Arab Book Award Showcases Cultural Leadership at Kuwait International Book Fair

Kuwait, November 29 (QNA) - The Arab Book Award participated in the 48th Kuwait International Book Fair, organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) under the theme "Capital of Culture, Homeland of the Book".

The Award showcased its pioneering experience in a critical session entitled "Literary Awards: Honoring Creativity and Building Presence", featuring Dr. Hanan Al Fayadh, Media Advisor for the Award, and Dr. Imtinan Al Samadi, Professor of Modern Arabic Literature at the University of Jordan and Media Coordinator of the Arab Book Award, amid a striking attendance of cultural stakeholders.

Dr. Al Samadi emphasized that literary awards are not merely mechanisms for honoring individuals, but extend to a broader framework, going beyond celebration to create a tangible impact on the cultural landscape.

She highlighted their influential power in generating visibility and financial value, amplifying their effect far beyond what is immediately observable.

Dr. Al Fayadh raised a critical question: do awards genuinely support the innovator and propel them toward further creativity, or might they dampen the spark, confining the artist to the moment of recognition.

A true innovator constantly experiences a state of creative anxiety. Genuine artists rarely settle easily with their work, and skepticism arises when they boast about it without hesitation, Al Fayadh highlighted.

She added that this is where awards play a pivotal role, guiding the innovator from uncertainty to conscious confidence, through rigorous criteria free from deception or flattery. By confronting the work with its artistic foundations, the innovator earns legitimacy, enabling them to exert influence within the community.

Dr. Al Fayadh further noted that the Arab Book Award provides a platform that celebrates outstanding works and offers innovators greater opportunities for outreach and impact.

The Award does not merely honor authors but contributes to shaping new pathways for the flourishing of literary activity, through knowledge transfer and idea exchange, establishing a crucial stream for fostering cultural dialogue, she continued.

She stressed that the Award continues its mission of elevating the Arab cultural scene by recognizing works of high intellectual value and encouraging knowledge makers to produce content that enhances public awareness and enriches the Arab cultural landscape.

Dr. Al Fayadh concluded that together, the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and the Arab Book Award, alongside other state-sponsored awards with institutional backing, reinforce Qatar's cultural message and constitute essential pillars in supporting Arab creativity and enhancing its role in enriching human culture. (QNA)