Baghdad: Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, Dr. Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, chaired the third meeting of the Higher Committee for the Iraqi Creativity Award in its tenth session today, Monday. The meeting focused on enhancing the selection process and expanding the award categories.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Dr. Al-Badrani emphasized the importance of selecting judging committee members with literary, artistic, and academic expertise from Iraq’s various governorates. This approach aims to ensure cultural diversity and cross-pollination within the award’s framework.

The committee approved the introduction of a special category for children’s literature. Additionally, they initiated the process of selecting the “Cultural Personality of the Year 2025” and identified key literary, artistic, cultural, and academic figures to serve on the judging committees for the different award categories.

Dr. Al-Badrani also announced an extension of the application period for categories including cinema, theater, archaeological and tourism studies, and children’s literature, now open until October 15, 2025.

The meeting saw attendance from high-ranking officials such as the Ministry’s Undersecretaries, Qasim Al-Sudani and Dr. Fadhel Mohammed Hussein, Chairman of the Tourism Authority, Engineer Nasser Ghanem, and several directors from various cultural departments. These included Dr. Jabbar Judi from the Cinema and Theater Department, Dr. Qasim Mohsen from the Department of General Arts, Dr. Jassim Mohammed from Al-Mustansiriya University’s Arabic Language Department, and Munir Abdul Mahdi, Head of the Creativity Award Division.