Minister of Culture in Exclusive Interview with the Syria Times: Culture a bridge of Communication and Convergence
The Minister of Culture Dr. Loubana Moushaweh is stirring the much-awaited cultural revival, long a dream of Syrian artists and the long – staid cultural scene, not only in the capital, but all over the country. New theatres are popping up catering to a hungry audience, with new and fresh ideas. Many of the long-planned events- street concerts, book fairs, reading Houses in towns, e-website for Modern Fine Arts in Syria, art shows and the like are being anticipated with great glamour .
But with the shadow of the current crisis looming, one may ask whether this motion is real by the enthusiast, strong minded Minister, a woman with charm , or is just running to stand still? And the answer comes from her as more determinant to do what should be done.
The Minister looks very optimistic and deeply engaged in re-engineering her Ministry. “I devote all my energy to work. My enthusiasm is part of my personality; I do not like to leave a place having not left my thumb. “
For Dr. Moushaweh, dialogue means mutual benefit for the two interlocutors’ parties. Dialogue should not be imposed, otherwise it is just negotiation.
She finds correlation between creativity and freedom: “I would argue there is a dialectical relationship between creativity and freedom, in the sense that freedom allows a favorable climate for innovation. On the other hand, creativity opens up inspiring spaces, through which we breathe freedom fragrant and, desire and feel pleasure of emancipation. A creative intellectual can not only be the embodiment of opinion and attitude. A free opinion cannot be confiscated. Views may conflict consensus, and there is nothing wrong in that, but we have to converge on building the nation and keep it from tearing and destruction.”
Facts always speak themselves. Looking back at her prolific career , Minister of Culture Dr. Loubana Moushaweh a graduate of Damascus university, BA in French Literature, a diploma in higher studies in the French Language , a holder of both a Master in General Linguistics and PhD in General Linguistics from the University of Paris VIII, France.
Member of the Academic staff at Damascus University, Dr. Moushaweh, Minister of Culture since June 2012, is Member of the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus since 30/10/2008 . She became a full Professor at Damascus University (Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Department of French Language and Literature) since 2005 – 2011 ,Dean of the Higher Institute of Languages – Damascus University (September 2011 – June 2012).
She is a founding member of the Higher Institute for translation at Damascus University, and the coordinator of scientific and academic cooperation between Damascus University and the Universities of Lyon II .and Saint Joseph (Beirut) .
Dr. Moushaweh is also a member of the Arab translators Union in Lebanon, a winner of the Academic Palm Medal ( France), and a researcher in General Linguistics and science of translation.
She translated or co-translated several literary and scientific books both in French and Arabic languages.
In an exclusive Interview with the Syria Times’ senior editor, Tomader Fateh, Minister Moushaweh detailed a panoramic view of the Syrian culture under the crisis. Filled with hope and defiance, the Minister opts to challenge the adverse consequences of the crisis on the Syrian culture.
Syrian intellectuals may differ in opinion and stand opposites in attitudes, but what brings them together is much more than what divides them. They are united by their love to Syria, the depth of belonging and authenticity of identity. “I do not like to see culture as a weapon to fight, better treat it as a bridge of communication and convergence. I am with the difference because it enriches and beautifies.”
The Interview goes as follows:
What instruments the Minister is using to incubate her rich experience as a university professor and member of the Arab league Academy in the service of culture in Syria?
My utmost concern is that all decisions taken by the Ministry are built on data and analysis, on the ground of which the Ministry runs its cultural centers. To this end, a new committee was formed with a mission to” develop and reactivate cultural centers all over the country”. The strategy was built on the results of opinion polls.
The Ministry ‘s other areas, of great prioritization are the e- book to be available for all, and opening reading houses in old cities, since introducing the cultural establishment into ancient quarters is very necessary and imperative indeed.
The national plan for qualitative translation was also drawn.
Each year, the General Book Authority prints and publishes hundreds of creative books in par excellence different genres as to activate cultural and intellectual movement, and to support and consolidate national innovation.
The Opera House in Damascus is the pinpoint of all Syrians, how can it run activities, while under renovation after the attack?
The terrorist act which targeted the façade of the Opera house in the Umayyad Square, had greatly damaged this prominent monument and its maintenance is due to take long time . However, cultural events were not suspended.
Artistic programs have been resumed again in the Opera House, after they were held temporarily in al-Hamra theatre in the heart of Damascus , including, among other activities, a concert by the National Orchestra Symphony was performed on the occasion of its 20th foundation anniversary on January 15.
What are the Ministry’s priorities are as stated at the Ministerial statement, inspired by the Minister?
The Ministry ‘s main priorities are to have culture accessible to every place and person in Syria , thereby perfecting man and society, through signaling several messages starting with the digital book and ending with reading houses, mobile theatres, and cinema festivals all over the country.
Actually, the experience started from Damascus, where the Minister visited the cultural centers in Abu Rummaneh , Mezze and Kafar Souseh. There are also Dummar Cultural complex, the national museum, Khan Khan As’ad Pasha.
The Cultural centers serve all people and not just the capital as rumored. Latakia, for example hosts a distinctive cultural center, where The Child World Festival and the 10th Arab Child Festival were convened.
