Culture, Arts and Entertainment news

[Ali - Iraq]

[Ali - Iraq]

After Saddam and war, Iraq’s musicians see revival
The once quiet courtyards of Baghdad’s Institute of Musical Studies, located in the busy Sinak area, where violence was rife during the height of Iraq’s sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007, are thriving again as the Iraqi capital enjoys a noticeable ebb in violence.

Many of Iraq’s most talented musicians fled during the rule of Saddam Hussein, fearing persecution for their political views and suffering from a lack of funding and exposure if they refused to glorify the leader in their art.

Others left after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, escaping violence as war broke out. Concert venues were shuttered. Some musicians were threatened by the Iraqi arm of al Qaeda.

Now, gingerly, some musicians are making plans to come back, hoping to revive Iraq’s rich musical tradition on home soil.

And, Deputy Head of the Baghdad Institute of Musical Studies, Haider Shakir Haider, says there are many keen to learn.

“Following the change of the regime and because of the security situation and the fact that the area of al Sinak was a bad hot spot, some of the students who were at the time in their second, third or fourth years left for Syria while others migrated to European countries and so only 40-50 students remained at the institute. The main reason was because most of the students were afraid to come to this area and some of them were worried about the sweeping religious tide and the issue of haram or halal (whether an act is prohibited or not by Islam). But now, thanks to God, they have started to apply to the institute. Fifty people have applied this year and 50 students applied last year,” Haider said.


Student (L) being taught to play the oud while another (R) plays the kaman.
The issue of haram has been particularly divisive.

Founded in 1970, the state-funded Institute of Musical Studies was formed as a center to enrich Iraqi music and offers specializations in Iraqi musical heritage and history.

Students are taught to play traditional Iraqi music and the Iraqi maqam, a musical genre.

Traditional instruments such as the stringed santur, jawza, qanun, the lute-like oud, flute and violin-type kaman, are taught in an effort to keep alive a rich musical legacy disrupted by years of violence and unrest.

Teachers say the lessons only promote “decent” music.

“Music academics and professional musicians are against corrupted music. They don't like that kind of music and they do not promote such kind of music. It has nothing to do with the heritage of our country and is not delivered in a classy way. I am definitely a religious man who will not tolerate dirty words and dissonant music that violates decency,” said Nassim, who is also a member of the Iraqi national committee of music
A new breed of militants, who target people practicing arts they consider “un-Islamic”, has led several worried parents to withdraw their children from the school, especially if they are girls, Haider said.

Some students were attacked and there was a time when some students hid their instruments in plastic bags in order to get to school, he said.


Shahad Jammal, a student at the institute.
Shahad Jammal, who is at the institute studying jawza - a string instrument made from a coconut shell - is frustrated she doesn't have more female classmates.

She says she was lucky to be born to a musical family and urges other females to defy social barriers and follow her lead.

“Not all the parents let their daughters come and play music. Unfortunately some of them view it as haram (prohibited). But it is not a forbidden thing because when one feels upset or gets distressed, they listen to music. That is why I call music the food of the soul. They (the parents) should be proud of their daughters, especially when there are no female musicians in Iraq, especially in recent years. Before, we there was, but now we don't have any. I am the only one and I suffer for it. Why am I the only one (to study music)? Why don't other females come? I hope that those who see me will follow suit,” Jammal said.

The institute has still not recovered its pre-2003 enrolments, when the student body numbered over 300.

Deputy Head Haider says he hopes the government will open more theatres and promote music to help rehabilitate the creative sector.

“How can we form talent in the absence of interest from the government? The students study for five years and when they graduated they will either be employed by the Musical Department (of the Ministry for Culture) or not. And if not they join the army or police while they are completing their studies and so they become just normal people that have a taste for music. The government could create solutions by first increasing the number of musical theatres and paying more attention to musicians and to the condition of the institute,” he said.


A traditional instrument, the oud.
Iraq has a rich musical history and before Saddam Hussein there was a bohemian musical atmosphere in old Baghdad with over a dozen concerts in the capital every day.

