Ministry of Culture and Damascus Foundation for Thought

Ministry of Culture and Damascus Foundation for Thought Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Partnership Between the Public and Private Sectors Damascus – The Ministry of Culture of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Damascus Foundation for Culture, Thought, Arts, and Development signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation and partnership between the public and private sectors in the cultural field. This aims to contribute to the development of the national cultural movement and the preservation of Syrian creativity and heritage. The memorandum was signed on behalf of the Ministry of Culture by Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Al-Saleh, and on behalf of the Foundation by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ibrahim Al-Jabin. Both parties emphasized the importance of integrating national efforts to advance the cultural landscape and enhance the presence of Syrian culture both locally and internationally. The memorandum aims to achieve a number of objectives, most notably supporting joint cultural work, encouraging national creativity, and strengthening cooperation in the areas of cultural events, scientific research, documentation and archiving, and cultural media. Areas of cooperation include organizing joint cultural events and projects in the fields of literature, arts, and thought, as well as preparing and publishing joint publications, and organizing exhibitions, seminars, and conferences inside and outside Syria. The memorandum also stipulated joint efforts to launch the "Damascus Medal" award for culture and literature in its various categories. This award, to be granted annually under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, recognizes creativity and cultural excellence in several fields. Among the projects agreed upon by both parties are the Encyclopedia of the Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and the restoration and repurposing of the Abd al-Rahman Pasha al-Youssef House in the Sarouja neighborhood, under the supervision and in partnership with the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. A number of proposed events are also planned for the near future. The Ministry of Culture, according to the memorandum, affirmed its commitment to providing technical and logistical support for the joint projects, facilitating the work of the foundation, and supporting cultural media platforms and publications related to the agreed-upon initiatives. For its part, the Damascus Foundation pledged to dedicate its non-profit cultural programs, both locally and internationally, to achieving the objectives of this cooperation, while emphasizing the transparent documentation of activities and achievements. It is worth noting that "Damascus" is a Syrian non-profit intellectual and cultural institution dedicated to developing programs that promote the values ​​and principles of citizenship and raise awareness of public rights. It also works to disseminate cultural activities, support and nurture creative individuals, and care for the arts and antiquities. It was officially registered in Damascus after the liberation of the capital by Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Decree No. 2547 of 2025. The institution was founded in exile in the summer of 2012 and published the intellectual and cultural journal "Damascus," edited by the Syrian poet Nouri al-Jarrah, director of the Arab Center for Geographical Literature – Exploring Horizons. Many Syrian, Arab, and international writers, intellectuals, and human rights activists contributed to the journal. Its advisory board included the late thinker Sadiq Jalal al-Azm, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, Issam al-Attar, Hani Fahs, Salama Keila, Salma Khadra Jayyusi, and others. The signing of this memorandum comes within the framework of the Ministry of Culture's efforts to strengthen partnerships with civil society organizations, contributing to the development of the Syrian cultural landscape, protecting cultural heritage, and expanding community participation in cultural work.