Saudi Arabia Unveils A Huge Step Forward In Cultural Relevance For The Modern Age | Alternative Fruit

Saudi Arabia is undergoing vast changes as the world engages with the 21st Century. A cultural injection of new and exciting experiences is being applied across the land. What's been billed as the Saudi Vision 2030, the nation will see a huge investment in the arts and in local heritage in order to make the Kingdom stand out in the world. Many historical sites have been regenerated and opened to the public over recent years, boosting tourism and helping people write their own life stories enriched with the traditions and mythology of this ancient land.


The First Minister for Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan was pleased to head the project, which began back in 2018. Now, after four years, a long list of upcoming efforts has been released. A 16 sector wide arts renewal is going to completely super-charge the Saudi cultural personality. These sixteen divisions are intended to reach out to all corners of the arts world by acknowledging the relevance and power of various forms of human expression. Namely, heritage, museums, cultural and archaeological landscapes, theatre and performing arts, cultural festivals and events, books and publication, architecture and design, natural heritage, films, fashion, language and translation, culinary arts, literature, libraries, visual arts, and music, each body will receive focussed attention and offered avenues for growth.


With absolute precision and a clear respect for the legitimacy of each sector within the arts community, these 16 areas of work have been linked to a long-list of authorities who are charged with protecting and sustaining their industries. The formal associations among these arts zones are as follows: King Salman International Complex for Arabic Language, Nomow Cultural Fund, Red Sea International Film Festival, Cultural Scholarship Program, Ad-Diriyah Biennale, National Theater Group, National Music Band, One Stop Shop for Licensing and Permitting, Houses of Culture, Art Academies, Books for All Initiative, Culture Awards, Arts and Literature Magazines, Specialized Museums, National Film Archive, Arts and Literature Sabbaticals, “Tarjim” Program for Translation, Cultural Festivals, Children’s Culture Program, Documentation of Oral Traditions and Intangible Heritage, Annual Contemporary Arts Exhibition, Public Libraries Development, Fashion Weeks, National Culinary Festival, Art in Public Places, Artist Residency Spaces, and Saudi Cultural City, in addition to supporting the National Janadriyah Cultural and Heritage Festival.


Now that the modernity of Saudi culture has been boosted and fortified with top-down guardianship, a selection of ambitious initiatives are being commissioned. So far 11 major investment initiatives have been earmarked for a wide reaching scope of expression. Saudi governing bodies have been made responsible for the flourishing of their sectors and are expected to ensure a thriving environment.


So much is being done to oversee a massive increase in Saudi culture and art. By making these cultural sectors part of the national landscape in an established and protected way, it will no-doubt empower many artists and educators to find their home in this vibrant line of work. Having a protective hand around essential cultural enterprise is clearly a good thing that many nations can learn from, but is there a cost to the artist? Will they be expected to talk about particular things, and will they be prevented from talking about particular things? What good is art if the artist isn't safe to say what they really think? Let's hope a liberal aspect can manifest even when the authorities are making it happen.


You can read more about the plans for the Saudi Cultural uplift in the Saudi Gazette.  
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