TEHRAN -- Shahnameh House, a cultural initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting Iran’s celebrated national epic, has officially commenced operations following its inaugural Board of Trustees meeting, attended by Hamid Pourmuhammadi and other appointed members.
The meeting took place on Sunday evening, with Pourmuhammadi serving as chairman of the Board of Trustees. The institution formally began its activities with the establishment of its governing bodies and the appointment of its chief executive officer.
Addressing the meeting, Pourmuhammadi called on members to act swiftly and translate their expertise into tangible results. He emphasized the importance of publishing the institution’s charter promptly to establish a consistent framework for Shahnameh Houses seeking to operate across Iran.
He also highlighted the potential of modern technology to introduce Ferdowsi’s epic to wider audiences, particularly families and younger generations, through diverse media formats. He stressed that local centers should remain active and engaging, inspiring more people to explore the stories and cultural values of the Shahnameh.
Mohsen Javadi, secretary of the Board of Trustees, noted that members had already undertaken several initiatives before their formal appointments.
These included an international conference titled Shahnameh and Iranian Identity, held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall with representatives and ambassadors from more than 20 countries, alongside Shahnameh-reading courses and the establishment of local centers in Kermanshah, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, East Azerbaijan, Kerman and Razavi Khorasan provinces.
During the meeting, Abbas Sajjadi was introduced as chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors, while Ayoub Dehqankar was appointed chairman of the board. Javadi was named secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees.
The trustees include prominent cultural figures and scholars such as Mir-Jalaleddin Kazazi, Hojjatollah Ayoubi, Mehri Behfar, Mahmoud Shaloui and Muhammad-Jafar Yahaghi. The Board of Directors also includes Gholamreza Toriqi, Ardeshir Salehpour, Alireza Habibi and Seyed Abdolhamid Ziaei.
Sajjadi expressed appreciation for his appointment and pledged to work with fellow members to advance the institution’s mission.
Shahnameh House aims to promote the epic poem by Abolqasem Ferdowsi, strengthen Iranian-Islamic cultural identity, encourage reading among children and young people, and support research, education and contemporary artistic adaptations.
The initiative also seeks to connect scholars, storytellers, performers, educators and artists through a coordinated national network, revive local traditions associated with Iran’s epic heritage, and expand the Shahnameh’s presence in contemporary cultural and creative industries.
The institution’s charter is intended to provide a common framework for affiliated centers throughout the country, supporting coordinated activities and sustained public engagement with Persian literary heritage.