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| Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts |
| Native name | مهرجان جرش للثقافة والفنون |
| Location | Jerash, Jordan |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Dates | Usually July–August |
| Genre | Music, theatre, dance, poetry, folklore |
| Attendance | Tens of thousands |
Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts The Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts is an annual performing arts and cultural festival held in the ancient city of Jerash in northern Jordan. Established in the early 1980s, the festival brings together regional and international artists across music, theatre, dance, and literature in a program situated among Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic antiquities. The event is a major component of Jordanian culture and features collaborations with institutions, ensembles, and touring companies from the Arab world, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
The festival was inaugurated during the reign of Hussein of Jordan amid national efforts to promote tourism in Jordan, cultural diplomacy, and preservation of archaeological sites such as the Roman province of Arabia Petraea and the Decapolis. Early editions featured ensembles from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon and guest appearances by figures associated with the Arab Nationalist Movement, prominent poets from the Ba'ath Party era, and performers linked to the cultural institutions of Cairo Opera House, Beirut Festival, and Damascus Opera House. Over successive decades the festival expanded programming to include international companies from Spain, France, United Kingdom, and United States, while engaging regional media like Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, and MBC Group for coverage. The festival persisted through regional upheavals including the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the Syrian Civil War, adapting formats and security arrangements in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Jordan), the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, and municipal authorities of Ajloun Governorate.
Organizers have included the Ministry of Culture (Jordan), the Association of Jordanian Artists, and the Jerash municipal council, with programming input from curators linked to institutions such as the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the National Centre for Culture and Arts, and university departments at University of Jordan, Yarmouk University, and Al-Balqa Applied University. Sponsorship has come from regional banks like Arab Bank, telecom companies including Zain Group and Orange Jordan, and cultural partners such as UNESCO and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture. Security coordination has involved the Public Security Directorate (Jordan) and civil defense units; logistical partners have included the Jordan Tourism Board and private event companies that work with touring agents like I.M.T. Group and GlobalFest.
The festival program combines concerts by traditional ensembles performing dabke and maqam repertoires, contemporary performances in genres related to world music and electronic music, and theatrical productions drawn from Arabic classics and translated Western plays by authors connected to Naguib Mahfouz, Tawfiq al-Hakim, William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, and Bertolt Brecht. Literary events have featured poets and novelists associated with the Poetry Translation Centre, readings linked to Beirut39 alumni, and panels including critics from Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and scholars from Birzeit University and American University of Beirut. Dance showcases have hosted companies tied to the Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival, the National Theatre of Bahrain, and touring troupes supported by the British Council and Institut Français. Family programming and workshops collaborate with NGOs such as Save the Children and cultural education programs run by UNICEF and local arts academies.
Performances are staged amid archeological venues including the Jerash Hippodrome, the Oval Plaza (Jerash), the Temple of Artemis (Jerash), and sections of the Cardo Maximus (Jerash), integrating monuments from the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Islamic periods up to the Ayyubid and Mamluk Sultanate eras. The setting creates dialogue between performing arts and heritage conservation, involving collaboration with projects such as the World Monuments Fund and the archaeological missions of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem, the University of Sydney, and the German Archaeological Institute. Lighting, staging, and crowd management coordinate with conservation protocols developed by the ICOMOS and specialists from the Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
Annual attendance reaches tens of thousands, including domestic audiences from Amman, Irbid, and Aqaba as well as international tourists arriving through Queen Alia International Airport and visiting heritage circuits that include Petra, the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum. Media coverage by outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, and Der Spiegel has framed the festival as a key cultural event in the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant. The festival has served as a platform for regional cultural exchange between artists from Palestine, Iraq, Morocco, and Tunisia, contributing to scholarship and programming at institutions like the Royal Academy of Arts (Jordan) and the Jordan Museum.
Over the years the festival has presented performances by laureates and nominees associated with awards including the Man Booker International Prize, the Nobel Prize in Literature (through readings of laureates), and regional honors like the Prince Claus Award. Notable participants have included performers and creators connected to Umm Kulthum's legacy, ensembles linked to Fairuz and Marcel Khalife, theatre directors with ties to Yusuf al-Azmeh and Mohammad Al-Maghout movements, and visiting companies from institutions such as the Royal Opera House (London), the Paris Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. The festival also spotlights emerging artists who later join international circuits like SXSW, WOMAD, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The festival generates seasonal revenue flows benefitting hotels and operators including chains such as Kempinski Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and local guesthouses in Jerash Governorate. It contributes to promotional campaigns by the Jordan Tourism Board and attracts tour operators specializing in cultural tourism from markets including Germany, United Kingdom, Turkey, United States, and Saudi Arabia. Ancillary economic activity involves craftspeople selling traditional wares associated with Jordanian cuisine, restaurants tied to culinary tourism operators, and transport services coordinated with companies like Royal Jordanian and ground handlers. The event supports heritage-driven development initiatives funded by international donors including the European Union and bilateral cultural cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development.
Category:Festivals in Jordan Category:Culture of Jordan Category:Music festivals established in 1981