The Ministry of Culture has unveiled the lineup of events for the National Reading Month 2024, one of the most significant events on the local cultural calendar.
Every year, the month of March is marked as the reading month epitomising the UAE's commitment to nurturing a culture of knowledge and learning. This initiative underscores the UAE’s and its leadership’s dedication to providing an enriching environment and robust infrastructure for developing a knowledge ecosystem, showcasing the Ministry's steadfast support for cultivating a passion for reading among all community members.
The Reading Month initiatives were announced during a press conference held on Thursday at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah. The Ministry of Culture was represented by Shatha Al Mulla, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Heritage and Art Sector. Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of the House of Wisdom; Mona Khalil, Director of the Government Communications Department at the Ministry of Community Development; Jamal Al Shehhi, Member of the Board of Mohammed bin Rashid Library; and Iman Bushalebi, Director of the Public Libraries Department at the Sharjah Book Authority;
Also participating in the event were Fahd Al Maamari, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Library and Information Association; Dania Al Droubi, Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Literature Foundation; Aisha Ibrahim Sultan, Vice President of the Emirates Writers and Authors’ Union; Secretary General of the Ghanem Ghobash Short Story Award; Asmaa Al Mutawa, President and Founder of Salon Al-Multaqa; Eman Al Hammadi, Director of Library Affairs, Dubai Arts and Culture Authority, Hamad Al Humairi, Director of Research and Knowledge Services, National Archives and Library and Moza Al Qubaisi, Cultural Advisor to the Chairman of Board of Directors of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Foundation and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural Centre.
In her address, Shatha Al Mulla remarked,
"The United Arab Emirates and its visionary leadership have prioritised human development, launching a number of ambitious initiatives and strategies to enhance individuals' capacities to make a meaningful contribution to society. These efforts focus on nurturing individuals' thinking, and knowledge, and enriching them with additional experiences and insights to empower them to actively serve their nation and community in the future. Among these initiatives, the National Reading Month stands out as an ideal opportunity to promote a culture of reading, fostering reading as a genuine daily habit among all members of society."
She continued,
“The Ministry, in partnership with various cultural institutions and stakeholders, is dedicated to realising the nation's vision by harnessing the potential of this initiative to instill a culture of science and knowledge. Our goal is to create an enriching environment and conducive infrastructure to foster a culture of knowledge. We have diligently pursued the implementation of a range of cultural projects and initiatives to be executed during the Reading Month. This year, we have curated a comprehensive cultural programme that seeks to draw from diverse experiences, striving to build a society inspired by reading and knowledge.”
Within the framework of enhancing cooperation with prestigious cultural institutions in the UAE, the Ministry will partner with the Emirates Writers Union to launch the "Joint Publications" initiative. This project aims to produce and distribute 30 publications with the Ministry's backing. The project will encompass three key focuses: reissuing a selection of rare books (12 publications), showcasing young literary works (12 publications), and translating a collection of Emirati literary pieces (6 publications). Additionally, the agreement involves coordinating activities between the Ministry and the Emirates Writers Union for participation in the 2024 Abu Dhabi and Sharjah International Book Fairs and organising author-signing events as part of the "Joint Publications" project.
The Ministry, through its creative centres located in different emirates, will organise a series of events and host cultural activities and events targeting all members of society in partnership with cultural bodies and institutions. It will also launch a number of cultural initiatives in line with the objectives of the reading month. These can be viewed on the website of the Ministry of Culture.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
