Jabal Amman Cultural Week kicks off

AMMAN — The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation (AHSF) started its week-long cultural activities in Amman on Thursday, presenting various events in the capital’s Jabal Amman neighbourhood.

AHSF CEO Valentina Qussisiya said this year’s event, dubbed Jabal Amman Cultural Week, is much bigger compared to the past two years with partners numbering 24. 

“It aims at engaging the cultural institutions in Jabal Amman in a weeklong event to showcase their activities to the public so that we can spread culture in every place,” she told The Jordan Times on Friday.

The activities are held at several venues in Jabal Amman, including the AHSF and what is now known as JARA Street, off Rainbow Street. 

“Activities range between musical events, a book fair, plays and children activities as well as photography exhibitions,” Qussisiya said, adding that a number of publishing houses are also taking part.

“We wanted to organise several activities at an outdoor venue because Amman has beautiful spaces and we need to take advantage of them, and at the same time, people like going out. We also have plans to make something similar in Irbid as well,” she added. 

Khaled Al Majali, a Jordanian journalist and an author, signed his book at one of the week’s activities, describing the initiative as a good bridge between a writer and his audience. 

“It exposes me to a new and diverse audience. The good thing is that there is direct interaction with people,” he noted.

Samira Qoussous, one of the visitors, commended the event’s “friendly atmosphere”.

“It is suitable to all tastes and ages. The good thing is that you can buy a book from the writer himself and discuss it with him,” she added. 

Anas Nahlah — the founder of Studio 8, a hub for artists and dancers — said such activities give cultural initiatives the chance to reach out to a wider audience.

“When people go to events like this, they are open to all kinds of cultural activities, and this helps us interact with them,” he told The Jordan Times.

Team members of Darb Al Maarifa, a cultural space affiliated with AHSF, are taking advantage of the cultural week to hold reading sessions and encourage children to read.

“We presented details about the heritage and culture of many countries including Arab ones,” said Roaa Hulaisi, team leader of Dar Al Maarifah, noting that this was a chance to show children positive images of the region, away from death and destruction.

The Jabal Amman Cultural Week runs until May 11. 

The event also includes several film screenings at the Rainbow Theatre, the Royal Film Commission and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. 

More information on the activities, which are all free, is available on the foundation’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ShomanFDN/.