Bodour Al Qasimi opens "Sharjah Literature Festival"
SHARJAH, 6th JANUARY / WAM / Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Honorary President of the Emirates Publishers Association and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, yesterday evening, inaugurated the activities of the second session of the “Sharjah Literature Festival”, which continues until January 11 of this year.
The festival is jointly organized by the Emirati Publishers Association and the Sharjah Book Authority, to enhance the presence of literature in Emirati society and provide an important opportunity to support Emirati publishers and strengthen the publishing sector in the country.
In his opening speech, His Excellency Rashid Al-Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, stressed that the festival, in its second edition, which bears the slogan “A Society Woven by Stories,” highlights the importance of literature as a cultural mirror that reflects society’s culture, values, and human experiences and its role in building generations capable of building the future with conscious thought and an open vision.
He said that the festival is a pivotal platform for highlighting the vital role of literature in preserving cultural identity, nourishing thought, and creating a supportive environment for creating literary content. It also provides an important platform for enhancing knowledge mobility, consolidating the presence of literature on the local and Arab cultural scene, and providing an opportunity for young talents to find their way into the limelight.
He added that the association, led by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, works to support the publishing industry and develop a sustainable knowledge structure that contributes to enhancing the status of books, explaining that the festival confirms the continued commitment to advancing culture, facilitating access to knowledge to every reader, and expanding partnerships with cultural institutions locally, Arably, and internationally.
The official opening ceremony began with a performance by the Sharjah National Band of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and included a live poetry reading, in which the poet Amal Al Sahlawi presented a distinguished poetic performance accompanied by the artist Montadir Al Hakim, in addition to an Emirati theatrical performance presented by a troupe of creative young men and women from members of the Sharjah Foundation for Capacity Development.
During her tour around the festival, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi was briefed on some of the activities organized for festival goers as part of a rich program that tells the nation’s inspiring stories and celebrates literature and promising talents from the Emirates.
Throughout its days, the festival includes a number of literary, cultural and entertainment events that host an elite group of authors, thought leaders, innovators and artists, the most notable of which is a book fair with the participation of 42 Emirati publishers, in addition to 23 cultural and entertainment segments that include dialogue sessions, musical and theatrical performances, interactive stories, and 12 workshops, as well as a daily story-reading corner with “Lady of Stories” Publishing, and displays from 8 shopping stores bearing distinctive Emirati brands.
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