AMMAN — Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh on Wednesday stressed the significance of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts as a cultural showcase for Jordan at the Arab and international levels.

 

Rawashdeh said that the festival’s 40th edition, set to launch in July, will feature a rich cultural and artistic programme celebrating the festival’s long-standing success over the years, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

He described the festival as a “major cultural legacy and a national, Arab and global artistic and social phenomenon,” noting that it reflects Jordan’s image as an “oasis of security and stability while carrying a profound humanitarian message.”

 

Rawashdeh added that the festival, which annually highlights Jordan’s cultural diversity, heritage and historical presence, will place the Jordanian narrative at the heart of its upcoming edition.

 

He said that the festival embodies the “pulse” of Jordanian identity and the values of art, life and beauty, reflecting the depth and authenticity of Jordanian culture while expressing the voice of the nation.

 

The minister also pointed to the strong presence of Jordanian talent across the festival’s literary and artistic programmes, highlighting the richness and diversity of the country’s artistic scene.

 

Rawashdeh noted that cultural events make up more than 80 per cent of the festival’s activities, underlining its partnership with Jordanian cultural and artistic institutions, as well as its role as a platform for Arab and international creativity that showcases the heritage and folklore of different nations.

 

He added that the festival has helped launch the careers of many Arab artists and performers since its establishment in the 1980s, becoming a “landmark stage” for poets, musicians and artistic groups from Jordan and abroad.

 

“The festival reflects the role of culture and art as a soft power that spreads positivity and national spirit within society,” Rawashdeh said, describing Jerash as the “father of festivals” in Jordan and a beacon of enlightenment, creativity and thought.

 

He also stressed that the festival has become a Jordanian cultural hallmark within the broader human cultural landscape, while also contributing to the economic modernisation and sustainable development processes and the growth of creative and cultural industries.