Students at Baghdad’s Institute of Musical Studies could be among the artists of the future slowly bringing live music back to Iraq.
http://english.alarabiya.net/article...03/247384.html

[Ali - Iraq]

'Voices of Baghdad' reflects on Iraqi experience
2013-02-01 By Mahmoud al-Mulhim in Baghdad

Actors perform a scene from 'Voices of Baghdad'. [Photo courtesy of 'Voices of Baghdad']

+ COMMENT NOW
The play "Aswat min Baghdad" ("Voices of Baghdad"), devised in October 2011, won the praise of critics, artists and the public after its recent showing in provinces across Iraq.

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The performance revolves around hardships Iraqis have faced since 1980, said Fouad Hanoun, one of the Iraqi actors performing in the play.

Other Iraqi actors include Ali Kareem, Yasser Kareem and Mustafa al-Lami, while Italian actress Annet Henneman both directs and performs in the play.

According to Hanoun, the play uses the theatre style of reportage, which uses the stage as a medium of journalism, telling true stories of people and communities.

"In this play, every character delivers a story taken from experiences in Iraqi society," then as the play unfolds the viewer sees that each story is connected, he said.

The play first showed in the Iraqi Kurdish region, then travelled to five Italian cities, London and recently to the cities of southern Iraq, Hanoun said.

Its success encouraged the actors in the group to prepare other works, Hanoun said, adding that they are currently preparing a new play with Henneman, who he says is very interested in Iraq, its people, atmosphere and culture.

Henneman told Mawtani she feels happy because she realised her "dream of seeing Baghdad and the southern cities of Iraq".

"I love Iraq very much, and I know a lot about it," she said.

"I am very impressed by Iraqi women, and it made me very happy to play a role that depicts their hardship," Henneman said. "I greatly sympathise with the women and the oppressed in countries that went through harsh circumstances."

"Iraq lived through bitter times, resulting in suffering, pain and hardships, and Iraqi women's share in these pains was huge," she added.

SPREADING PEACE AND REJECTING VIOLENCE
Theatre critic Zuhair Jayyad said Henneman excelled "in playing the role of the tortured Iraqi woman."

"She made us forget we were looking at a foreign woman who had not mastered the Arabic language, while she delivered her role in English," he added.

"It was a great performance and an enjoyable work of art, and the actors excelled in delivering the essence of Iraqi hardship during those three decades," he said.

"We badly need such theatre groups, which operate with a spirit of humanity and nationalism to deliver the truth of the wounds Iraqis are trying to heal," he said. "There are still those who want to keep [Iraq] bleeding, and by that I mean the terrorists."

Young theatre director Anwar Daoud described the play's direction as "fantastic".

"The way the work was done was a lesson for us young artists, particularly since it was done in a style that was new to us," he told Mawtani.

Daoud said it is important for government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to "form youth groups to present such performances on a regular basis".

"If reportage theatre became popular in Iraq, it would help refine each individual, raise his or her awareness, develop his or her intellectual capacities, and spread a spirit of citizenship and peace while rejecting discrimination and violence," Daoud said.

In addition, such plays presented in other countries "would have a great influence in conveying our culture and delivering our messages abroad", he said.

[Ali - Iraq]

Cultural projects signal revival in Fallujah
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 2013-02-06
The Anbar provincial council said Tuesday (February 5th) that work has begun on a number of projects in Fallujah that aim to revive cultural life in the city.

The projects, approved under the council's 2013 investment and construction plan, include the construction of a cinema/theatre and the rehabilitation of the city's festival and meeting halls.

The theatre is being constructed in response to repeated public demand, Anbar provincial council deputy chairman Saadoun Obaid al-Shaalan told Mawtani.

Additionally, two Syrian and Lebanese investors have been granted a permit to build a modern amusement park and a family park in northern and central Fallujah, he said, at a total cost of about 2.3 billion Iraqi dinars ($1.9 million).

Artists and singers will also be issued new licenses to perform in the city, he said.

Al-Shaalan said the decision to build a theatre had been postponed more than once over the last two years due to economic circumstances and the province's insufficient budget allocations.

"Al-Qaeda turned the city into a lifeless corpse, devoid of any sign of joy and happiness, and changed everything into destruction and rubble, but today we are going to restore it to its previous state," he said.

"Improvement in the security situation and the city's lack of recreation and entertainment facilities – such as amusement parks, green parks and halls for festivities and private occasions – spurred the private sector to build such facilities," said Anbar governor Qassim al-Fahdawi.

However, al-Fahdawi told Mawtani, the private sector projects are relatively modest for a city of Fallujah's size, which has a population of about 750,000.

