Saudi Artists Receive French Order of Arts and Letters at Knight Rank

The medal is one of the highest French honors awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of art, literature, and history. (SPA)
The medal is one of the highest French honors awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of art, literature, and history. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Artists Receive French Order of Arts and Letters at Knight Rank

The medal is one of the highest French honors awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of art, literature, and history. (SPA)
The medal is one of the highest French honors awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of art, literature, and history. (SPA)

France has awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters at the rank of Knight, in the name of the French President, Saudi artists and establishments in recognition of their exceptional contributions to art and their profound impact on the Saudi cultural scene, as well as their role in boosting Saudi-French relations through the arts.

The awardees are founder of Saudi Arabia’s Nujood Art Gallery and the Arts and Skills Institute Princess Adwaa bint Yazid bin Abdullah, contemporary artist Ahmad Mater, the first Saudi graffiti artist Noura bint Saidan, artist Muhannad Shono, and artist Sarah Ibrahim.

French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille presented the medals to the Saudi artists in a ceremony held in Riyadh.

The medal is one of the highest French honors awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of art, literature, and history.

The award reflects the unlimited support that the arts and literature sector receives from the Saudi leadership.

The French Ministry of Culture awards this medal to creative talents in the art or literature fields or to those who contribute to promoting arts and literature in France and abroad.



Iraq Exhibits Ancient Artifacts Returned by US and other Countries

Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL
Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL
TT

Iraq Exhibits Ancient Artifacts Returned by US and other Countries

Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL
Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL

Iraq on Monday exhibited several ancient artifacts that it said had been returned by the United States and other countries, long after they were looted and smuggled out following the 2003 US invasion.
Iraqi authorities have been trying to retrieve thousands of archaeological relics missing since the invasion, which was followed by widespread looting in the country that some historians regard as the cradle of civilization, Reuters said.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein handed the recently recovered relics over to Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed al-Badrani at a ceremony in Baghdad.
Most of the artifacts on display at the foreign ministry headquarters were returned by the US after a visit by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to Washington in April, Badrani said.
He said other relics had been returned by other states, but gave no details.
Hussein said more "rare archeological collections" would be returned by Switzerland and Japan this month.