Doha, January 25 (QNA) - The Qatari Forum for Authors announced the launch of its annual plan of activities and events for 2023, including several cultural initiatives that enhance the cultural movement and the presence of writers and authors in society.
In exclusive remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Director General of the Qatari Forum for Authors Dr. Aisha Jassim Al Kuwari said that the Forum set its new strategy for this year, including several new projects for the current year with a new look and different imprint, some of which were already launched during Jan. 2023, in addition to new initiatives during the coming period.
Al Kuwari said that among the most significant events included in the new strategy of the forum was 'get more and create' competition for all age groups, from children to adults, to encourage them to read. The competition aims to consolidate reading as a habit in society, enhance the public's general culture, and maximize books' role as a main source of education.
In this regard, she explained that 'get more and create' will continue for four months and is divided into two parts. The first part deals with reading a certain number of books for each group stage (children, young adults, and adults), and the second part deals with summarizing what has been read in a literary and creative manner. She stressed that coordination is underway with partner agencies and sponsors to launch the competition as soon as possible.
The Director General of the Forum said that among the new activities of the forum is the 'tale event,' which hosts the most significant writers in the State of Qatar who achieved substantial successes, not only in the field of writing but also in different levels. The 'tale' shows the major success experiences achieved by a significant category of Qatari writers and authors in several fields, representing an example and a successful role model revealing part of the life of these successful characters to be a source of inspiration for the Qatari youth and society in general. This initiative will be launched end of Jan. 2023.
Dr. Aisha Jassim Al Kuwari confirmed in her interview with QNA that the Qatari Forum for Authors (QFA) is currently seeking to attract new writers, especially young people, and encourage them to put forward their initiatives, in a way that contributes to enriching the cultural movement, while being keen to honor adult writers and encourage them to return to enrich the cultural scene to benefit from their experiences and ideas.
She appreciated the continuous support of the Ministry of Culture for the QFA, noting that the new building to which the forum will move will be a home for writers and an umbrella for their intellectual meetings and various activities, as the forum works to encourage authors in Qatar, publish their publications, and create a spirit of cooperation among all.
She said the QFA will continue joint partnerships with the concerned authorities, and sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with many agencies and institutions, noting that the forum will work to strengthen relations with Arab and international authors and unions, by hosting and cooperating with them through joint activities in person or virtually.
Al Kuwari added that the forum was keen during the past period to continue the existing projects represented in the individual initiatives of the members and existing projects based on the MoUs or events that keep pace with national and international events, highlighting the Ministry of Culture's long-term plans and projects that go in accordance with the Qatar National Strategy 2020-2030. (QNA)