Spring of Arabic Poetry festival opens at Al-Babtain library

KUWAIT, March 30 (KUNA) -- Under the auspices of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the eighth edition of the "Spring of Arabic Poetry" festival kicked off at Al-Babtain Central Library on Sunday evening.
The festival is organized by Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Prize for Poetic Creativity under the theme of "the forum of Rashed Al-Saif and Abdullah Al-Khalili," in commemoration of the two celebrated poets. In his inaugural speech on behalf of His Highness the Prime Minister, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah lauded the Foundation as "Kuwaiti edifice for Arabic poetry, literature and culture." "It is a top priority for the Kuwaiti political leadership under His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to promote the Arab cultural heritage and civilization," Sheikh Salman said.
"Kuwait believes that the promotion of intellectual creatively is conducive to the cultural enlightenment, understanding and dialogue which are key to social stability and development," he pointed out.
He affirmed the government support to the cultural activities of the Foundation and the National Council for Culture, Art and Letters (NCCAL).
Sheikh Salman extolled the celebrated Kuwait poet Rashed Al-Saif and "the prince of Omani poetry" Abdullah Al-Khalili for materializing the unity and harmony among the GCC peoples.
On his part, President of the Foundation poet Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain said the Spring of Arabic Poetry festival is an attempt "to revive the grandeur of the classical Arabic poetry and the heritage of our nation." "The Arabs are known in the history of humanity as the nation of poetry for their zeal to write or read poetry even at their young age," the renowned Kuwaiti poet said.
Al-Babain added that his Foundation maintained its tradition in shedding light on Arab contemporary poets at every festival in order to hand down to the next generations the love for poetry.
In statements to KUNA on the sidelines of the event, he said that the coming edition of the festival will commemorate the Kuwaiti poet Salman Al-Jarallah, and Iraq's Bader Shaker Al-Sayyab who lived between 1926 and 1964.
The Foundation will unveil new publications on the two poets in the run up to the ninth Spring of Arabic Poetry festival and will launch an award for Arab young poets, he added. (end) tms,fsh.gb