jordan pulse -

The Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, in its 40th edition, continues to solidify its presence as a comprehensive Arab cultural festival by launching the most diverse cultural program in its history, scheduled to run from July 23 to August 20.
​The cultural program will officially open on July 23 at the Department of the National Library under the patronage of Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh and in the presence of the festival's Executive Director, Yazan Al-Khdeir. The opening ceremony will feature Jordanian and Arab poetry readings, alongside the announcement of the winner of the Jamal Abu Hamdan Award for Theater Innovation.
​The 7th Arab Narrative Forum
A centerpiece of the program is the 7th Arab Narrative Forum, organized in cooperation with the Jordanian Writers Association under the theme "Transformations of the Arab Narrative in the Third Millennium." This edition is named in honor of the pioneer Jordanian novelist Hashem Ghrabaibeh. Over four days, prominent novelists, critics, and academics from Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, and Oman will discuss key shifts in the Arab novel, short stories, historical fiction, magical realism, digital narrative, mysticism, character evolution, and national identity, culminating in final recommendations.
​Expanded Cultural Footprint
The program spans a full month and includes dozens of seminars, forums, and poetry evenings designed to increase public engagement. Held in partnership with various cultural institutions—such as the Jordanian Writers Association, the Union of Jordanian Writers and Intellectuals, the House of Poets, and the Jordanian Association of Plastic Artists—the festival aims to expand its geographical reach by hosting events across Amman, Irbid, Madaba, Zarqa, Jerash, Ajloun, Balqa, Karak, and Aqaba.
​Key features of the cultural activities include:
​Poetry and Local History: Joint poetry evenings in Amman and Irbid with Arab and local poets, a Nabati poetry night, and a specialized seminar titled "The Jordanian Narrative... Narrative of the City of Jerash" focusing on the historical and cultural depth of the city.
​Literature of Place: The "Aesthetics of Place" and "Memory of Place" forums will explore the presence of Jordanian cities in contemporary literature, folklore, oral traditions, and architectural heritage.
​Diverse Seminars: Evenings organized by the Union of Jordanian Writers and Intellectuals will address themes such as official and military narratives, archeology, Jerusalem under current variables, the psychological impact of wars on children, and the role of media in culture.
​Independent Poetry Tracks: The House of Poets will host a separate track of poetry evenings featuring literary figures from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, and Iraq.
​Youth and Talent Development
The festival provides dedicated spaces for discovering and fostering young talent through specific initiatives:
​Bashayer Jerash: A program allowing young creators in writing, painting, music, sculpting, and fine arts to showcase their work to the public.
​Abq Al-Lawn (Fragrance of Color): Specialized art workshops designed for visually impaired children gifted in painting.
​An Artist in Every Home: An initiative aimed at spreading artistic culture and promoting community participation across different social segments.
​Rum News Agency