TEHRAN -- The Second Sohrab Sepehri Annual Prize, celebrating both illustration and poetry, is set to take place this summer and autumn in Kashan, with a special illustration award focused on the pressing theme of energy imbalance and environmental concerns, titled “Let’s Keep the Water Clear.”
In a press conference on Saturday, cultural officials including Aidin Mahdizadeh, Director General of Visual Arts at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and Meysam Namaki, Head of Kashan’s Culture and Guidance Department, outlined the evolving vision for the prize. 
Mahdizadeh emphasized the fluid boundaries of contemporary visual arts, calling for the competition to expand beyond illustration and poetry to embrace photography and multimedia, reflecting a dynamic, multi-disciplinary art world. 
He highlighted the significance of Sepehri—a poet and painter of profound spiritual and artistic stature—urging that the award reflect the depth of his legacy and inspire broader cultural networks, such as UNESCO’s Creative Cities initiative.
Namaki underlined Sepehri’s enduring appeal, especially among youth, due to his accessible language and mystical explorations, and called for national recognition and stronger institutional support to elevate the prize’s profile. 
Kashan’s mayor, Abolfazl Saroughian, echoed this sentiment, noting the city’s rich 7,000-year cultural heritage and its ambition to be recognized for architecture and creativity within global cultural networks.
The prize’s illustration section, led by Hussein Sedghi, responds to a historical gap in adult illustration, encouraging artists to delve into Sepehri’s layered poetry. 
This year’s special focus, “Let’s Keep the Water Clear,” confronts ecological crises through creative expression, with top prizes totaling up to 300 million rials and exhibitions planned for October.
Meanwhile, the poetry section, overseen by Hosna Muhammadzadeh, invites submissions of new poetry inspired by Sepehri’s innovative voice, aiming to nurture young poets and publish a curated anthology. The deadline for poetry is September 1, with finalists announced in early October.
The prize, born in 2020 during the pandemic, continues to be a vital cultural platform that bridges literature, visual art, and environmental awareness—an enduring tribute to one of Iran’s most beloved modernist voices.