Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) announced the 23rd Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF), which will take place from September 18th to September 20th. This year's topic is "Plant Tales," which corresponds to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's environmental drive, "Today for Tomorrow”. Over 47 nations will be represented in the event, which will be held at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

The forum's 23rd edition was announced by Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the 23rd SINF. "Plant Tales" is the topic of the event. It brings together history enthusiasts from all around the world to celebrate the value of storytellers and their contributions.

This year, Qatar is the distinguished guest, and prominent Qatari individuals will be in attendance. The festival's agenda will include seminars, talks, pre-festival workshops, a large exhibition, a cultural café, noteworthy publications, and book signing events, all of which are intended to engage and educate participants.

The forum has evolved over the years, according to Aisha Al-Husan Al-Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Centre and General Coordinator of the SINF, into a significant cultural and heritage event deeply embedded in society's fabric, memory, and vision. She emphasised the festival's dedication to building on previous successes while pushing for significant qualitative improvements.

The Forum is a celebration of live human gems from folk culture. It provides a dynamic platform for them to relive their cultural journey, which is an infinite pool of cultural resources. The event also acknowledges their experiences, creative accomplishments, and expertise, all of which contribute to the preservation of their rich cultural legacy.

This year's forum is expected to draw around 120 specialists, scholars, storytellers, and media professionals from 47 nations, including numerous Arab governments, as well as worldwide participants from other locations. In its third and fourth editions, the event offers a content-rich programme and particular honours for famous storytellers and the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage recipients.

The intellectual programming of the event will focus on the theme "Plant Tales" through serious talks and cultural approaches. It seeks to delve into the UAE's, the Gulf region's, and the Arab world's rich cultural past, particularly as it relates to plant tales.

The programme will include ten daily dialogue sessions on a variety of topics, including the protection of Qatari cultural heritage, plant stories in Emirati heritage, plants in folk literature, their use in medicine, decoration, and trade, as well as their symbolic significance in Arabic narratives and the heritage of different cultures.

The forum also includes a regional workshop for new facilitators, financed by UNESCO, to build capacity in Arab nations for intangible cultural heritage. It will be held from September 11th through September 15th.

The forum will feature an exhibition named "Plant Tales in Emirati and Global Heritage" as well as over 40 varied books relevant to the event's topic. These publications will be released at the forum. The total programme comprises 50 sessions, three of which are pre-forum workshops, with the remaining 47 taking place during the forum.

The pavilions of the forum will include areas for book signings, publications, an International School of Storytelling, storytelling workshops, the Awaid Al-Hanna Pavilion, the Secret Garden, and other activities.

Academic institutions, cultural centres, and governmental entities will all be represented at the Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF).These include Egypt's High Institute of Folk Arts, Morocco's Tales for Intangible Cultural Heritage, Zhejiang University of Industrial and Commercial Sciences, and the University of Turin in Italy.

Strategic partners of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage include the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Sharjah Museums Authority, Hamriyah Municipality, Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, Emirates Heritage Club, Dubai Municipality, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, and the Supreme Council for Family Affairs' Health Education Department. These other organisations will add to the festival's broad cultural and intellectual activities.