The two-day cultural festival “Beridan,” held under the slogan “Reviving Koya’s Heritage Through Cultural Corners,” brought together art, literature, music, handicrafts, traditional food, and other forms of cultural expression inside old houses in Koya.
The festival aimed to draw attention to the city’s architectural heritage and encourage the revival and continued use of its historic houses as spaces for cultural and artistic activities.
Mahdi Hasan, director of the festival, said the event was designed to ensure that Koya’s old houses are viewed not only as historical buildings, but also as places where art, culture, and literature can continue to develop.
“This festival is an effort so that the old houses of Koya are not seen merely as historical buildings, but are used as places for the revival of art, culture and literature, and so that the connection between the city’s history and today’s cultural life is brought back to life,” Hasan said.
The festival presented a variety of artistic and cultural activities inside the prepared houses. These included visual arts, Kurdish music, cultural food, handicrafts, traditional weaving, literature, and other forms of cultural expression.
Hasan said the festival differed from conventional exhibitions not only because of the works presented, but also because of the relationship it created between artists and visitors.
On the first day, visitors were not limited to viewing completed works. Instead, they were able to observe and participate in the preparation and creation of the works, giving them an opportunity to see the artistic process directly.
On the second day, the completed works were presented to the public, while visitors were again encouraged to take part in the creative process. Through conversation and discussion with artists, guests were able to share their thoughts and ideas and become part of the artistic experience.
According to Hasan, this approach was intended to reduce the distance between artists and audiences and create a more direct connection between cultural production and the community.
He said Koya’s long history and rich cultural heritage, particularly its architecture as well as its contributions to art and literature, make the city an important place for cultural preservation and development.
“At the ‘Beridan’ festival, an effort is made to place that cultural richness before the eyes of the people and make it a foundation for continuing cultural and artistic activities,” Hasan said.
Hasan also stressed that the festival’s goal extends beyond the two-day event. One of its main objectives is to ensure that the old houses used during the festival remain active cultural spaces rather than being closed again after the event ends.
He said Koya has several artistic and cultural groups and activists who could continue using these spaces for their activities.
“If those groups and activists can continue their activities in those places after the festival, then ‘Beridan’ will not be merely an annual festival, but can become an ongoing project for reviving artistic and cultural life in Koya,” Hasan said.
The organisers said the festival sought to connect Koya’s architectural heritage with contemporary cultural activity by giving historic houses a renewed role in the city’s artistic and social life.
The two-day “Beridan” festival concluded after bringing artists, cultural activists, and visitors together in a setting that combined Koya’s historic architecture with its contemporary cultural activities.
