Jerash, July 3 (Petra)-- Ali Freihat - The Executive Director of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, Yazan Al-Khdeir, said the festival continues to strengthen its role as a national platform for promoting culture and creativity while serving as an economic and marketing gateway that empowers local associations, artisans, and home-based producers by providing them with opportunities to showcase their products to thousands of visitors from Jordan and abroad.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Al-Khdeir said the festival has allocated 100 booths this year for local associations and artisans to display their products, as part of efforts to support traditional crafts and industries, enhance marketing opportunities, and strengthen the financial sustainability of participating organizations, in line with the festival's broader developmental mission alongside its cultural and artistic objectives.

He added that cultural activities account for 60 percent of the festival's program, underscoring its commitment to highlighting Jordan's cultural identity and enriching cultural life across the Kingdom. The current edition will feature 213 events, including 20 activities to be held in governorates and cultural centers across Jordan, expanding public participation and bringing cultural programming to communities nationwide.

Al-Khdeir noted that, for the first time, the festival will host 34 events at the newly prepared Hippodrome venue, which has a capacity of approximately 3,000 people. The venue will stage a variety of artistic and cultural performances, with free admission for all visitors to ensure broader public access to the festival's activities.

He added that 40 display tables will also be allocated at the Hippodrome for rural products and handicrafts, providing additional opportunities for artisans and home-based producers to promote and market their products while showcasing Jordan's rich heritage of traditional crafts.

On the visual front, Al-Khdeir said the festival will present a three-dimensional (3D) projection mapping display on Hadrian's Arch (the Arch of Triumph), reflecting the festival's message while highlighting Jordan's cultural and civilizational heritage. The event will also introduce the festival's new logo and visual identity, inspired by the colors, symbols, and decorative motifs of the ancient city of Jerash, blending the site's rich historical legacy with a modern visual identity.

Al-Khdeir stressed that the Jerash Festival has evolved beyond being a cultural and artistic event into a comprehensive national project that integrates culture, the arts, economic development, and tourism. He said the festival contributes to stimulating commercial activity, supporting local communities, promoting Jordan's cultural heritage, and reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a leading cultural and tourism destination in the Arab region and internationally.

//Petra// MF