Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud met with his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the Kingdom.
The meeting culminated in the signing of executive programs with leading French cultural institutions to strengthen cultural collaboration between the two nations.
The executive programs focus on fostering partnerships in heritage, museums, libraries, film, and other cultural sectors.
The initiatives promote cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and innovation through shared expertise and resources. Key areas of collaboration include heritage preservation, archaeological research, creative industries, manuscripts, and cinema.
Activities under the programs encompass training artisans, conducting archaeological surveys, organizing educational workshops, facilitating exhibitions, showcasing manuscripts, and nurturing talent in film and related fields.
The efforts emphasize knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the preservation and advancement of cultural heritage.
The executive programs were signed with the following institutions:
• National Monuments Center
• Operator of Heritage and Cultural Real Estate Projects
• French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research
• Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle
• National Library of France
• Grand Palais
• National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image
• National Institute of Cultural Heritage of France
• The National School of Photography of Arles
The agreements represent a significant milestone in Saudi-French cultural relations, highlighting their shared commitment to advancing global cultural heritage and fostering innovation in the arts.
Both nations continue to build on their longstanding relationship, contributing to global cultural dialogue and enriching their respective cultural landscapes.