According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Office, Seyed Javad Hosseini, Vice Minister and Head of the State Welfare Organization, made the announcement on Wednesday evening during the unveiling ceremony of the poster for the 8th National Media Festival for Persons with Disabilities, held at the Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan. He described Isfahan as a city that has always symbolized knowledge, art, and the grandeur of Iranian civilization.
Referring to the organization’s transformative programs, Hosseini said, “One of the ten transformative pivots of the organization is moving from isolation and segregation toward integration and socialization, and this event is a clear example of that shift.”
He added that three significant developments have taken place in the course of the festival: first, the 8th National Festival for Journalists with Disabilities, which plays a key role in socializing the organization’s mission; second, the establishment of a dedicated news agency focused on disability issues, currently underway; and third, the creation of a major House of Art for persons with disabilities in Tehran, which is in progress.
Hosseini continued, “Given the artistic talent and capacities in Isfahan, this city requires such a house even more than Tehran. Accordingly, in collaboration with Dr. Karimi, a House of Art for Persons with Disabilities will also be established in Isfahan.”
He emphasized that artworks created by persons with disabilities—sometimes made with their feet and without using their hands—are a clear testament to abilities that even many able-bodied artists cannot replicate.
Hosseini added, “The idea that artists with disabilities should have a permanent space to create and showcase their works was reinforced after seeing their art in Isfahan. Therefore, the House of Art can serve as a hub for production, exhibition, and promotion of these artists’ works. In addition, the Welfare Organization is preparing to launch an international gallery of achievements by persons with disabilities, both physically and virtually, to exhibit their works globally and provide a platform for wider exposure and exchange.”
The head of the Welfare Organization stressed that journalism, media festivals, and art are all tools for socialization and integrating the organization’s objectives into society. “These tools take the organization out of isolation and connect it with the community, creating opportunities for social participation and improving quality of life,” he said.
Referring to his presence at the 18th United Nations Assembly in New York, Hosseini noted, “One of the most remarkable aspects of that session was the direct participation of ministers with disabilities and active disability organizations at the podium, ensuring that the voices of persons with disabilities were heard with greater attention and accuracy.”
He concluded, “Today in Isfahan, we heard the same voice and tone from artists with disabilities, expressed through beautiful songs performed with sincerity and emotion, as well as through the art created with effort and creativity
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