Muscat – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY) has announced the shortlist of entries for the highly anticipated 27th Literary and Artistic Forum, scheduled to be held in the wilayat of Sur from October 20 to 24.

This year’s forum has accepted a total of 15 qualified entries in the Classical Poetry Competition, showcasing a diverse range of themes and styles. Noteworthy works include A Very Clear Day by Hamoud bin Salem al Saadi, A Last Chance of Intuition by Qusay bin Salem al Nabhani, and Confident as a Question Mark by Mohammed bin Issa al Maashri.

Prominent poets such as Saif bin Saeed al Harthi and Hamida bint Mohammed al Ajamiya will also present their creations, promising a captivating experience for attendees.

In the Popular Poetry Competition, 14 poets will compete with works like The Night and the Light of the Leper by Abdulrahman bin Abdullah al Ghailani and Winter of the Heart by Harith bin Juma al Buraiki.

The Short Story Competition has selected 15 submissions, including Where Does the Gazelle Escape To? by Hamad bin Abdullah al Mukhaini and Suicide by Noura bint Juma al Jabria, among others.

The Literary and Artistic Forum is a highly regarded event within the cultural community, recognised for its role in discovering and nurturing creative talent. Previous editions have contributed to the cultural landscape by supporting emerging voices in classical and popular poetry, short stories, and the arts.