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| Saudi Ministry of Culture | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ministry of Culture |
| Native name | وزارة الثقافة |
| Formed | 2018 |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Headquarters | Riyadh |
| Minister | Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud |
Saudi Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture was established to oversee cultural policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to implement initiatives across arts, heritage, and creative industries. It coordinates with institutions such as the Saudi Vision 2030 program, the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the King Abdulaziz Foundation, and the MiSK Foundation to promote cultural development, preservation, and international cultural exchange. The ministry engages with artists, museums, heritage sites, festivals, and academic centers including King Saud University, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and the General Authority for Entertainment.
The formation drew on precedents from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the Ministry of Culture and Information, and institutions like the Saudi Heritage Commission and the King Saud Library. Early initiatives intersected with projects at AlUla, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, reflecting links to the National Transformation Program, the Public Investment Fund, and Vision 2030. Leadership and advisory roles involved figures associated with the MiSK Foundation, the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, the King Faisal Prize administration, and cultural policy actors from the British Council, Institut du Monde Arabe, UNESCO, and the Gulf Cooperation Council cultural bodies. The ministry has worked alongside museums such as the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Regional Museum, and private institutions including the Diriyah Open-Air Museum, collaborating with international partners like the Louvre, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Getty Foundation.
Mandate responsibilities encompass policy formation, regulation, and program delivery in partnership with entities such as the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Saudi Film Council, the General Entertainment Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism. The ministry accredits cultural institutions including the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, the Misk Art Institute, the Jeddah Art Week organizers, and the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation. It develops regulations with the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, the Intellectual Property Authority, the Ministry of Culture's museums directorates, and coordinates with education providers like King Saud University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, and the Royal Academy of Art. It also issues licenses and supports festivals such as the Janadriyah Festival, the Riyadh Season, and the Saudi National Day cultural programs.
The ministry's structure includes offices and directorates that liaise with institutions like the General Authority for Culture, the Saudi Film Council, the Saudi Heritage Commission, and the Saudi Music Commission. Senior leadership works with advisory boards incorporating representatives from the Public Investment Fund, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Media, the Royal Commission for AlUla, and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. Regional cultural offices coordinate with municipal authorities in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, AlUla, and Mecca, and partner with academic centers such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and the Prince Sultan University art programs. Departments focus on museums (National Museum of Saudi Arabia), performing arts (Saudi National Theater projects), literature (King Faisal Prize committees), visual arts (Athr Contemporary Art Programs), and audiovisual production (Red Sea Film Festival Foundation).
Major initiatives include the Saudi Film Commission collaborations with the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Misk Art Institute exhibitions, the Diriyah historic preservation program, and AlUla cultural renaissance projects with the Royal Commission for AlUla. Programming spans partnerships with the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Venice Biennale, the Cairo International Film Festival, the Dubai Design Week, and the Sharjah Biennial. The ministry supports grants and competitions tied to the King Faisal Prize, the Prince Claus Fund, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and residencies connected to the British Council, Institut Français, Goethe-Institut, and the Japan Foundation. It runs capacity-building efforts with universities such as King Saud University, the American University of Beirut, the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, and New York University Abu Dhabi for training curators, conservators, and filmmakers.
Heritage projects target archaeological sites including Madain Saleh (Hegra), Qasr Marid, Al-Diriyah, Jubbah rock art, and Najran archaeological zones, collaborating with UNESCO, ICOMOS, the Saudi Geological Survey, and international teams from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the German Archaeological Institute, and the University of Oxford. The ministry works with the Saudi Heritage Commission, the National Center for Vegetation Development, and the King Saud University Department of Archaeology on conservation, documentation, and digitization projects with partners like the Getty Conservation Institute, the British Library, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the World Monuments Fund. Initiatives include museum development at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia and regional museums, restoration of historic districts in Jeddah and Diriyah, and intangible heritage safeguarding with UNESCO lists, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, and local tribal heritage councils.
The ministry conducts cultural diplomacy through exchanges and agreements with UNESCO, the British Council, the Institut Français, the Goethe-Institut, the Japan Foundation, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and the European Union Culture Programme. It has hosted collaborations with the Louvre, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Prado Museum, the Hermitage Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Cultural delegations and festivals have engaged with the Venice Biennale, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Cannes Film Festival. Bilateral cultural accords have been signed with ministries and cultural institutions in France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Japan, China, and Egypt.
Funding streams involve allocations from the Public Investment Fund, state budget appropriations approved by the Council of Ministers, project financing with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, and partnerships with private investors and philanthropic foundations such as the MiSK Foundation and the King Faisal Foundation. Budgetary planning is coordinated with the Ministry of Finance, the National Transformation Program, and economic development entities like the Public Investment Fund and the Royal Commission for AlUla. Grants and sponsorships are sourced from multinational corporations, regional patrons, cultural foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Getty Foundation, and corporate partners participating in events such as Riyadh Season, the Red Sea International Film Festival, and Diriyah cultural programs.
Category:Culture of Saudi Arabia