Vejîn Culture and Arts Institute

The Vejîn Culture and Arts Institute (Kurdish: ناوەندی فەرھەنگی ھونەریی ڤەژین) is a non-governmental cultural and arts organization based in Marivan, Kurdistan Province, Iran. Founded in 2004, it is dedicated specifically to Kurdish folklore and the arts and operates as an independent civil-society organization rather than a state institution or commercial enterprise. Its work spans literary and historical publishing, heritage documentation, language and music education, and public cultural programming. Among its best-known initiatives is the "Vejin Books" (ڤەژینبوکس) project, which promotes the development of Kurdish literary and historical texts. The institute also established and awards the "Golden Berw" prize (خەڵاتی بەڕووی زێڕین) to recognize outstanding figures active in Kurdish cultural life; past recipients include Osman Hawrami, Hadi Ziaeddin, and Jalal Malaksha. The organization hosts poetry evenings, offers Kurdish-language and music classes, and collects and analyzes manuscripts from the region through its heritage committee. In August 2017, the institute's building was set on fire by unidentified individuals, causing severe damage—an incident that drew attention to the pressures facing independent Kurdish cultural institutions. Despite this, Vejin continued its activities and maintains an online presence through the website vejin.org, which has become a hub for its publications, events, and educational materials. The organization is not a commercial brand in the traditional sense but operates as a cultural brand and platform within Kurdish civil society, with its identity closely tied to the name "Vejin."

The Vejîn Culture and Arts Institute was established in 2004 as a non-governmental cultural and artistic organization based in Mariwan, in Iran's Kurdistan Province. From its founding, it concentrated on Kurdish folklore and the arts, distinguishing itself from state-run cultural bodies by operating as an independent civil-society initiative. Its activities developed around several core programs. The Vejin Books (Vejin Books / ڤەژینبوکس) project was created to promote the development of Kurdish literary and historical texts, supporting writing and publishing in the Kurdish language. The institute also established the Golden Berw award (خەڵاتی بەڕووی زێڕین) to honor individuals active in Kurdish cultural life; recipients have included Osman Hawrami, Hadi Ziaoddini, and Jalal Malaksha. Alongside these, Vejîn organized poetry nights, Kurdish-language courses, and music courses, and its heritage committee collected and analyzed manuscripts from the surrounding region. A major turning point came in August 2017, when the institute's building was set on fire by unknown persons and sustained extensive damage. The attack highlighted the vulnerability of independent Kurdish cultural institutions. Despite the destruction, Vejîn continued its cultural work and maintained an online presence through its website, vejin.org, which has been archived and used to share its educational and cultural materials, including Wikipedia training sessions hosted by the institute.

• 2017

  In August, the institute's building was set on fire by unknown persons and suffered extensive damage.

• 2004

  Vejîn Culture and Arts Institute founded as a non-governmental organization in Mariwan, Iran.

• Vejin Books (Vejin Books) project launched to develop Kurdish literary and historical texts.

• Golden Berw award established; recipients include Osman Hawrami, Hadi Ziaoddini, and Jalal Malaksha.

Independent, non-governmental Kurdish cultural and arts institute focused on folklore, literature, and heritage preservation.

• Vejin Books (Vejin Books / ڤەژینبوکس)

  A project to promote the development of Kurdish literary and historical texts.

• Golden Berw Award (خەڵاتی بەڕووی زێڕین)

  An award for individuals active in Kurdish culture; past winners include Osman Hawrami, Hadi Ziaoddini, and Jalal Malaksha.

• Kurdish language courses

  Courses teaching the Kurdish language.

• Music courses

  Courses teaching music.

• Poetry nights

  Regular poetry events organized by the institute.

• Heritage committee manuscript work

  Collection and analysis of manuscripts from the region by the Vejîn heritage committee.

1. 1Vejîn Culture and Arts Institute — Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2ناوەندی فەرھەنگی ھونەریی ڤەژین — Wikipedia (Central Kurdish)ckb.wikipedia.org
3. 3ناوەندی فەرھەنگی ھونەریی ڤەژینckb.wikipedia.org