Muscat – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth will organise the 28th edition of the Literary and Artistic Forum in Suhar, North Batinah, from October 25 to 29.

The annual forum aims to discover and develop literary and artistic talent through competitions, workshops, critical sessions and interaction with established writers and artists.

Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Harthi, Director General of Knowledge and Cultural Development, said the forum provides “a stimulating environment for discovering and nurturing literary and artistic talents” and gives participants opportunities to develop their skills and present their work to specialists and the public.

The main competition will feature classical Arabic poetry, popular poetry and short stories, with 60 contestants taking part. Of these, 30 will be in the 18-34 age group and 30 in the over-34 category.

The top five contestants in each field will be selected at the end of the forum.

The programme will also include poetry evenings featuring writers from North Batinah, open readings by participants and critical discussions of competition entries led by judging panels.

Specialised sessions will be held in classical poetry, popular poetry and short-story writing.

The forum will also host writers and poets from Oman and abroad, while competitions will be held in singing, photography, monodrama and fine arts.

Al Harthi said the event has helped introduce new voices to Oman’s cultural scene over the years and remains an important platform for investing in creative talent.

The ministry said the forum also gives participants opportunities to exchange ideas and engage directly with judges, writers and artists, helping them refine their work and strengthen their contribution to Oman’s literary and cultural landscape.