TEHRAN – At a press conference held in Tehran on Tuesday, the Minister of Culture and Islamic leadership highlighted Abbas Salehi’s important achievements over the past year.
Marking the first anniversary of his tenure in the realm of culture and arts under the 14th administration, Salehi answered questions from the press and outlined important achievements and ongoing initiatives.
The Minister emphasized the Ministry’s one year of efforts to reconstruct connections with artists and cultural figures.
“For the past year, we have worked to strengthen our relationships with cultural and artistic circles, which are core stakeholders of the ministry,” he said.
Over the past few years, a gap has emerged between the authorities and artists, including filmmakers, and he said it would require a review.
“Efforts have been made last year and it appears to be on the path of progress, progressing to fill these gaps.
Tackling the 12-day war, Salehi expressed his pride. “The artists played an important role in protecting Iran and its resistance and showed solidarity. It wasn’t just the outcome of our initiative, but from the beginning of the war, our artists were active and committed.”
He added, “We have opened a channel for dialogue with artists. There is still a considerable distance, but the journey has begun. The examples I mentioned prove, contrary to some beliefs, that having an engagement with artists is fruitful.”
Emphasizing the regional focus, Salehi said: “Our top priority over the past year has been decentralization, paying attention to states and cities beyond capital, and we prioritized programs and HR in these areas.
In Cultural Infrastructure, “The issue of mobile libraries is being addressed seriously. Displays of stopped local books will resume. Additionally, 24 libraries, five art universities and three cultural complexes have been opened in various states.”
Regarding Iran’s global image, Salehi emphasized, “Our enemy is trying to isolate Iran and portray a distorted image of the country. We must counter these efforts and introduce the true face of Iran.”
He announced the launch of the “Damavand” multimedia platform by Islamic culture and related organizations, hosting over 9,000 multimedia content on Iran. He also mentioned the “Story About Iran” project, and invited influencers with over 1 million followers to visit Iran and share genuine stories. To date, more than 150 individuals have traveled to Iran under the initiative.
Salehi emphasized the importance of transparency. “Transparency is a way to prevent corruption and promote better engagement with cultural and artistic stakeholders, and exposes our plans and implementation to constructive criticism.
Regarding the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, he said the province had held major events to familiarize himself with its valuable collection. “I think this marks the museum’s rejuvenation.”
Salehi also announced the upcoming national conference on social responsibility in culture and the arts, highlighting the importance of practical engagement by institutions and the introduction of competitive awards that recognize leadership in this field.
He revealed plans for a resistance-themed game development project, due to be announced at the end of September.
Regarding foreign media, Salehi said, “The joint committee within the media sector is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and security agencies to promote the presence of Iranian international journalists. Particularly, accurate reporting abroad is important amid the crisis like the recent 12-day conflict in which the presence of foreign media counters enemy propaganda.”
Tackling the possibility of a talented expatriate artist returning, Salehi said:
Unity is essential, especially as the threat persists. This is not a ceasefire, but a temporary suspension, which could cause the conflict to reignite.
Salehi also commented on supporting Afghan immigrants, saying, “Persian connects Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Among Afghan immigrants, there are talented individuals. Our common language and literature are shared. The Ministry of Culture’s programme includes Afghan friends.
sab/