A new book by Sirwan Osman, writer and Director General of Culture and Art of Erbil, documents the history, activities, and achievements of the Erbil National Arts Troupe and its role in preserving Kurdish cultural heritage.
The book examines the troupe’s contribution to Kurdish folk dance, music, and national arts since its establishment in 1979. It also explores the importance of intangible cultural heritage in preserving Kurdish identity and traces the development of folk dance and national songs in Kurdistan.
According to Osman, the book is divided into several sections covering the social and cultural conditions surrounding the troupe’s establishment, its founders and early members, organizational structure, artistic activities, domestic and international festivals, tours, and exhibitions.
The book also highlights prominent artists and teachers who contributed to the troupe’s development and examines its role in training new generations of dancers and artists while passing cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.
Another section focuses on the troupe’s artistic characteristics, including Kurdish music, traditional clothing, and its influence on contemporary artists, while comparing it with other national arts groups.
Founded in 1979, the Erbil National Arts Troupe has spent decades promoting and preserving Kurdish artistic traditions. Osman describes the book as more than a history of an arts organization, calling it an effort to preserve an important part of Kurdistan’s cultural and artistic memory.
