Baghdad – WAA – Fatima Rahma
Advisor to the Prime Minister for Cultural Affairs, Aref Al-Saadi, confirmed today, Monday, that the government has supported the artistic and cultural movement with more than 10 billion dinars, and does not impose any restrictions or conditions in return for providing this support.
Al-Saadi told the (INA): “For about a year, cultural affairs in Iraq have enjoyed great support from the Prime Minister’s Office, and it is represented at several levels. The first is direct support for cultural events, and the second is strategic work, such as the restoration and rehabilitation of historic Baghdad, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani two months ago, and work on building the Opera House, the legal procedures of which will be completed in the coming days, and it will be referred to one of the companies to begin its construction.”
He added, “The government supported the artistic and cultural movement by providing direct support to Iraqi drama with 5 billion dinars and supported cinema with 5 billion as well, as well as printing books with one billion dinars, and also supported cultural events, festivals and the Writers’ Union.”
He added, “This is happening for the first time, as the Prime Minister sent a request to the Writers’ Union to know the union’s activities during the year, in order to support them without any conditions, as the government did not set any red lines at all.”
Al-Saadi noted that “activating the cultural environment is part of the government’s program and the Prime Minister’s work, and all cultural sectors receive this support, including the Baghdad International Book Fair, which the Prime Minister included in the support to host and accommodate guests and provide all facilities, as well as all exhibitions and aesthetic, scientific and cultural events held in Iraq, and Iraqi participation in all fields abroad.”