Iran official says arts can bolster social cohesion and hope
Iran needs to make greater use of the arts to strengthen social cohesion, improve public morale and restore hope for the future, a senior Interior Ministry official said, urging provincial authorities to support cultural events.
Mohammad Bathaei, deputy interior minister and head of the Social Affairs Organization, said art was not simply entertainment or a way to fill leisure time, but a social necessity and even a form of therapy.
Speaking at a meeting of organizers of artistic events in Tehran, he said arts and cultural programs could help reduce social problems, build solidarity and strengthen social capital.
He also cited what he described as efforts by Iran’s adversaries to undermine national unity.
“Sociologists assess societies through three main indicators: social problems, public welfare and social health, including people’s confidence in the future,” Bathaei said.
Iranian surveys, he said, showed that social health and optimism needed more attention and timely intervention than the other two areas.
He said indicators of social problems in 2025 had either declined or stopped rising. A separate survey conducted about a month ago measured four social emotions: anger, fear, hope and concern.
Its findings, he said, pointed to the need for more efforts to promote public morale and optimism.
Bathaei urged artists and cultural officials to show patience, persistence and mutual understanding in addressing the country’s social challenges.
He called on provincial governors and local officials to support national and international arts events, including the Fajr festivals, and make regional resources available to organizers.
Businesses, nonprofit organizations and arts associations could also support the events through social responsibility programs, he said.