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Alwan: Riyadh Int’l Book Fair is a Cultural Icon, Top Arab Book Seller

Over ten days, the book fair events will adorn the Saudi capital (Literature Commission)
Over ten days, the book fair events will adorn the Saudi capital (Literature Commission)
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Alwan: Riyadh Int’l Book Fair is a Cultural Icon, Top Arab Book Seller

Over ten days, the book fair events will adorn the Saudi capital (Literature Commission)
Over ten days, the book fair events will adorn the Saudi capital (Literature Commission)

The Riyadh International Book Fair kicked off this year with over 2,000 local, Arab, and international publishers, offering a rich cultural program.

The event continues to be a major platform for top thinkers, authors, and publishers, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and leadership in the publishing world.

Dr. Mohammed Hassan Alwan, CEO of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, said the fair has been a symbol of Saudi Arabia's cultural leadership for nearly five decades.

He noted that it consistently achieves the highest book sales among Arab fairs and draws large crowds from inside and outside the Kingdom.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Alwan emphasized that the Riyadh fair, along with other book events in the Kingdom, supports the Ministry of Culture’s goal to grow the cultural sector’s contribution to 3% of the GDP by 2030.

Five Decades of Cultural Leadership in Saudi Arabia

Alwan highlighted that Saudi Arabia has been a cradle of civilizations and a center for scientific, literary, and artistic revival, attracting scholars and students from around the globe.

“Today, Saudi Arabia is rich in cultural elements, historical treasures, and a legacy that strengthens its status as a leading hub of Arab and international culture. This is supported by various initiatives and major cultural and artistic events,” affirmed Alwan.

He also acknowledged the continuous support from Saudi leadership for the cultural sector, noting the close attention from top authorities and the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing development efforts.

Alwan stressed that this commitment underscores the Kingdom’s belief in the vital role of culture in national progress, enhancing quality of life, and supporting economic and social development.

The CEO said that the Ministry of Culture, led by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, is essential in shaping Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape.

The ministry is focused on building a comprehensive cultural system to achieve several goals: promoting culture as a lifestyle, using culture to boost economic growth, enhancing the Kingdom's global standing, and strengthening national identity through cultural initiatives. It also aims to develop a vibrant cultural sector that showcases Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and traditions to the world.

Alwan highlighted a notable increase in cultural activities in recent years. He pointed to a 150% rise in the establishment of amateur cultural clubs last year, which indicates a thriving cultural scene among creatives and cultural entrepreneurs.

This growth reflects the ongoing support for the cultural sector and aligns with various positive cultural indicators.

Cultural Leadership in Saudi Arabia

Alwan discussed the importance of cultural events in Saudi Arabia and the region, highlighting the Riyadh International Book Fair.

Since its launch nearly 50 years ago, the fair has become a symbol of the Kingdom’s cultural leadership.

It is also a part of an initiative aimed at empowering the publishing industry, raising cultural awareness, improving quality of life, and supporting national economic growth in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

He noted that the fair is economically significant, generating the highest book sales among Arab book fairs and attracting large numbers of visitors from within and outside the Kingdom.

Alwan concluded that the commission, with support from the Minister of Culture, is committed to enriching the cultural scene in Saudi Arabia and encouraging community engagement.

He emphasized that supporting culture is a shared responsibility among individuals and institutions, and through collaboration, challenges can be addressed to achieve cultural sustainability and enhance Saudi Arabia's cultural leadership in the region and the world.

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Culture

Culture Being Strangled by Kosovo's Political Crisis

The cinema has been waiting for much-needed repairs for years. Armend NIMANI / AFP
The cinema has been waiting for much-needed repairs for years. Armend NIMANI / AFP
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Culture Being Strangled by Kosovo's Political Crisis

The cinema has been waiting for much-needed repairs for years. Armend NIMANI / AFP
The cinema has been waiting for much-needed repairs for years. Armend NIMANI / AFP

Kosovo's oldest cinema has been dark and silent for years as the famous theater slowly disintegrates under a leaky roof.

Signs warn passers-by in the historic city of Prizren that parts of the Lumbardhi's crumbling facade could fall while it waits for its long-promised refurbishment.

"The city deserves to have the cinema renovated and preserved. Only junkies gathering there benefit from it now," nextdoor neighbor butcher Arsim Futko, 62, told AFP.

For seven years, it waited for a European Union-funded revamp, only for the money to be suddenly withdrawn with little explanation.

Now it awaits similar repairs promised by the national government that has since been paralyzed by inconclusive elections in February.

