the public who flocked to the venue of the ceremony to celebrate poetry and poets.
Al Qabbahi delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendees, stressing that Luxor, in addition to being an important historical and archaeological city, has gained a prominent cultural status based on the patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for the House of Poetry. He added that His Highness has given these noble opportunities, and opened up broad horizons for the House of Poetry to learn about the Egyptian cultural and creative scene, and allowed creators and poets in particular to have their say.
Al Qabbahi pointed out that Egypt experiences a cultural celebration every year represented by the Luxor Poetry Festival, pointing out that a large number of creators who grew up in the House of Poetry have become stars leading the cultural scene, stressing that the house is expanding its activities with all official Egyptian institutions, and seeks to care for the cultural scene in Egypt.
In a closing speech, Al Owais appreciated the manifestation of the meanings of cooperation between the House of Poetry and Luxor Governorate, represented by its cultural and academic institutions (Faculty of Fine Arts at Luxor University), the Egyptian Public Library, and other institutions active in the Egyptian cultural arena, stressing that this cooperation works to make the cultural movement in the southern Egyptian city, and all over Egypt.
The head of the Department of Culture expressed his admiration for the poetry audience that followed the festival's activities over 4 days
Hassani stressed that the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to establish Houses of Poetry in the Arab world, including the House of Poetry in Luxor, constituted a distinct cultural case, and produced an Arab cultural unity based on the pioneering idea of houses of poetry.
Hassani also said in a speech that cooperation is ongoing between the Egyptian Public Library and the House of Poetry in order to enrich the cultural process and develop talents in Luxor and Upper Egypt, describing the House as the "right arm" of the library with its continuous support for them to move in cultural work, stressing that it is a partnership that he is proud of and of great importance, highlighting that the library will witness greater cooperation in the coming period that will result in many activities for the House.
The festival in its ninth edition was a cultural focal point in Luxor, as it gathered an elite group of Egyptian poets, writers, academics and artists from 23 Egyptian governorates, thus deepening the message of the House of Poetry in producing a cultural scene that seeks to preserve an authentic Arab heritage, which is poetry. The last day of the festival was celebrated with two distinctive poetry sessions.
Poets and participants in the Luxor Festival of Arabic Poetry confirmed that Sharjah has reserved a prestigious place for itself in the hearts of poets and writers in all parts of the Arab world, as it provides unconditional support to intellectuals and writers, considering that the House of Poetry has played a central and important role in serving poetry and poets from all over Egypt for nine years, and linking the north and the south in a true sense of belonging to the Arab world in general, and to Egypt in particular.
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