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Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Public Library, RCU to Enhance Cultural Cooperation

The agreement aims to foster knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism, and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields. SPA
The agreement aims to foster knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism, and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Public Library, RCU to Enhance Cultural Cooperation

The agreement aims to foster knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism, and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields. SPA
The agreement aims to foster knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism, and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields. SPA

King Abdulaziz Public Library and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cultural and civilizational cooperation.

The agreement aims to foster knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism, and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields. The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh.
The MoU was signed by General Supervisor of the Library Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar and RCU’s Acting CEO Abeer AlAkel.

Bin Muammar emphasized that the agreement aligns with the library's mission to preserve Arab and Islamic heritage, as well as the diverse cultural legacy of the Kingdom. He noted that the library plays a key role in safeguarding this heritage through its extensive collection of manuscripts, books, documents, rare photographs, and publishing and translation projects.
AlAkel described the partnership as a model for integrated efforts among government entities in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. She highlighted the library's rich knowledge and cultural archives, particularly in areas under the RCU’s supervision.
The agreement includes collaboration in establishing libraries, hosting local and international exhibitions, and co-publishing books. It also involves supporting scientific research, promoting bilingual publications in Arabic and English, and exchanging visual and audio materials related to AlUla, Al-Mu'azzam, Tayma, and Khaybar.

Additionally, the MoU will activate the AlUla Reads initiative, introduce mobile library reading tours, and promote literacy through community events for children and families. Training and development programs will also be implemented to build professional capacities through joint courses and workshops.

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Ancient Bronze Griffin Head Is Returned to Greece from New York in Major Repatriation Move

The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)
The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)
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Ancient Bronze Griffin Head Is Returned to Greece from New York in Major Repatriation Move

The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)
The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned an ancient bronze griffin head stolen nearly a century ago to a museum in southern Greece, the latest repatriation marking a broader shift in the museum world to return significant artifacts.

The 7th century B.C. artifact was on display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the city that in ancient times was the birthplace of the games that later inspired the modern Olympic Games.

Greece’s culture minister, Lina Mendoni, attended a ceremony Friday at the museum, calling the return a significant moment.

“After decades of absence, the griffin returns from the Metropolitan Museum in New York to the place it belongs,” she said, praising the joint effort by the Culture Ministry and the Met to trace the artifact’s past. The ceremony coincided with a visit to Greece by members of the International Olympic Committee to elect a new president. Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and first African to lead the global body.

The griffin, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, symbolized strength and divine protection in ancient Greece. The bronze head will now be displayed alongside a similar griffin head already at the Olympia museum.

The Met has recently increased its efforts to review the history of its holdings, hiring additional experts to track the origins of objects in its collection.

“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with the Greek government and look forward to continued engagement and cultural exchange,” the Met's museum director Max Hollein said in a statement.

Institutions across the world in recent years have begun to acknowledge the importance of returning significant cultural items while still promoting global access to heritage. As part of this new framework, Greece has agreed to loan the griffin head back to the Met for future exhibitions, Mendoni said.

Athens is hoping the new, more open approach will boost its decades-long campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, taken from the Acropolis in Athens in the 19th century and now in the British Museum. The government — citing their cultural importance and illegal removal — says it is making slow progress in negotiations with the London museum.