عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Saudi Heritage Commission Signs Agreement with Japan’s Waseda University for Al-Hawraa Excavation

SPA
SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Heritage Commission Signs Agreement with Japan’s Waseda University for Al-Hawraa Excavation

SPA
SPA

The Saudi Heritage Commission (HC) signed on Sunday a cooperation agreement with Japan’s Waseda University (WU) to conduct archaeological survey and excavation work at Al-Hawraa site in Umluj Governorate, Tabuk Region, for 5 years.

The signing ceremony took place at the HC headquarters, King Abdulaziz Historical Center. It was attended by the CEO of HC, Dr. Jasser Al-Harbash, and a representative of the WU Comprehensive Research Organization, Dr. Hasegawa So.

The agreement includes the collaboration of the two parties in the survey and excavation at Al-Hawraa archaeological site.

A WU scientific team will participate alongside a counterpart Saudi team in carrying out archaeological survey and excavation work. Students from Japanese universities and scientific institutions will also have the opportunity to participate in the project for training and conducting specialized research, SPA reported.

This agreement is part of the HC's efforts to expand national and international scientific partnerships with universities and scientific institutions inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the purpose of conducting archaeological surveys and excavation work at cultural heritage sites in the Kingdom.

These efforts reflect the Saudi Ministry of Culture's commitment to enhance international cultural exchange and promote Saudi participation and national culture within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for 2028 Olympics at Louis Vuitton Event 

Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
TT
TT

Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for 2028 Olympics at Louis Vuitton Event 

Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)

If given the chance, Pharrell Williams would reintroduce arts competition into the Olympics, reviving a tradition that's been missing for nearly 80 years.

Williams is aiming to reinstate arts competitions back on the world's biggest sports stage, starting with raising awareness through his star-studded Louis Vuitton event Thursday in Paris. He passionately shared his goal to see the tradition revived by the Olympics in 2028 the night before the Games’ opening ceremony.

“We get to remind people that at one point, the Olympics actually had the arts as a section that ran all these competitions,” Williams before the event. “Sculpture, architecture, visual arts. The idea we get to put the arts back in. ... Why not take this moment to bring awareness?”

Art competitions first came into fruition at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm with medals awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. However, the International Olympic Committee ended the competitions in the 1948 games. An attempt to bring it back was denied four years later.

Williams, the musician-turned-designer, hosted the ritzy A-list event at the Louis Vuitton Foundation building. Attendees included popular figures such as LeBron James, Steven Spielberg, Mick Jagger, Zendaya, Anna Wintour, Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.

Williams called the inside of the event like an “indoor carnival.” He curated a select group of world-renowned artists including KAWS, Daniel Arsham and Derek Fordjour to design interactive art installations.

Some of the sports represented at the event included archery, tennis, basketball and equestrianism along with carnival games. “The game will begin on the inside tonight,” he said.

Through donations, Williams said he wanted the event to support Olympic hopefuls as well as 36 athletes across 11 different countries who are competing on the Refugee Olympic Team this year.

“We get to raise money for the other athletes who don't have the means to get the gear or proper training equipment,” said Williams, who added that he spoke about creating music for the games with Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC.

The famed producer said he recorded a track called “Triumph is Cosmos.”

“This is like the victory lap around the solar system,” he said.