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Ammon News - by Dana Al Emam | The Jordan Times

AMMAN — Tafileh was named the Jordanian City of Culture for the year 2014, according to the results of the Jordanian Cultural project’s selection process announced on Sunday.

Tafileh, 180km southwest of Amman, came first among the three cities that submitted their files to win the title, Culture Minister Barakat Awajan said at a press conference.

Tafileh, Aqaba and Mafraq submitted files outlining their cultural significance, activities and accomplishments to obtain the title of the Jordanian City of Culture, Awajan added.

The judging committee, which included a number of scholars and experts in the cultural field, examined these files and determined the winning city according to set criteria, according to Ameen Mashaqbeh, who headed the panel.

“The criteria took into account the city’s infrastructure, cultural committees, cultural effect at the national level and its projects to promote culture,” he said.

“Each of the previously mentioned items has a percentage in an overall of 100 points… Tafileh won by 89 points,” Mashaqbeh told reporters.

Aqaba came in second with 86 points, followed by Mafraq with 77 points, he added.

The Jordanian Cultural City project aims at highlighting the heritage of Jordanian cities and creating a suitable environment for creativity across the Kingdom, Awajan said.

“The project focuses on culture as a main pillar of comprehensive development,” he noted.

The Culture Ministry will allocate up to JD1.5 million to boost cultural projects in Tafileh next year, officials said.

Beginning in 2007 with Irbid, the Jordanian Cultural Cities project was launched with the express purpose of supporting and promoting local cultural development in various municipalities across the Kingdom.

Tafileh follows Ajloun, which is the Jordanian Cultural City of 2013, after Madaba in 2012 and Maan in 2011.