FATIMA RASHAD

Aden_Aden continues to cement its presence as a city of culture and enlightenment, and a historical space for feminist leadership that has proven its ability to endure in the face of transformations and crises. While the city confronts the effects of war and its crises through words, music,and art, the current cultural reality raises urgent questions about the future of women's participation in public life and their role in shaping the cultural scene. This reality also opens the door to a broder question: To what extent can art be a tool to restore what conflicts have exhausted, and build new spaces for expression, freedom,and hope?

Visual Arts Flourish, Theater Seeks a Script

In a conversation that delves into the depths of suffering and looks toward shaping tomorrow's features, Samira Al-Mashjari, Director General of the Culture Office in Aden, places us before the details of the cultural scene and the efforts of rebuilding. She affirms that the cultural arena is witnessing a notable renewal in women's activism and their sincere desire for crative presence.

She notes that the Culture     Office is working diligently to attract and develop these energies through multiple paths, most notaly visual arts, as women artists contribute to enriching the cultural and artistic scene with abundant creative productions. However, most of them come from low-income families, making them in need of government care and support to protect their talents and provide a suitable environment for continuity and creativity.

In the feild of music, performances are witnessing a promising presence of women instrumentalists, and the office is close to establishing the first women's musical band, with members undergoing intensive training under the supervision of leading musicians, amid aspirations for government and international support to develop their skills and elevate their artistic experience.

As for theater,the past few months have witnesseda number of performances in which women played a pivotal role.However, the most prominent chalenge lies developing theatrical writing and scripts in a way that aligns with women's presence, taking into account dialogue and feminist and human issues, thereby enhancing their presence in the theatrical and cultural scene.

She adds: "When I speak of women, I speak of a conscious and actively present being.Whenever space is given to them, their creativity is present and strong in various fields."

The Missing Backbone

Regarding the experience of managing a sovereign and important cultural institiution under exceptional circumstances,Samira Al-Mashjari does not hide the reality of the obstacles facing women in decision-making positions,explaining that the scarcity of material resources represents the greatest obstacle, and that providing funding is what can create genuine societal resonance."There is no cultural renaissance without providing the basic foundations of support."

In the face of the risk of isolation and marginalization, the Culture Office is preparing to soon announce a platform specifically for creative women,to connect and attract all women who have enrished the cultural edifice within cities, making the office the primary incubator and artistic envirnment that enables them to launch toward a sustainable future.

Eliminating Stereotypes and Building Peace

She also addressed the role of cultural discourse in breaking stereotypes and strengthening political and societal partnership. She believes that the integration of institutional encouragement and modern media coverage creates a societal responsibility that reshapes public awareness, drawing its strength from Aden's geograghical and social specificity.

Regarding the role of arts in civil peace,she says: "Theater is a vital means of enhancing security and the rule of law, in line with internationally approved UN resolutions on women, peace, and security. As for field intiatives, they fo beyond the plan and the stage to include activating women's clubs, going into schools and universities, and holding workshops that translate how cultural activity creates sustainable peace."

 Restoring Artistic Memory with a Brave Feminist Pen

Regarding the decline of classical phenomena such as women's singing and music under the weight of economic crisis and political conditions,Samira Al-Mashjari recalls the indelible historical imprint of Aden's women.

She concludes her remarks by affirming that recovery today requires " a brave feminist pen" that rejects divisionn and conflict, and urges women to break into all artistic fields, protected by a conscious culture that preserves their gains and creates a better tomorrow.

Aden's women have once again proven their ability to transform difficulties into spaces of reilience, and that betting on art build peacr in not an intellectual luxury, but the only bet left on a more tolerant and humane future.