Amman — Director General of the Department of Antiquities, Dr. Fawzi Qasim Abu Dana, opened the events of the Cultural Decapolis Festival's second season, organized by the Yarmouk Flame Cultural Forum at the Ottoman Saraya House in the city of Irbid, in cooperation with a number of cultural bodies and organizations, and with the participation of a select group of poets, intellectuals, and artists.
اضافة اعلان
The festival's events affirmed the importance of employing culture and the arts to raise awareness of the historical and civilizational heritage Irbid Governorate holds, and shedding light on the history of the Decapolis region and the civilizational and cultural value it represents, alongside strengthening local cultural activity and opening the door for poets, creatives, and artists to present their work before the public.
The opening ceremony's program, hosted by poet Musa Al-Naawashi, included a number of speeches and cultural and artistic segments, with the ceremony opening with remarks from the festival's patron, followed by remarks from the director of Irbid Governorate's antiquities directorate, Mohammad Al-Atoum, while Khaled Al-Tayyar delivered remarks on behalf of the forum and participating cultural bodies, alongside remarks from Dhirar Ghawanmeh, addressing the importance of cultural events and their role in strengthening the cultural scene's presence in the governorate.
The festival's events featured a varied poetic presence, through a poetry segment featuring Dr. poet Harbi Al-Masri, Iraqi poet Mohammad Nassif, poet Mohammad Al-Awdat, and Dr. poet Ibrahim Al-Tayyar, with participants presenting a collection of poems reflecting the diversity of poetic experiences and literary presence at the festival.
The program also included the screening of an introductory video about the Decapolis Festival, presenting the festival's concept, goals, and cultural dimensions, alongside a discussion titled "The Decapolis Painting," presented by Khaled Al-Tayyar, with the participation of young man Munsif Naamneh, poet Ruqayya Tawalbeh, young woman Khuzama Al-Tayyar, and young man Hamza Obeidat.
The discussion, tied to the theme of the Decapolis, addressed a number of aspects related to the region's historical and cultural identity, in an interactive format combining cultural discourse with youth participation, reflecting the festival's commitment to involving different segments of society in its events and programs.
On the artistic side, the festival included a musical segment by artist Wassim Al-Assal, accompanied by his band, featuring Basel Al-Adwan on organ, Ibrahim Al-Bashir on guitar, and Yahya Judeh on percussion, with the artistic segment adding a festive atmosphere to the opening events, forming an artistic closing to the program.
Through its second season, the Cultural Decapolis Festival continues to offer a program combining poetry, literature, the arts, and historical heritage, in an effort to strengthen the connection between cultural action and historical and heritage sites, and to highlight the cultural and civilizational assets the city of Irbid and its governorate hold.
Holding the events at the Ottoman Saraya House adds a historical dimension to the festival, by combining a site of heritage value with cultural and artistic programs, helping turn historical sites into spaces hosting cultural and artistic activities, and strengthening their presence in public awareness.
The festival, in its second season, aims to continue the cultural momentum begun by the Yarmouk Flame Cultural Forum, and to open space for poets, writers, artists, and young talents to participate and engage, alongside raising awareness of the region's historical and civilizational heritage and connecting it to contemporary cultural life.
The opening ceremony served as an occasion for a number of intellectuals, poets, artists, and those interested in cultural and heritage affairs to come together, in an event combining poetic word, cultural dialogue, and music, affirming the importance of continuing to hold such events, which help energize the cultural scene in Irbid and strengthen the city's presence as a hub for literary and artistic events.
Resource: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ahmad Al-Tamimi
