TEHRAN – The Homam International Festival for Persons with Disabilities reflects the efforts, passion and hopes of artists with disabilities and proves that physical limitations are not an obstacle to artistic creation, said Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage Mariam Jalali Dekordi.
Jalali Dekordi, who attended the ongoing event, emphasized the event’s role in promoting the creativity of artists with disabilities. The event will begin in Tehran on October 23 and continue until October 30, Mehr News Agency said.
Homem is a special event that showcases the talents of artists with disabilities. The festival aims to empower and promote a culture of hope and social participation and promotes the arts at national and international levels.
She added that Iranian art is effective in creating love, security, morality and even wealth. She pointed out that “Homam” shows a deep connection between the artist and his work, which makes it valuable in today’s world.
Referring to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s support for artists with disabilities, he said all promises regarding the provision of facilities and financing have been fulfilled. “We are also considering creating a special section for these artists without judging at Fajr Festival and they will be given dedicated booths at handicraft exhibitions across the country.”
She continued: “One of our main challenges is lack of information. We are working with technical and professional bodies and welfare organizations to address this issue.”
Mr. Jalali Dekordi also presented a study on the “handicraft value chain” in the government’s culture committee, saying that “in this chain, a section has been allocated to the field of welfare and persons with disabilities in order to prevent parallel labor and take fundamental measures to support this group.”
More than 200 artists from 13 countries participated. This year’s festival will feature artists from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, South Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Spain, Japan, Nigeria, and Iran.
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