Saudi Arabia Inaugurates its Pavilion at Beijing International Book Fair

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Inaugurates its Pavilion at Beijing International Book Fair

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) in China, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The fair will take place from June 19 to 23 in Beijing.

The Saudi delegation, led by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, includes representatives from various cultural entities, such as the Heritage Commission, the Culinary Arts Commission, the Ministry of Investment, the King Abdulaziz Foundation, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and the Saudi Publishers Association.

Saudi Arabia’s participation aims to showcase the Kingdom's cultural heritage to the Chinese audience and promote investment opportunities in the cultural sector.

CEO of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, Dr. Mohammed Hasan Alwan, emphasized that the Kingdom's participation is focused on boosting cultural dialogue, strengthening the bond between the two countries, and fostering cooperation in literature and the arts.

The Kingdom's pavilion will feature a diverse cultural program, including seminars, dialogue sessions, exhibitions of books, manuscripts, artifacts from Saudi Arabia, and traditional performing arts.

A special Saudi dinner event will be hosted, featuring local dishes and performing arts from various regions of the Kingdom. Additionally, there will be displays of Saudi fashion and a section dedicated to the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China.

The Beijing International Book Fair, established in 1986, is organized by the China National Publications Import and Export Group and is the second-largest book fair in the world. It attracts over 2,600 exhibitors from 100 countries, making it the most influential book fair in China and Asia.



Misk Announces Annual Creative Forum 2024

Misk Announces Annual Creative Forum 2024
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Misk Announces Annual Creative Forum 2024

Misk Announces Annual Creative Forum 2024

Saudi Arabia’s Misk Art Institute, an affiliate of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), announced its annual Creative Forum 2024, which will take place at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City) on November 1 and 2.

Now in its fifth edition, the forum will feature panel discussions, interactive activities, and performances. Since its launch in 2020, the Creative Forum has become a key event during Misk Art Week, the Misk Art Institute's flagship initiative, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

CEO of the Misk Art Institute Reem Al Sultan said: "Hosting the Creative Forum at Misk City marks our first step toward moving into the Misk Art Institute building in Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City in 2025. We will also unveil expanded programs and activities aimed at fostering the growth of the cultural and arts sector in the Kingdom and supporting artists."

This year's forum, themed "Media and Technology," will gather thought leaders and experts from around the world at Misk City's Experience Center, a space dedicated to nurturing creativity and engaging youth. Discussions will focus on how media and technology can create new opportunities for artists and society, exploring the role of media in promoting interactive participation and the ways technology has revolutionized exploration and interaction.

In alignment with this theme, the Misk Art Institute will present the exhibition “The Silent Age of Singularity”, running from November 3, 2024, to February 27, 2025. The exhibition will examine the post-internet era, marked by technology's pervasive influence on society.

Curated by the Director of the Curatorial Department and Chief Curator at the Misk Art Institute Basma Al-Shathry, with assistance from Assistant Curator Aram Al-Ajaji, the exhibition will be held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall. It aims to highlight how the Internet has impacted daily life, showcasing transformations brought about by satellites, television, and the Internet in global connectivity, cultural exchange, and information dissemination.

Al-Shathry noted: "The Internet has evolved from simply a communication tool to an essential part of our daily lives. Our exhibition examines the changes that have transformed the ways we communicate, create, and understand the world."

Participating artists in the exhibition include Ibrahim Abumsmar (Saudi Arabia), Mahdi Al Jeraibi (Saudi Arabia), Turki Al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia), Omar Al-Zahrani (Saudi Arabia), Mohammed Sharrouro (Morocco), Ayman Yasser Didban (Palestine/Saudi Arabia), Iman Al-Jabreen (Saudi Arabia), Mounir Fatmi (Morocco), Samia Halabi (Palestine), David Hockney (United Kingdom), Sofiane El Idrissi (Morocco), Ziad Kaaki (Saudi Arabia), Khaled Makhshoush (Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Matar (Saudi Arabia), Bennett Miller (United States), Nam June Paik (South Korea), John Salvest (United States), Faisal Samra (Saudi Arabia), and Anya Soliman (Egypt/Poland).