UOD Hosts 2nd Fine Arts Festival Celebrating Artistic Innovation and Cultural Dialogue
The Second Fine Arts Festival Showcases the Fourth Year students’ Graduation Projects
📍 UOD, May 5–7, 2025, University Press Office (UNPO) | As part of its strategic commitment to cultural empowerment, student engagement, and interdisciplinary creativity, the College of Fine Arts at the University of Duhok (UOD) launched the Second Fine Arts Festival, held from May 5–7, 2025, at the UOD Students Center and affiliated arts venues.
The opening ceremony, held on May 5, was graced by:
- Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, President of the University of Duhok
- Mr. Ismail Mustafa, Mayor of Duhok District
- Mr. Amir Ali, Director General of Culture and Arts in Duhok Governorate
- UOD vice presidents, college deans, government and party officials, faculty members, and a large audience of students and guests.
👩🎨 Empowering the Next Generation of Cultural Leaders
Dr. Ayoob Ramadhan Fattah, Dean of the College of Fine Arts, expressed appreciation to UOD leadership, stating:
“This festival is not just an event—it’s a statement of what our students are capable of when given the space to create and engage.”
🎨 Celebrating Student Talent and Artistic Dialogue
Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi congratulated the College of Fine Arts on its dedication to cultivating artistic talent, highlighting:
“This festival proves that art can transcend boundaries and bring people together. It reflects our vision of turning the College of Fine Arts into a vibrant space for expression, innovation, and community dialogue.”
He praised the faculty and students for transforming creative thought into impactful work, noting that the college has quickly become a cornerstone of UOD’s vision for arts-led development since its founding in 2023.
🎭 Festival Highlights and Daily Programs
The three-day event featured a dynamic mix of artistic showcases:
- Folk music concerts and interdisciplinary performances by 1st year students of the Department of Music as part of the opening ceremonies
- Interactive exhibitions in painting, sculpture, and digital arts by Bachelor and Master students of the Department of Plastic Arts.
- Theatre performances, including a reenactment of Kurdish folklore by 3 plays presented by students at the Department of Drama
- Panel discussions, addressing topics related to the plays been performed during the festival
📅 Notable Sessions from the Program:
- May 6 | Play: Soul in Shakespeare's Fetus, authored by Muneer Radhi, supervised by Nawzad Mikaeel Issa, and directed by student Karwan Slo Kcho
Panel discussion titled: “ New Art Experiences” by Mr. Bashar Mohammed Tahir.
- May 7 | Play: A dream outside the Circle, authored by Halkat Idrees Abid, supervised by Alind Ramadhan Omer, directed by Khateen Basheer Abdulrazaq
Panel discussion titled: “ New Art Experiences” by Dr. Kawthar Mohammed Ali
- May 7 | Play: Rain, authored by Halkat Idrees Abid, supervised by Mr. Ahmed Mishakhti and directed by student Fatima Ahmed Piro
Panel discussion titled: “ New Art Experiences” by Dr. Monqidh Mohammed Faisal
Another panel discussion titled: “ New Art Experiences” by Mr. Gohdar Salahaddin
- Closing Night ceremony attended by UOD President students and their families
The festival concluded with music performances and entertaining parts.
Students led the stage performances, curated the exhibitions, and contributed to panel debates. The level of participation reinforced UOD’s strategy of hands-on education and meaningful student involvement.
A prestigious product created for displaying the projects of the students participating in the festival was the Festival Guide, printed in hard copies and prepared by Mr. Rebar Rushdi Abdulqader, Vice Dean of the College of Fine Arts.
📎 UOD’s Strategic Alignment Highlights:
- Empowering youth through arts and cultural programming
- Enhancing soft skills and expression in academic life
- Supporting post-conflict healing through creative platforms
- Strengthening community-university partnerships via public engagement
- Fostering inclusive cultural identity and heritage preservation
CLICK TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT
University Press Office, May 9, 2025
Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali
Photography by: Mohammed Abdulkareem Tahir, Ali Habib Habib
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