Damascus, Aug. 9 (SANA)Traditional Damascene brocade, Arabic calligraphy and contemporary art are taking center stage at the firstsummer festivalatDamascus Citadel, bringing together Syriancultural heritageand modern artistic expression at one of the capital’s most prominent historic landmarks.The festival features traditional handicrafts, fashion and visual arts, with organizers seeking to promote Syrian cultural identity while supporting local artists and artisans.

Traditional fashion designer Alaa al-Tabbaa presented a collection of abayas combining contemporary designs with handwoven embroidery, using Damascene brocade embellished with pearls and stones.The exhibition also features clothing inspired by the cultural heritage of Damascus, Hauran and Palestine. Al-Tabbaa said traditional fashion was seeing renewed interest, particularly as designers increasingly incorporate Arabic calligraphy into everyday clothing.He said the festival also offered an opportunity to support women working from home in traditional crafts.A visual arts exhibition at the citadel features around 50 oil paintings by 13 Syrian women artists, spanning realism, expressionism and impressionism.

Artist Maram al-Hamdish said the works cover subjects ranging from nature and portraiture to depictions of horses inspired by cultural heritage, adding that the exhibition had attracted strong interest from visitors.Arabic calligraphyalso features prominently, with Naskh, Ruq’ah and Diwani scripts decorating wooden panels and pottery.Calligrapher and instructor Amal Nahhas displayed works combining traditional calligraphy with contemporary and practical designs, including an artwork depicting a map of Syria formed from intertwined Arabic letters.Nahhas said holding the festival at the historic citadel added cultural and aesthetic value to the event, stressing the importance of cultural festivals in supporting artists and introducing their work to wider audiences.

The festival also seeks to link intangible cultural heritage with domestic tourism, preserve traditional crafts including Damascene brocade, and provide economic opportunities for artisans.Arabic calligraphy was inscribed onUNESCO‘s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, following a multinational nomination involving Syria and other Arab countries.