عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Ministry of Culture Approves 20 Research Titles for Saudi Coffee Research Grant

The Saudi Ministry of Culture concluded the screening and evaluation phase of submissions for the Saudi Coffee Research grant.
The Saudi Ministry of Culture concluded the screening and evaluation phase of submissions for the Saudi Coffee Research grant.
TT
TT

Ministry of Culture Approves 20 Research Titles for Saudi Coffee Research Grant

The Saudi Ministry of Culture concluded the screening and evaluation phase of submissions for the Saudi Coffee Research grant.
The Saudi Ministry of Culture concluded the screening and evaluation phase of submissions for the Saudi Coffee Research grant.

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has concluded the screening and evaluation phase of submissions for the Saudi Coffee Research grant.

Launched in collaboration with the Saudi Coffee Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, this initiative aims to enrich research that focuses on Saudi coffee as an intangible cultural heritage. By fostering the development of the coffee industry as a national cultural product, the grant targets researchers and specialists from diverse fields who are interested in studying various aspects of coffee.

The ministry has approved 20 research titles both from the Kingdom and from abroad. Researchers whose proposals are selected will be provided with financial and scholarly support throughout the research process, extending to the publication of scientific papers.

The grant encompassed three primary tracks: focus on coffee in the Arabian Peninsula, delving into its historical origins, manufacturing processes and proliferation within the Kingdom; explore the intangible cultural heritage surrounding Saudi coffee, examining the associated knowledge, skills, social traditions, practices and cultural handicrafts; bolster local content by supporting Saudi coffee production, enhancing its competitiveness and contributing to the transformation of the Saudi economy into a sustainable model.

The grant is part of the "2022, The Year of Saudi Coffee" initiative, launched by the Ministry of Culture with support from the Quality of Life Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs.

In collaboration with the Culinary Arts Commission, the initiative aims to study the Saudi coffee market, preserve the national cultural heritage and values, highlight the cultural significance associated with Saudi coffee, promote national identity, and foster the global dissemination of Saudi coffee culture.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Iran Artist's Vision For Culture Hub Enlivens Rustic District

Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP
Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP
TT
TT

Iran Artist's Vision For Culture Hub Enlivens Rustic District

Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP
Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP

In the winding alleys of southern Iran, artist Adel Yazdi has taken it upon himself to turn his rustic old neighbourhood into a cultural and tourist hub through vibrant paintings and carved relief faces.

Narenjestan, a neighbourhood characterized by crumbling, uninhabited houses, is nestled in Shiraz, a southern city celebrated for its historic architecture, lush gardens and revered poets.

"Most of the dilapidated walls in old Shiraz have no historical value," said Yazdi, a bushy-bearded, bespectacled 40-year-old artist who has dedicated himself to revitalising Narenjestan, AFP reported.

Yazdi has over the years turned the long-neglected neighbourhood walls into a vivid visual tapestry "telling the stories of the people living here," he said.

Arabesque patterns and relief faces carved with intricate details and painted in an array of vivid hues of greens, pinks, blues and purples now adorn the walls.

With its striking designs and bright colors, Yazdi's art can be reminiscent of Surrealism. It often comes across as surprising, showcasing a different side of Iran's artistic heritage that goes beyond the conventional focus on Persian or Islamic architecture.

The artwork includes the face of Scheherazade, Yazdi said, referencing the legendary storyteller from the "One Thousand and One Nights" collection of folktales.

Yazdi's work stands out in Shiraz where graffiti and murals are rare, becoming a social media sensation and a tourist attraction.

One visitor, Mahdieh, discovered Yazdi's murals through Instagram.

"I arrived in Shiraz yesterday... and it was the first site I wanted to visit," said the 40-year-old, who declined to give her last name.

At the end of one alleyway, Yazdi has established his workshop in a century-old building with small rooms encircling a serene garden.

He also lives in the building, with a traditional Persian architectural style.

It is filled with artefacts and sculptures, resembling a museum warehouse.

To Maedah, a 30-year-old engineer, Yazdi's house brings to mind "other historical places in the city, such as the Eram Garden and the Mausoleum of the Poet Hafez".

Yazdi said he drew inspiration from the Pompidou Center in Paris, a cultural hub that transformed the heart of the French capital in the 1970s.

He hopes his efforts can turn Shiraz's alleyways into even more of a vibrant cultural center as well.

At his residence, visitors are particularly drawn to what Yazdi calls "the Finger Room."

Inside, he installed around 14,000 finger sculptures on the ceiling, all pointing downward.

"The room is inspired by the legend of an angel that counts raindrops with thousands of fingers," he said, referring to an Islamic fable.

"These fingers are there to constantly remind us that the present moment is precious and that we must seize it."