The council's security and cultural committees last week issued licenses to six singers, allowing them to perform at concerts and parties in Fallujah, he said.

"During the first five days after the issue of the permits, 12 celebrations were held in the city, something which was not previously possible because of the presence of terrorists," he said.

The overall cost of the theatre project, which will be in the centre of the Yarmouk district, south of Fallujah, is about 800 million Iraqi dinars ($687,880), Fahdawi said. It will comprise a cinema, a hall for theatre plays, a garden and other rooms, halls and service facilities.

After the building is completed, different theatre groups will be invited to perform, he said, and the latest foreign films will be shown.

FALLUJAH SUFFERED MORE FROM AL-QAEDA THAN OTHER CITIES
"There was considerable neglect in previous years in the area of cultural and entertainment services for the public, but we hope this year will be the beginning of a series of great accomplishments in Fallujah," said Fathi Kareem, director of the Anbar province projects department.

After these projects are completed, he told Mawtani, the province intends to restore the Fallujah house of Iraq's foremost poet, the late Maarouf al-Rusafi, turning it into a poetry forum. It also plans to carry out maintenance work on heritage buildings and historical sites from the Abbasid era.

"Fallujah is in need of these projects because it suffered intellectual and psychological terrorism at the hands of al-Qaeda more than other cities," he said.

Jumaa al-Jubury, head of the Fallujah branch of the Iraqi Artists Union, described the new projects as "a late step, but a good one".

"The projects will be an important factor in educating the young and filling out their spare time, aside from the economic aspect which would bring in good revenues to the city," he told Mawtani.

"The public's improved state of mind will surely push them to even think of repainting their homes to replace the present dim and dark colours with bright ones that welcome life with joy and help improve reality on a wider scale, away from terror and unjustifiable violence," he said.

[Ali - Iraq]

Iraqi poet's home to be transformed into a cultural forum
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 2013-02-12
More than 200 years after it was built, the family home of Iraqi poet Badr Shaker al-Sayyab (1926-1969) still stands in the village of Jikour, about 20 kilometres south of Basra city in the Abi al-Khaseeb district.

Al-Sayyab spent his childhood in the house and its surrounding palm groves, where many of his poems were inspired, among them "My Grandfather's House" and the "House of al-Aqnan".

Now, thanks to a decision taken by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, al-Sayyab's home is being renovated and will become a museum and cultural forum.

"We are about to rehabilitate the house of our great poet al-Sayyab, to turn it into a cultural forum and a tourist museum that documents his poetry works and displays to the public his personal effects, pictures, scripts and audio recordings," Abdul Qader al-Jumaily, director of the ministry's media office, told Mawtani.

"We will restore the house in a way that will preserve its historic status because it is a unique heritage site," al-Jumaily said. "It carries geographic symbolism which was linked to the life of one of Iraq's brightest cultural and literary figures, who left his unique impact on Arabic poetry and won remarkable acclaim both locally and internationally."

RESTORING THE HOMES OF ALL IRAQI PIONEERS
The ministry hopes to eventually restore the homes of all Iraqi pioneers - whether artists, literary figures, intellectuals or notable educators - and turn them into cultural and tourist sites, he said, adding that al-Sayyab's house is a first step.

The two-story family residence, which covers an area of 838 square metres, is considered an historic structure because it dates from 1800.

Old and rare building materials were used in its construction, such as rectangular plate-like bricks and Jindal wood. The ground floor comprises eight rooms set around an inner court, with orchards owned by the poet's family surrounding the house on all sides.

Despite its dilapidated condition, the house served as the staging ground for various cultural and artistic activities, notably the 4th and 5th al-Marbid Poetry Festivals; the al-Sayyab Creativity Forum, sponsored by Basra University; and al-Sayyab Festival held by the Basra branch of the Union of Iraqi Authors and Writers.

"Turning the homes of pioneers and outstanding figures into museums and houses of heritage was at the top of the projects previously proposed by our committee to the Ministry of Culture," said Ali al-Shallah, chairman of the parliamentary committee on culture.

"In addition to al-Sayyab residence, we asked to turn the home of the late poet Mohammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri into a heritage house, and sent a similar request to the Ministry of Higher Education to turn the residence of late professor Hussein Ali Mahfoudh into a public library, after a series of correspondences we had with the Mahfoudh family," he told Mawtani.

