TEHRAN- Tehran province to host multiple art and cultural festivals during the upcoming Persian year commencing on March 21, the Director of the General Directorate of Culture and Guidance of the province has said. 

During a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Ali Forouzanfar announced the organization of a series of festivals in the fields of performing arts, music, visual arts, and literary arts within Tehran Province for the following year.

Forouzanfar specified that the Tehran Art Festival in the upcoming year will be a large-scale event encompassing all these artistic genres, emphasizing its focus on nurturing talent, talent scouting, and education.

While the festival spans various time periods, it aims to provide a singular artistic experience, he mentioned. 

The projected initial cost for the festival is estimated at 230 billion rials (around $400,000), to be covered by the culture ministry, he noted and added: “certain expenses cannot be quantified solely in rials, thus amplifying the financial requirements.”  

Despite being tailored for Tehran Province, the festival's call for participation will be circulated in multiple languages to attract international artists, he stated. 

Winners and selected works from these festivals will also be featured in the Fajr festivals, he said. 

Additionally, efforts are being made to incorporate individuals with physical disabilities in the artistic sphere, with plans to collaborate with the Welfare Organization for hosting a festival specifically for the disabled community, he explained. 

Referring to the crimes of the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip, he said, Forouzanfar disclosed plans for a post-Israel world artistic festival aimed at illustrating a post-Zionist existence through visual art forms.

Furthermore, he highlighted the 2024 Olympics scheduled in France for August, noting the essential role of cultural and artistic exchanges spearheaded by various countries. 

Iran, with its rich cultural wealth, aims to engage Iranian fans through productions encompassing graphic design, imagery, music, and character design in conjunction with the National Olympic Committee for the Olympic art attaches, he concluded. 

SAB/