The idea of Banners splashed in the streets of Damascus, came at the initiative of the Minister of Culture. What is the message?
A campaign is launched built on the idea of banners displayed in the main streets of Damascus, bespeaking of Syria ‘s heritage and national legacy in excerpts dispatched from teachings and studies of prominent Syrian politicians and men of letters. It was carried out by a group of young Syrian volunteers.
The authors are from all parts of Syria. All of them are dead, so that they will be no more controversial. The message behind each and every banner is to learn from the experience of the near past, when love of the homeland was the main dynamism, in theory and practice.
The message also aims to acquaint the young Syrians with renowned national figures, few know about like Badawi al-Jabal, and Omar Abu Resheh; so as to recall the glories of the past and the spirit of nationalism inspired BY the intellectual, national and cultural values of our ancestors
What is the volume of the losses, which affected the cultural sector, and the Ministry’s actions to restore back the stolen findings?
In terms of human losses, we lost a number of colleagues working in the cultural field, but their number is limited. Material losses are mainly inflected on archaeological sites and cultural heritage, in general, because of armed attacks, incursions and acts of theft, looting and encroachment against the sites by the armed gangs and thieves, but our museums are safe.
Losses inflected on the cultural sector are huge as on all other sectors. While attacking other sectors aimed at paralyzing the economy, attacking the cultural sector is targeting history and taking revenge against what all the Syrian people rallied about.
Many cultural centers were demolished. The Folklore arts museum in Deir ezz Zour was an example.
However, what was stolen from museums, mostly two unmatched pieces (a small golden statute and a marble bust).
Ten smuggled mosaic wall paintings were, however, restored back from neighboring countries, at close cooperation of citizens.
The fact is that archeological sites are even difficult to preserve at time of peace. In Syria, a country abundant of ancient monuments, almost 10 thousand archeological sites are scattered and open for exploration, even in remotest areas.
Under the current crisis, the Syrian monuments were abused by looting.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Culture reports to UNESCO about the volume of damage and how to preserve the sites.
To this end, a video conference was recently held in Damascus, attended by UNESCO experts and Syrian peers concerned , during which recommendations and directives were exchanged on means to preserve the Syrian antiquities .
Under the current crisis the Syrian Ministry of Culture centers are a place of attraction for many Syrian intellectuals who found in the Ministry a safe haven for the completion of their projects. How the Ministry is responding?
The cultural centers should be re-activated and their activities should center on sound destination; so as to meet people’s needs. We aspire that our activities would not be confined to cultural centers; but to cover schools, universities, parks, cafes and public squares, including Fine Arts exhibitions, book fairs, concerts, and theatrical performances, even cultural lectures, in pursuit of a wider audience. Hope is pinned on disseminating our cultural activities in collaboration with our partners in education, higher education and local administration institutions.
We are talking here about two very important projects, namely: the National Plan for translation. The e-book, a project which was initiated earlier, but was not implemented at the required level.
Culture accessibility to everyone without exception can be through reactivation of cultural centers and improvement of their performance, and the implementation of National Plan for translation, by the Book General Authority.
Do you think that the Ministry of Culture is able and ready to pursue a role in national reconciliation?
We have continued contacts with all social strata of the country’s intellectuals, made through directors of cultural centers and personal relations and dialogue sessions for national reconciliation.
I call on all intellectuals to make all efforts in order to save the nation from its ordeal, not to contribute to drowning it deep into the crisis.
The Ministry also contacts intellectuals and invites every and each one to take part in the national dialogue in the interest of the homeland.
Culture is the incubating home for all. It contributes to enriching diversity, and only flourishes through a communion and civilized dialogue. The role played by the Ministry of Culture, as one of the levers of national reconciliation, strengthens the sense of national belonging in commitment to the identity and in promotion of the values of citizenship , tolerance, love and coexistence, compassion and acceptance of dialogue and respect for others’ opinion. All these values are but an integral part of our cultural heritage, and it is the duty of the Ministry of Culture to fulfill.
Looting and smuggling of Syrian Antiquities increased? What are the measures taken by the Ministry to stop such looting and smuggling?
Under exceptional circumstances experienced by the country, and as a result the spread of armed gangs in some areas, attacks increased on cultural heritage sites, some of which are registered on both the World Heritage and national heritage lists. The old cities of Aleppo, Crac des Chevaliers, Palmyra , the ancient archeological villages in Northern Syria and the archaeological sites in the province of Hama, are the most affected by terrorist attacks , thieves, urban infringements, and illegal excavations as exemplified in the sites of the ancient villages in Palmyra and Apamea in Hama, Zaweya mountain , Srgela area , and the region surrounding Mount Simon.
The General Directorate of Antiquities launched a campaign entitled “Syria my Country ” to stimulate the local community for the protection of monuments and spreading of awareness that these artifacts are part and parcel of the Syrian people unmatched heritage and ancient history.
Some of the Syrian monuments are registered on the list of World Heritage, which is a historic responsibility.
Looting of archaeological sites especially in some hotbed areas such as Deir ez-Zor, where encroachments occurred , citizens have helped a lot in restoring stolen monuments including sets of coins and statues, concluded Minister Loubana Moushaweh.
Interviewed by
Tomader Fateh