His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the Honorary President of the Arab Theater Institute (ATI), officially launched the institute’s main office located in Al Hira.
Upon his arrival, the ruler of Sharjah presented a commemorative plaque to announce the opening of its headquarters and warmly welcomed an important number of theatre artists from different Arab countries who had come to express their happiness at being inSharjah. The Ruler also gave them congratulations on the inauguration of the Authority’s Headquarters.
During the event, the ruler of Sharjah gave a speech in which he paid tribute to the theater and its community. He also announced that the Authority would be allocated a financial contribution to promote its work and highlight the importance of theatre as an essential part of culture for developing and strengthening society.
He reaffirmed his commitment to support the theatre and its community in all Arab countries, until it has returned to its former glory.
The ruler of Sharjah took a look at the Institute’s main offices, which are spread out over two adjacent buildings. These buildings are traditional heritage houses, which have been restored in the context of the rebuilding of Al Hira’s old town.
During the visit, he was presented with an overview of its various facilities including administrative and specialised technical departments, library, publishing, training and qualification office, school theatre, digital library as well as Arab Centre for Documentation and Theatre Studies.
In keeping with the traditional architecture of the United Arab Emirates, the headquarters was built with all modern facilities and equipment. The structure is decorated with intricate woodcarvings and plaster decorations, which are characteristic of this region’s traditional architecture. Various services and infrastructure were also provided in the building and surrounding areas to allow visitors easier access to the Institute.
At the opening of the headquarters of the Arab Theater Institute, Abdullah Ismail, Secretary General of the Arab Theater Institute, delivered a speech expressing the pleasure of the theatre community. He expressed gratitude for the Ruler of Sharjah’s continuous support and efforts in nurturing and advancing the theater and its practitioners.
Abdullah pointed out that the new headquarters would serve as a source of inspiration for all Arab theatre artists, and would encourage them to continue their work.
The Secretary General underlined the need for greater accountability for the purpose of the theatre and for the work of the playwrights in support of the Arab theatre. At the same time, the ATI is striving to improve theatre in all Arab cities and raise the standard of all Arab theatre.
Al Hira Literary Council
Sheikh Sultan also paid a visit to the Al Hira Literary Council, which is an affiliate of the Department of Culture in the Al Hira.
In addition to organising poetry evenings and festivals, publishing poetry collections, books, and other literary publications, and preserving the poetic heritage through the revival, circulation, and study of its art, the Al Hira Literary Council briefed the Sharjah ruler on its activities and programmes.
When the Sharjah ruler spoke to them about poetry, its importance in Arab culture, and how it helped document events through artistic and poetic means that appeal to literary tastes, poets and artists were among the guests of the Al Hira Literary Council.
