Sumer Foundation partners with Al-Tariq Al-Adabi Forum to support young poets in Basra

BASRA — In a new initiative to foster artistic and cultural talent in Basra, the Sumer Foundation announced Saturday its partnership with the Al-Tariq Al-Adabi Forum. The forum, which focuses on developing young poets, will now be incorporated into Sumer’s broader cultural projects. The announcement followed a meeting at the Sumer Foundation’s headquarters in the Al-Ma’qal area of central Basra, where both parties discussed long-term plans for collaboration.

Mayada Al-Imara, head of the Sumer Foundation, said the decision to integrate the Al-Tariq Al-Adabi Forum into their projects came after an extensive study of popular poetry in Basra. Al-Imara emphasized the need to nurture young poetic talent and offer them opportunities for exposure on both local and international stages.

“This initiative follows a thorough study of the current state of popular poetry in Basra, where young poets lack support and recognition. Our aim is to offer them platforms and opportunities to share their work,” Al-Imara told 964media. “I am fully prepared to offer support for free because these individuals’ stories reflect our lives, concerns, and dreams through their poetry,” she added.

Both the foundation and the forum believe that Basra’s poets have not received sufficient media coverage or recognition. The joint project aims to address this by organizing poetry sessions and facilitating interviews between poets and prominent television hosts. The forum is also preparing to launch the fourth edition of the “Basra Grand Poetry Competition for Young Poets” this Friday.

Founded in 2023, the Al-Tariq Al-Adabi Forum is dedicated to supporting young poets of popular poetry. The forum currently has 65 members and seeks to elevate the status of poetry in Basra. Wissam Subahi, an administrative member of the forum, highlighted the forum’s responsibility to the new generation of poets and criticized the lack of support from official institutions.

“Government institutions and unions often ignore Basra’s poetic community, only opening their doors during religious or special occasions. We aim to create an innovative project that will promote Basra’s poetic identity,” Subahi said.

The forum is also working on media initiatives to raise the profiles of its members, coordinating with media outlets and television program hosts to achieve this goal.