Editing Culture of Iraq (section)

==Contemporary culture==

===Cultural heritage===
Iraq is a country of a wide and varied heritage, home to religious groups such as [[Muslims]], [[Christians]], [[Jews]], [[Mandaeans|Mandaaeans]], [[Yazidis]], and ethnic groups such as [[Arabs]], [[Kurds]] and [[Iraqi Turkmen|Turkmen]] who have contributed to the wide spectrum of Iraqi Culture. Many markets reflect local culture and economy such as the famous Al-Safafeer market in Baghdad which is one of the oldest markets in the city established during the Abbasid Caliphate and remains famous for various copper collectables and exhibits.

[[Tea houses]] are scattered throughout Iraq, and in the afternoon, it is a habit for shopkeepers to retreat into the back with close friends to sip [[tea]] over gossip, an Iraqi "siesta".

===Cultural institutions===
[[File:المتحف الوطني العراقي 01.jpg|thumb|[[Iraq Museum]]]]
Some important cultural institutions in the capital include the [[Iraqi National Orchestra]] (rehearsals and performances were briefly interrupted during the [[History of Iraq (2003–2011)|Occupation of Iraq]], but have since returned to normal) and the [[National Theater (Iraq)|National Theatre of Iraq]] (the theatre was looted during the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]], but efforts are underway to restore the theatre). The live theatre scene received a boost during the 1990s, when UN sanctions limited the import of foreign films. As many as 30 movie theatres were reported to have been converted to live stages, producing a wide range of [[comedies]] and [[drama]]tic productions.

Institutions offering cultural education in [[Baghdad]] include the Academy of Music, Institute of Fine Arts, and the [[Music and Ballet school Baghdad]]. Baghdad also features a number of museums including the [[National Museum of Iraq]] - which houses the world's largest and finest collection of [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] and [[relics]] of [[Ancient Iraq]] civilizations; some of which were stolen during the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iraq vows to recover all antiquities stolen after U.S.-led invasion in 2003 - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/10/c_139733832.htm|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.xinhuanet.com}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
Some cultural events are celebrating the Iraqi culture over time. The Iraq's [[Babylon]] International Festival is promoting arts including dance and music, hosting thousands of Iraqi visitors. It experienced a break of 19 years, since the American invasion, but was organized again since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-01 |title=Iraq's Babylon arts festival back after almost 20 years |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211101-iraq-s-babylon-arts-festival-back-after-almost-20-years |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> The international event founded in 1987, gathers artists coming from all around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-02 |title=À Babylone, les Irakiens renouent avec la culture millénaire malgré les pressions des religieux |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/a-babylone-les-irakiens-renouent-avec-la-culture-millenaire-malgre-les-pressions-des-religieux-20211102 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref> In 2022 the city of Mosul hosted the festival of traditional music, supported by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-13 |title=Iraq's Mosul revives shattered cultural scene with traditional music festival |url=https://arab.news/g3ag4 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref> Organizers of the event expressed their will to perpetuate this festival in the future and to organize an edition each year.