Ministry of Culture celebrates the creators of the 2021 State Incentive Award

“One of the tasks of the Ministry is to support creativity, especially in the fields of arts, literature, studies, translation, and writing. The State prizes of appreciation and encouragement are the best expressions of the State’s interest in appreciating its creators and showing the importance of their intellectual achievements, especially as they are directed  to the category of young people in order to motivate them to do their best.” This was confirmed by the Minister of Culture, Dr. Loubana Mouchaweh, during the Ministry of Culture today’s celebration of the 2021 State Incentive Award winners.

The Minister explained that the award for literature went to storyteller and novelist Safwan Ibrahim, who documented 10 years of war in a high-end, smooth, and indirect literary manner that seemed to answer the questions he had after his brother’s martyrdom. As for The Arts Award, it was awarded to the leader of the National Band of Arab Music and Dean of the Higher Institute of Music, Maestro Adnan Fathallah for his creativity in composing and redistributing the classical music of Arab music.

For his part, Ibrahim expressed his pleasure at receiving this award in the capital of his country Damascus which was and continues to hold a clear vision of embracing and appreciating the creativity of its righteous sons. According to Ibrahim, this award is a tribute to all the fictional works he has written, especially the novels documenting the unjust war against Syria.

Ibrahim stated that he was one of the first writers to look at the facts of the war with a literary perspective as it integrated with his work as a pilot colonel in the Syrian Arab Army. He began writing in 2013 after his younger brother was martyred in Raqqa governorate, trying to reflect his vision that the war is not only resisted with the gun but rather needs thought that could ultimately triumph in the battlefield and intellectual life.

For his part, Maestro Adnan Fathallah pointed out that this award is a support for him to continue to offer the best for Syrian music and a tribute to all academic musicians who believe in the influence of music in overcoming wars and difficulties.

Maestro Fathallah stated that the honors’ moral and professional  value  lies in the continuation of work , holding artistic activities , presenting  new experiences and studies in the field of music, as well as  graduating  young generations from music institutes to support national projects, preserve Syrian identity, and provide a creative product in cooperation with Syrian musicians in a manner appropriate to their civilization and cultural history.

It is noteworthy this award is based on the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 11 of 2012 to create  the State Appreciation and Encouragement Awards in the Field of Literature and Arts for creators, intellectuals and artists in recognition of their creative, intellectual and artistic works. Each winner is awarded a financial prize and a commemorative medal.

Amal Farhat