Saudi KFCRIS Inaugurates UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures 

Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) inaugurates the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) inaugurates the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures on Tuesday. (SPA)
TT

Saudi KFCRIS Inaugurates UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures 

Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) inaugurates the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) inaugurates the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) inaugurated on Tuesday the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures with the support of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission (LPTC).

The program aims to encourage research and partnerships in translating cultures and cultural texts and building bridges between civilizations that create diverse cultural dialogues.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, LPTC CEO Dr. Mohammed Hasan Alwan said the inauguration of the UNESCO chair embodies a major aspect of the cultural aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030, and boosts international cooperation in the field of research and development

The UNESCO chair will generate scientific contributions in the field of cultural translation, and it will be a leading platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge between researchers worldwide, he stressed.

The UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures meets the growing need for specialized research in the humanities and social sciences, comprehensive education, and cultural diversity and encourages partnerships that gather the experience of representatives of academic sectors to bolster scientific research.

It will provide scholarships, organize seminars and enrich current academic theses to develop the concept of Arab culture and cultural diversity.



Saudi Culture Minister Meets with Scholarship Students in Manga Production Program in Japan

The Saudi Minister of Culture met with Saudi scholarship students in the Manga Production Foundations Program at his residence in Tokyo on Saturday. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Culture met with Saudi scholarship students in the Manga Production Foundations Program at his residence in Tokyo on Saturday. SPA
TT

Saudi Culture Minister Meets with Scholarship Students in Manga Production Program in Japan

The Saudi Minister of Culture met with Saudi scholarship students in the Manga Production Foundations Program at his residence in Tokyo on Saturday. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Culture met with Saudi scholarship students in the Manga Production Foundations Program at his residence in Tokyo on Saturday. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission (LPTC) Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, met with Saudi scholarship students in the Manga Production Foundations Program at his residence in Tokyo on Saturday.

This specialized training program, organized in collaboration between the commission and Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), aims to nurture talented manga artists through professional training rooted in Japanese techniques, the birthplace of this art form.

During the meeting, Prince Badr emphasized the Saudi leadership's unwavering support for developing human capabilities across all fields, highlighting the importance of academic and professional training in cultural disciplines.

The meeting was attended by CEO of LPTC Dr. Mohammed Hasan Alwan, CEO of Manga Productions Essam Amanullah Bukhari, and students studying manga art at Kadokawa Contents Academy (KCA), one of Japan’s leading institutions for training and recruiting talent in manga creation.

The program includes virtual workshops, an intensive training course, and overseas training in Japan. It has also launched competitions blending manga with Saudi cultural themes, such as "Munjanha," which transforms Arabic proverbs into manga stories; "Manga Al-Qaseed," which adapts Arabic poems into manga; and "Manga Al-Ibil," which celebrates the cultural symbolism of camels in Saudi Arabia.

The program has benefited over 1,850 participants through virtual workshops, with 115 advancing to the intensive training phase, resulting in the creation of 115 manga stories. Among these, 21 students were sent to Japan for advanced training. The competitions garnered significant engagement, receiving 133 submissions for "Munjanha," over 70 for "Manga Al-Qaseed," and more than 50 for "Manga Al-Ibil."