And it is anyone's guess whether the new government that will come out of Sunday's snap election will keep the promise.

'Collateral damage'

Cinema director Ares Shporta said the cinema has become "collateral damage" in a broader geopolitical game after the EU hit his country with sanctions in 2023.

The delayed repairs "affected our morale, it affected our lives, it affected the trust of the community in us," Shporta said.

Brussels slapped Kosovo with sanctions over heightened tensions between the government and the ethnic Serb minority that live in parts of the country as Pristina pushed to exert more control over areas still tightly linked to Belgrade.

Cultural institutions have been among the hardest-hit sectors, as international funding dried up and local decisions were stalled by the parliamentary crisis.

According to an analysis by the Kosovo think tank, the GAP Institute for Advanced Studies, sanctions have resulted in around 613 million euros ($719 million) being suspended or paused, with the cultural sector taking a hit of 15-million-euro hit.

'Ground zero'

With political stalemate threatening to drag on into another year, there are warnings that further funding from abroad could also be in jeopardy.

Since February's election when outgoing premier Albin Kurti topped the polls but failed to win a majority, his caretaker government has been deadlocked with opposition lawmakers.

Months of delays, spent mostly without a parliament, meant little legislative work could be done.

Ahead of the snap election on Sunday, the government said that more than 200 million euros ($235 million) will be lost forever due to a failure to ratify international agreements.

Once the top beneficiary of the EU Growth Plan in the Balkans, Europe's youngest country now trails most of its neighburs, the NGO Group for Legal and Political Studies' executive director Njomza Arifi told AFP.

"While some of the countries in the region have already received the second tranches, Kosovo still remains at ground zero."

Although there have been some enthusiastic signs of easing a half of EU sanctions by January, Kurti's continued push against Serbian institutions and influence in the country's north continues to draw criticism from both Washington and Brussels.

'On the edge'

Across the river from the Lumbardhi, the funding cuts have also been felt at Dokufest, a documentary and short film festival that draws people to the region.

"The festival has had to make staff cuts. Unfortunately, there is a risk of further cuts if things don't change," Dokufest artistic director Veton Nurkollari said.

"Fortunately, we don't depend on just one source because we could end up in a situation where, when the tap is turned off, everything is turned off."

He said that many in the cultural sector were desperate for the upcoming government to get the sanctions lifted by ratification of the agreements that would allow EU funds to flow again.

"Kosovo is the only one left on the edge and without these funds."

Culture

Saudi Culture Ministry Concludes Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Project in Al-Ahsa

Saudi Culture Ministry Concludes Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Project in Al-Ahsa
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Saudi Culture Ministry Concludes Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Project in Al-Ahsa

Saudi Culture Ministry Concludes Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Project in Al-Ahsa

The Saudi Ministry of Culture concluded the project to survey, document, and archive intangible cultural heritage in Al-Ahsa Governorate by holding a workshop in the governorate, attended by stakeholders and relevant entities, as part of the ministry’s efforts to preserve national cultural heritage and strengthen Saudi cultural identity, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday.

The project included a field survey covering various cities and villages across Al-Ahsa, during which diverse elements of intangible cultural heritage were identified and documented. These included oral traditions, performing arts, skills associated with traditional cultural crafts, social practices, and knowledge related to nature and the local environment.

The work was carried out in cooperation with concerned entities, specialized experts, and local practitioners.

The workshop reviewed the project’s final outcomes and presented reports on documentation and digital archiving activities.

It discussed mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of these efforts and the transmission of this cultural legacy to future generations, contributing to greater community awareness of the value and importance of intangible cultural heritage.

Culture

Hail Region Pavilion Showcases Heritage Artifacts at Camel Festival

The pavilion aims to connect visitors to Hail's history and social legacy - SPA
The pavilion aims to connect visitors to Hail's history and social legacy - SPA
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Hail Region Pavilion Showcases Heritage Artifacts at Camel Festival

The pavilion aims to connect visitors to Hail's history and social legacy - SPA
The pavilion aims to connect visitors to Hail's history and social legacy - SPA

Hail Region pavilion at the Ministry of Interior’s Security Oasis exhibition, part of the 10th King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Al-Sayahid, features heritage artifacts that reflect the region's renowned hospitality.

The display includes ancient trays and copperware from nearly seventy years ago.

According to SPA, these traditional food preparation and serving vessels have garnered significant interest from visitors. They document daily life in old Hail and its deep-rooted social traditions, particularly in gatherings and special occasions.

The pavilion aims to connect visitors to Hail's history and social legacy, fostering appreciation for national heritage and ensuring cultural preservation for future generations.