Happy New Year

At the end of 2020, Friends of Shahnameh would like to thank each and everyone who supported us by joining our online programmes of poetry workshops and interviews. 

End of year news letter

At the end of 2020, Friends of Shahnameh would like to thank each and everyone who supported us by joining our online programmes of poetry workshops and interviews. Thanks also to Homeyra Doostar (secretary) and Ali Sadeghi (treasurer and co-director).

Despite everything that has happened in 2020 Friends of Shahnameh has had a vibrant year. We had a steep learning curve and had to learn how to run our workshops online, providing a platform for communication and discussion.

Throughout the pandemic we kept going and kept the communicational channels open for people to join our workshops. We also worked in partnership with others with common interests in Persian Literature and Shahnameh to celebrate the tenth Commemoration Day of Ferdowsi in the UK. We benefited from the contribution of experts from Cambridge, Manchester and international speakers from Iran and Canada.

This year the virtual Commemoration Day of Ferdowsi went ahead with support of:

-Artists who responded to a callout from Friends of Shahnameh. Drawings from Shahnameh and Ferdowsi were submitted in three groups of children, teenagers and adults. Winners for the categories of children and teenagers were chosen by our judge Abbas Shahsavar. Thanks to everyone who send their drawing of Shahnameh or Ferdowsi. Each and every drawing was a unique display of knowledge of Shahnameh and vivid imagination. In children and teenager categories we had: Nadia Atlasbaf, Yasmin Atlasbaf, Mohammed Reza KhoshTinat, Barbod Majidifard ,Mahdiyar Omidfar, Keyana Rahnavard, Arad Rajayi, Amirali Rezazadeh Fakhar, Tara Roshan, Shamim Shakori, Sana Zaheri, Sobhan Zaheri, Parsa Zeinaali and Sadra Zenaali. In the adult category: Zahra Haeri, Hadieh Hajari, Efat Halakoyan took part. thanks for their contribution.

-Honeya Monfared, the young Shahnameh fan, who recited from Shahnameh.

-The academics, artists and speakers: Seyavosh Bagheryan, Prof. Jo Ann Cavallo, ِDr. Farzaneh Farokhfar, Dr. Soraya Feili, Firoozeh Fozoni, Seyamak Heravi, Dr. E. Karimi, Professor Charls Melvile, Dr. Firuza Melvile, Homayoon Nouroozi, Rahim Rahimzadeh, Majid Sadati, Dr. Mojgan Samadi and Abbas Shahsavar.

I would also like to thank friends that, this year more than ever, we relied on their support for running of our online workshops.: Afsaneh Nekonam,, Mr. M Hadad, Nosrat Bayati, Hassan Shabani, Manijeh Sadati and Puran Shahdi. Friends of shahnameh WhatsApp group has been particularly active. Thanks to each and every member.

Thank you to everyone who visited our Facebook and Instagram pages. Thanks also to Mr. David Miller for his support.

This year regretfully we lost Ostad Keyomars Bahirayi a friend whose valued contribution helped making Friends of Shahnameh a unique organisation in England. His friendship and support is greatly missed.

We are hoping to come back in the New Year with lots of exciting cultural events. Meanwhile enjoy the holidays and stay safe.

Happy New Year

Dr Shahireh Sharif

Creative Director of Friends of Shahnameh

در پایان سالی دشوار که با وجود همه‌ی سختیهای آن، گروه دوستان شاهنامه موفق به برگزاری برنامه‌هایی برای بزرگداشت فردوسی شد، از همه‌ی دوستانی که در این راه همراه و حامی ما بودند تشکر می‌نمایم.

سپاس ویژه از سخنوران و دوستانی که در کارگاه‌های شاهنامه‌خوانی دوستان شاهنامه شرکت کردند.

سال 2020 میلادی با همه‌ی دردهایش سالی بود که در آن با جمعی از هنرمندان بخصوص کودکان و نوجوانان عزیز آشنا شدیم و موفق به برگزاری نمایشگاه نقاشی مجازی در سه گروه کودک، نوجوان و بزرگسال شدیم. داور مسابقه جناب آقای عباس شهسوار هم برندگان گروه کودک و نوجوان را انتخاب فرمودند. برای همه‌ی دوستانی که هنرشان را با ما به اشتراک گذاشتند و نامشان در ادامه آمده آرزوی موفقیت روزافزون داریم.

سپاس ویژه از شرکت ‌کنندگان در بخش کودک و نوجوان: نادیا اطلس باف، یاسمین اطلس باف، مهدیار امیدفر آراد رجایی، محمدرضا خوش طینت کوزه کنانی، امیرعلی رضازاده فخار، تارا روشن، کیانا ره نورد، پارسا زینالی، صدرا زینالی، شمیم شکوری،، ثنا ظاهری، سبحان ظاهری. پارسا مجیدی، باربد مجیدی فرد. همچنین سپاس از شرکت کنند‌گان در بخش بزرگسالان: خانم‌ها زهرا حائری، هدیه هاجری و عفت هلاکویان.

سال 2020 سالی بود که دوستان شاهنامه استاد و حامی بزرگ خود شادروان استاد کیومرث بحیرائی را از دست داد. یادش گرامی و پروازش بلند

به امید اینکه سال آینده برای همگی سالی سراسر سلامتی و خوشی باشد.

دکتر شهیره شریف

موسس و مدیر گروه دوستان شاهنامه

© All rights reserved