"We also sent official letters to the local government in each province urging them to collaborate and coordinate their efforts with the relevant ministries to implement these projects," he said.

Basra poet and literary figure Riyadh Abdul Wahid described the ministry's policy as "an important step to familiarise the world with our literary, artistic and intellectual figures".

Through the renovation of houses such as al-Sayyab residence, people can "get to know closely their accomplishments and the details of their private lives inside their homes" and share some of their lifetime's journey and experiences, Abdul Wahid said.

"We are fully hopeful that this step will soon become a tangible reality to be followed by similar steps in the future, out of loyalty and recognition of our pioneers who spent their lives serving their country and its glory and were major figures in the cultural scene, not only in Iraq, but across the world as well," he said.

[Ali - Iraq]

Featured
Civil Society
Variety
Iraqi musician chosen as president of global human rights foundation
Added by Layla Mohammed on March 10, 2013.
Saved under Featured



(IraqiNews.com) -The Global Foundation (Jose Reward) elected the Iraqi musician, Naseer Shamma, as president for its new session which will last for two years since the foundation grants rewards for prominent figures in the worldwide each year.

The company (Solo International) for managing artistic and cultural acts stated that ”The Iraqi musician received a letter from Jose foundation, which is concerned in human rights, informing him that he won the 2012 Jose award for peace with other prominent figures in science and arts,” noting that “The (Solo International) company is liable for acts of Nasseer Shamma.””Shamma, the president of current session, will be responsible for selecting the nominees who will compete to gain the Jose award from around the world,” the statement added. \



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[Ali - Iraq]

Baghdad set to inaugurate three new monuments
As part of the "Baghdad, Capital of Arab Culture, 2013" celebrations, the city will inaugurate three new monuments by Iraqi sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat – the last works of sculpture he completed before his death in September 2011.

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Amanat Baghdad has finished preparing the squares in which the sculptures will be installed, Hakim Abdul Zahra, director of the mayoralty's public relations, told Mawtani.

"Our work included planting trees at these squares, surfacing the sidewalks and the passageways with coloured stones, installing electricity poles, and renovating the approaches and the surroundings in a way that suits the stature of the works of art erected there," he said.

The first sculpture, "Baghdad", was erected in the centre of Al-Andalus Square. It portrays a woman seated on a chair with her head high, wearing a headdress and traditional Arab attire. The sculpture represents beautiful Baghdad, Abdul Zahra said, who looks to a brighter future with confidence no matter how many ordeals she has gone through.

The second piece, "Salvation of Iraq", is located in al-Mansour neighbourhood. A cylindrical stele, imprinted with Sumerian seals, tilts as if to fall while a man with five arms pushes it upright, he said. It represents the Iraqis' resolve to confront all their challenges in order to raise the status of their country, inspired by the depth of their history.

The third monument, "Poems of Baghdad", is located in al-Utaifiya area. In this piece, a multitude of water fountains surround a sculpture – a spherical shape made from Arabic letters that form a line from a poem written by the late Iraqi poet Mustafa Jamaluddeen.

Last year, Amanat Baghdad dedicated the "Magic Lamp" statue at Al-Fath Square in al-Karrada district. Another work by Hikmat, it depicts the magic lamp mentioned in the famous "A Thousand and One Nights" tales.

ARTISTIC LANDMARKS
Jamal al-Ataby, general director of the Ministry of Culture's Plastic Arts Directorate, said the dedication of the three Hikmat sculptures was "a bright new sign in the cultural scene of the city of Baghdad".

Baghdad is "home to numerous works of art of this outstanding artist, and other renowned Iraqi artists as well, whose creative accomplishments shine as artistic landmarks of its history and human heritage", he said.

As part of its efforts to enhance the cultural face of the capital, the Ministry of Culture will commission dozens of monuments, statues and works of art, al-Ataby told Mawtani.

"We have conducted several competitions in which many artists took part, to choose the best ones," he said. "We are now waiting for approval from the secretariat of the council of ministers, in order to start work on them."

During the Baghdad as Capital of Arab Culture celebrations, the ministry also intends to dedicate the "Iraq" monument at Al-Ferdous Square in the centre of Baghdad.

This huge work of art depicts all the successive civilisations that once flourished in Mesopotamia, he said, and stands beside another sculpture, the Monument of Gilgamesh.

