Abu Dhabi, 21st Jan. 2010 (WAM) -- The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development announced that the Seventh Al Burdah Awards recorded a 30 per cent increase in entries, with 350 participants from the region and beyond competing in the various categories as compared with 257 last year. This was announced at a press conference announcing the winners, by Belal Al Bodour, Executive Director for Cultural and Arts Affairs at the Ministry.
Al Bodour said that the increase in participation from the region reflected the growth in popularity of the competition in the wider region and increasingly on the global stage. The greatest increase was in the Eloquent Poetry category, which saw 127 entries this year as compared with 94 in the sixth edition. Modern Calligraphy was the next most popular category with 122 entries this year over 71 last year. Traditional Calligraphy also attracted 60 participants as compared with 41 in the last edition. Among the entrants in the Poetry Category was a Christian poet with a poem in praise of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), along with a range of poems and creations from across the region that underlined the significance of such competitions in stimulating creativity and competitiveness on the poets and artists of the region. The competitions also give a significant boost to the local creative and artistic environment. The Al Burdah Awards reward artists and poets in various categories including Eloquent Poetry (poems in the praise of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)), Poetry, Traditional Calligraphy, Modern Calligraphy and Classical Ornamental Decoration. These are open to artists and poets from the UAE and across the world. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development has been organising the Awards from 2004 to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and it has grown in stature and significance over the years. The competitions are designed to create and stimulate artistic discourse and creative exchange among the wider community. The awards also aim to stimulate the younger generation to commit to their religion and to recognise their duties towards the Islamic faith. It also honours individuals and institutions worldwide who have made significant contributions to the Islamic community. The Awards were adjudicated by a panel of experts hand-picked by the Ministry, recognised for their excellence and knowledge in their particular fields. Winners: Arabic Calligraphy Traditional: First Place not awarded; Joint Second Place: Mathna Abde Hammed Al Obaidi (Iraq); Mahfouz Younos Zanoun Al Obiadi (Iraq); 3. Sabah Al Arbeeli, UK; 4. Zeyad Hiader Al Mohandes (Iraq). Appreciation awards: Mohammed Ali Zahed (Pakistan); Reyadh Issa Al Abdullah (Syria); Nouriah Gharsiya Maseeb (Germany); Mohammed Deeb Galoul (Germany); Mohammed Gomaa Hamaher (Syria); Mohfouz Ahmed (Pakistan). Arabic Calligraphy Modern: First Place not awarded; 2. Alaa Ismail (Iraq); 3 (Joint) Ibrahim Abu Touq (Jordan); Ali Reza Mohebi Sheikhlari (Iran); Fourth Place not awarded; 5 (Joint) Ali Abdul Rahman Ali Albaddah (Kuwait); Ali Reza Afshar Wankini (Iran); Mohammed Arif Khan (Pakistan); Mohammed Amzeel (Morocco); Mohammed Reza Sadri (Iran). Appreciation awards: 1. Isep Misbah (Indonesia); 2. Beeman Beroui (Iran); 3. Ibrahim Alfat (Iran); Afsana Matlabi Asfidowagani (Iran). Eloquent Poetry: 1. Sameer Mustafa Farrag Hassan (Egypt); 2. Ahmed Mohamed Al Ahmadi (Morocco); Ibrahim Bu Melha (UAE); Kamel Kamal Kamel Daoud (Palestine). Nabatean Poetry: Salem Azzumar (UAE); 2. Mohamed Bin Saleh Bin Taher Al Ahmed (Saudi Arabia); 3. Ateeq Khalfan Al Kaabi (UAE); 4. Ali Saeed Hamad Mhanna (UAE). Ornamental Decoration: 1. Mohsen Aqameri (Iran): 2. Aisha Ghoul Takaman (Turkey); 3. Ameer Tahmasebei (Iran); Joint 4. Mohamed Sayed Hashem Husseini (Iran) and Sheema Aghorcadin (Turkey); Joint 5. Mohammed Abedezzahra Nabati (Iran) and Mahdi Irani (Iran). Appreciation Awards: 1. Shakran Sadeklo (Turkey); 2. Veken Tekenar (Turkey); 3. Mehrdad Rasten (Iran); 4. Mleeha Norman (Turkey)Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
