Abu dhabi: The 22nd Sharjah Narrative Forum has commenced in Amman, marking a significant cultural event under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The forum brings together over 50 novelists, short-story writers, academics, and critics from Jordan and the Arab world.
According to Emirates News Agency, Jordanian Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh welcomed Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Department's Cultural Affairs, at the National Library in Amman prior to the forum's launch. Al-Rawashdeh expressed appreciation for Sharjah's cultural contributions on Arab and international levels, emphasizing the humanitarian and civilizational vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.
The minister underscored the robust ties between Jordan and the UAE and extended gratitude to Sharjah for its enduring support of poetry, theatre, and narrative literature in Jordan. He conveyed greetings from Jordan and King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein to the Ruler of Sharjah, acknowledging His Highness's support for cultural affairs.
Al Owais expressed thanks to Jordan's Ministry of Culture for hosting the Department's activities, highlighting the strengthened cultural ties between the UAE and Jordan. He mentioned the House of Poetry in Mafraq, established through a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries, as well as cultural honoring forums, previous recognition of 20 Jordanian cultural figures, and a session of the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity.
The latest edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum continues this cooperation by honoring Jordanian writers and their contributions to the short story. Titled 'The Short Story: From the Imagination of Writing to Reception,' the two-day forum features four discussion tracks.
The opening ceremony at the National Library was attended by Al Owais; Al Qaseer; Hamad Al Matrooshi, Charg© d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Jordan; and Nidal Al-Ayasrah, Secretary-General of Jordan's Ministry of Culture, representing Al-Rawashdeh, alongside intellectuals and academics. An exhibition accompanying the ceremony showcased Sharjah Department of Culture publications, including Sharjah Culture, Al Rafid, Al Qawafi, Al Masrah, and Al Hira magazines.
Al Qaseer noted that Amman also hosted the forum's 16th edition in 2019, reflecting the city's established Arab cultural presence and its shared interest with Sharjah in culture and knowledge. He stated that the forum reflects the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah to organize it across Arab countries, strengthening a shared Arab cultural presence and broadening dialogue on narrative issues. Al Qaseer highlighted that the forum has developed a significant body of research on Arab narrative over its successive editions, with this year's theme exploring the short story from the writer's initial idea through to its reception and interpretation.
Al-Ayasrah, speaking on behalf of the Jordanian Minister of Culture, emphasized Jordan's role as an Arab cultural hub and the importance of cooperation with cultural institutions in the UAE. He also highlighted the Ruler of Sharjah's support for Arab cultural initiatives, including Houses of Poetry, theatre festivals, and programs honoring cultural figures.
The opening session, 'The Short Story: From the Horizon of Imagination to Expansive Reality,' explored the relationship between the short story and digital technology. Zuhair Obeidat discussed how digital transformation has affected writers, texts, and readers, asserting that emerging short-form narrative styles require new critical standards. Nidal Al-Shamali commented on the importance of adapting literary theory as the means of producing and receiving texts evolves.
The first track, 'Autobiographical References in the Short Story,' featured Hassan Al-Majali, Nasser Shabana, and Rashed Issa, chaired by Ramadan Al-Rawashdeh. Discussions focused on the role of autobiographical references in short fiction, their relationship with creative experience, and their use among Jordanian women short-story writers.
The first day also included creative testimonials from writers Saoud Qbeilat, Akram Al-Zoubi, Sawar Al-Sbeihi, and Rawand Al-Kafarneh, who shared reflections on their early writing experiences and key milestones in their creative journeys.