Ali al-Shallah, member of the parliamentary committee on cultural affairs, said the monuments, statues and sculptures being erected this year "will give the capital a considerable aesthetic and artistic value, which reflects the civilizational and cultural heritage of Iraq".

[Euphrates]

Originally Posted by Ali - Iraq

Baghdad set to inaugurate three new monuments
As part of the "Baghdad, Capital of Arab Culture, 2013" celebrations, the city will inaugurate three new monuments by Iraqi sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat – the last works of sculpture he completed before his death in September 2011.

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Iraqi poet's home to be transformed into a cultural forum
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Tea and music entwine for Iraqi 'istikan' player
Amanat Baghdad has finished preparing the squares in which the sculptures will be installed, Hakim Abdul Zahra, director of the mayoralty's public relations, told Mawtani.

"Our work included planting trees at these squares, surfacing the sidewalks and the passageways with coloured stones, installing electricity poles, and renovating the approaches and the surroundings in a way that suits the stature of the works of art erected there," he said.

The first sculpture, "Baghdad", was erected in the centre of Al-Andalus Square. It portrays a woman seated on a chair with her head high, wearing a headdress and traditional Arab attire. The sculpture represents beautiful Baghdad, Abdul Zahra said, who looks to a brighter future with confidence no matter how many ordeals she has gone through.

The second piece, "Salvation of Iraq", is located in al-Mansour neighbourhood. A cylindrical stele, imprinted with Sumerian seals, tilts as if to fall while a man with five arms pushes it upright, he said. It represents the Iraqis' resolve to confront all their challenges in order to raise the status of their country, inspired by the depth of their history.

The third monument, "Poems of Baghdad", is located in al-Utaifiya area. In this piece, a multitude of water fountains surround a sculpture – a spherical shape made from Arabic letters that form a line from a poem written by the late Iraqi poet Mustafa Jamaluddeen.

Last year, Amanat Baghdad dedicated the "Magic Lamp" statue at Al-Fath Square in al-Karrada district. Another work by Hikmat, it depicts the magic lamp mentioned in the famous "A Thousand and One Nights" tales.

ARTISTIC LANDMARKS
Jamal al-Ataby, general director of the Ministry of Culture's Plastic Arts Directorate, said the dedication of the three Hikmat sculptures was "a bright new sign in the cultural scene of the city of Baghdad".

Baghdad is "home to numerous works of art of this outstanding artist, and other renowned Iraqi artists as well, whose creative accomplishments shine as artistic landmarks of its history and human heritage", he said.

As part of its efforts to enhance the cultural face of the capital, the Ministry of Culture will commission dozens of monuments, statues and works of art, al-Ataby told Mawtani.

"We have conducted several competitions in which many artists took part, to choose the best ones," he said. "We are now waiting for approval from the secretariat of the council of ministers, in order to start work on them."

During the Baghdad as Capital of Arab Culture celebrations, the ministry also intends to dedicate the "Iraq" monument at Al-Ferdous Square in the centre of Baghdad.

This huge work of art depicts all the successive civilisations that once flourished in Mesopotamia, he said, and stands beside another sculpture, the Monument of Gilgamesh.

Ali al-Shallah, member of the parliamentary committee on cultural affairs, said the monuments, statues and sculptures being erected this year "will give the capital a considerable aesthetic and artistic value, which reflects the civilizational and cultural heritage of Iraq".

[elusive]

anyone have any pics of the preparations??

[SumerianKing]

I want to see the gilgamesh monument!

[Ali - Iraq]

Iraq creates fund to support culture
Officials have created a special fund to support culture in Iraq through an on-going government programme headed by the Ministry of Culture, the Iraqi government said Thursday (April 4th)."The fund will support the artistic and cultural movement, the establishment of literary salons and the organisation of cultural seminars," said Ali al-Musawi, the Iraqi government's media advisor. "This is in addition to supporting poets, writers and government and private publishing houses."

It will also provide top Iraqi intellectuals and writers with personal support, creating a suitable environment for them to work, and will encourage young people to read, he told Al-Shorfa.

[Sinjar]

Rediscovering Iraq's cultural heart

Once the world's capital of literature, mathematics and the arts, Baghdad is struggling to recapture its former glory.

click on the link to see the video