Doha, September 21 (QNA) – The Ministry of Culture concluded Sunday its participation in the 26th Baghdad International Book Fair, which kicked off in Sep. 10 with Qatar as its guest of honor.
The book fair was held amidst widespread public and cultural interaction, emphasizing the depth of fraternal ties between the Qatari and Iraqi peoples and consolidating the position of Qatari culture as a bridge for communication and human dialogue.
In his remarks, Director of the Libraries Department at the Ministry of Culture and Director of the Doha International Book Fair Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain said that the ministry’s pavilion witnessed a large public turnout throughout the fair, noting that Qatar’s presence as the guest of honor at the fair marked a significant milestone in the cultural cooperation between the two countries.
He added that the Ministry of Culture’s publications participating in the fair were well received by the Iraqi public, who interacted with the e-library and downloaded a large collection of books onto their mobile phones. He added that there was also a strong response to private initiatives that encourage reading, as well as admiration for the idea of ​​the smart reading guide, which attracted the public to participate and interact with it. Furthermore, the craftsmen and musicians played a significant role in attracting Iraqi audiences to the Qatari pavilion.
Al Buainain indicated that the Qatari pavilion was able to present a comprehensive picture of the country’s cultural landscape, through a rich display of literary, intellectual, and artistic production, in addition to highlighting popular heritage and traditional crafts such as Al Sadu, chests, gypsum, and naqda. Visitors interacted greatly with the pavilion’s design, which was inspired by traditional Qatari architecture, and with the diverse activities that combined authenticity with a spirit of innovation.
He pointed out that the accompanying cultural program included a series of intellectual seminars, lectures and poetry evenings, in addition to heritage performances presented by the Qatari folklore troupe, which performed the Ardha art and other folk arts, in a scene that embodied the spirit of the authentic cultural heritage. The pavilion also attracted widespread interest in the traditional crafts it displayed, such as wooden shipbuilding, as it provided attendees with the opportunity to interact directly with the craftsmen. The pavilion also hosted a photographic exhibition that reflected the aesthetics of modern Qatar, its heritage architecture and scenes of daily life, in addition to highlighting the country’s land and marine environment.
Al Buainain concluded his remarks by stressing that Qatar’s participation achieved its objectives of enhancing the shared Arab cultural presence, highlighting Qatari intellectual output, and opening new horizons for cooperation with cultural institutions and publishing houses. He affirmed that the Ministry of Culture will continue to work to enhance Qatar’s position as a beacon of culture and creativity. (QNA)