Ali Moradkhan Opens International Seminar on Theater & Potential of Independent Sector
Gov't, a Supporter of Private Sector
Gov't, a Supporter of Private Sector 2
Gov't, a Supporter of Private Sector 3
Gov't, a Supporter of Private Sector 4
Gov't, a Supporter of Private Sector 5
International Seminar on Theater and Potential of Independent Sector opened on Sunday at the Mashahir Hall of Tehran City Theater Complex with the participation of deputy culture minister for artistic affairs, Ali Moradkhani, and director general of Dramatic Arts Center, Mahdi Shafiee.
Mehrdad Rayani-Makhsous, secretary of the festival, said that the seminar was line with a decade-long move in Iran theater, irantheater.ir reported.
"Azad (free) theater, independent, private and non-governmental are among terms added into encyclopedia of Iran today's theater and they needed to have special defenitions," Mr Rayani said.
"We felt threatened by cinema about 20 years ago. But theater has managed to live on thanks to upgrading itself and having a new structure," he added.
Mr Rayani stressed that theater in Iran was experiencing a broad move by non-governmental sector and "we are feeling committed to help its continuation and form it".
He predicted that this move would continue to live on even if the government offers zero assistance to it, insisting that Iran theater would secure a foothold in the world in the future, which would need attention by independent sector.
Mr Rayani explained that the three-day seminar would host 14 speakers from 14 countries and 16 from Iran as well as eight panel discussions in which 25 experts and researchers would put potentials of independent theater on debate.
Mr Moradkhani who opened the seminar with a speech on necessities of the relationship between state and independent sectors in theater said that the event was one of the few gatherings on private theater and potentials of independent theater about 38 years after the Islamic Revolution.
He stressed that private sector and its activities were worthy for all arts, a "fat" government was unable to move on alone, adding that the independent sector could help the government, which was facing lots of problems in entry into many sectors.
Moradkhani added that private sector faced many challenges in different countries, which Iran should identify and assess them.
"Private sector and its activities are of high importance for us based on the policies adopted [by the government three years ago," the official said and added, "The government recognizes itself as a supporter of private sector."