Cairo: Dr. Ashraf Al-Izzazi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture in Egypt, has expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with the Sharjah Department of Culture to host the 21st edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum in Cairo next September. This announcement followed a meeting held at the council's headquarters in Cairo, attended by Abdallah bin Muhammad Al-Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture, and Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Qusair, Director of Cultural Affairs at the department.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting was part of the Sharjah delegation's initiative to organise a new edition of the Sharjah Cultural Honors Forum, which aims to celebrate a selection of Egyptian creatives. During this meeting, Al-Owais extended an official invitation to Dr. Ashraf Al-Izzazi to host the forum, which was warmly accepted, signifying Egypt's openness to cultural projects with Sharjah.
Al-Owais highlighted the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which enhance the forum's Arab presence. He noted Sharjah's commitment to fostering ongoing cultural collaboration and emphasized that holding the forum outside the UAE aligns with the Ruler's vision to strengthen the shared Arab cultural presence.
Further discussions revealed that the forum has previously been held in several Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, and Mauritania. Al-Owais reminisced about the inaugural edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum outside the UAE in 2019, held in Luxor, Egypt, underscoring Egypt's role as a cultural and creative hub.
The forum provides a platform for writers, researchers, and critics to engage in critical and intellectual dialogue. The upcoming edition in Cairo will focus on a significant topic related to the novel, continuing the support for the Arab narrative movement.
Dr. Al-Izzazi acknowledged Sharjah's pivotal role in the cultural sector and its dedication to organizing events that enhance Arab cultural awareness. He remarked that hosting the forum in Egypt underscores the depth of cultural relations and promotes knowledge exchange among Arab creatives.
Concluding the meeting, Al-Owais presented Dr. Al-Izzazi with the latest issue of the Sharjah Cultural Magazine, which highlights the Sharjah Cultural Honors Forum in Egypt and features a range of cultural topics.