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Saudi Ithra Launches 'Baseqat' Exhibition Celebrating the Date Palm as a Global Cultural Symbol

The exhibition features 15 artworks by 25 artists from the Kingdom and abroad. SPA
The exhibition features 15 artworks by 25 artists from the Kingdom and abroad. SPA
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Saudi Ithra Launches 'Baseqat' Exhibition Celebrating the Date Palm as a Global Cultural Symbol

The exhibition features 15 artworks by 25 artists from the Kingdom and abroad. SPA
The exhibition features 15 artworks by 25 artists from the Kingdom and abroad. SPA

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has launched the ‘Baseqat’ exhibition to celebrate the date palm as a cultural symbol and a living heritage deeply rooted in the memory of the people of the Arabian Peninsula.

Thursday’s event coincided with the launch of the ‘Khoos Initiative,’ held in the Great Hall of the center, which aligns with the Year of Crafts and aims to reimagine the traditional craft of palm frond weaving with a contemporary spirit.

Head of the Ithra Museum Farah Abushullaih explained that the ‘Baseqat’ exhibition invites makers, families, and young learners to participate in the craft of palm frond weaving as a tradition deeply embedded in the Kingdom’s history, an artistic path collectively traced with a community spirit.

Through this interaction, heritage is renewed as the expertise of this ancient craft is passed from hand to hand and generation to generation through creativity, care, and community effort.

The exhibition features 15 artworks by 25 artists from the Kingdom and abroad, under the supervision of curators and art specialists, in a creative experience that explores the presence of the palm tree in memory and reinterprets it from an artistic perspective combining heritage and modernity, the tangible and the symbolic.

The exhibition’s design reflects multiple meanings through artistic spaces interwoven with elements of the palm tree - wood, rope, and fiber - creating a visual scene reminiscent of the traditional areesh that shades memory.

The exhibition is divided into six sections: Oasis, Roots, Trunk, Fronds, Dates, and a dedicated lab for experimentation and hands-on workshops, in addition to a theater screening the documentary film ‘Sa‘fa’ and hosting various discussion sessions.

Together, these components offer a new artistic interpretation of the role of the palm tree in architecture, food, medicine, environment, and poetry.

A distinguished group of artists from Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Mexico, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Germany, and Spain are participating in the exhibition, presenting diverse works.

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Culture

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival

The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA
The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival

The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA
The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA

The King Abdulaziz Public Library, in cooperation with the Riyadh Education Department, will launch its 26th annual Free Reading Festival for public school students on Sunday.

Running from May 10 to 14 in Riyadh, the festival will bring together more than 100 schools, over 1,550 students, and a number of educators and teachers.

It aims to foster a love of reading and learning, expand students’ literary, scientific, and cultural horizons, and encourage teachers to promote independent reading. It will also provide a platform to showcase student talents and strengthen Arabic language skills.

Through initiatives like this festival, the King Abdulaziz Public Library promotes reading through diverse programs and a wide range of books that foster pride in the Kingdom’s heritage.

Culture

Qassim's Monday Market Retains Heritage Role as Economic and Cultural Hub

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)
The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)
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Qassim's Monday Market Retains Heritage Role as Economic and Cultural Hub

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)
The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa, north of Qassim Region, stands as one of the oldest traditional weekly markets, enduring through changing times while maintaining its role as a vibrant economic and cultural hub.

The market draws a growing number of visitors from across Qassim and beyond, supported by the governorate’s strategic location.

During a field tour, the Saudi Press Agency observed lively activity throughout the market, with stalls displaying a diverse range of products. These include agricultural goods such as almonds and dried figs; animal products like ghee and milk, for which the region is renowned; as well as handicrafts and natural items such as henna and sidr.

Visitors noted that the market has retained its authentic character, continuing to serve as a vital source of income for small vendors and families working in the cottage industry, reinforcing its role as a key platform for preserving traditional culture while supporting the local rural economy.

Culture

Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
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Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA

Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in Aseer Region, preserving its long history and architectural details that embody people’s connection to their local environment and document the social and cultural patterns that have shaped the identity of the place across generations.

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition, where mud and stone buildings stand side by side in visual harmony. They were built using local materials such as stone, clay, and juniper trunks, while the narrow alleyways and closely set buildings give the district a cohesive social character that reflects the spirit of past communities in the region and the close relationship between people and place.

The Heritage Commission has revived the district through an integrated restoration and rehabilitation project aimed at preserving its original elements and enhancing its sustainability, as part of national efforts to protect urban heritage and highlight it as a cultural and tourism asset, SPA reported.

The site is also distinguished by its natural setting, as the district overlooks the banks of Abha Valley and surrounding farms, giving it a distinctive visual and aesthetic dimension. Its narrow passageways and closely set buildings illustrate a traditional urban pattern that strengthens ties among residents and captures the nature of social life in that era.

The district is now a growing destination for culture and tourism in Abha, attracting visitors and heritage enthusiasts who come to explore the details of authentic architecture and learn about the traditional ways of life that have shaped Aseer Region’s identity across generations. The project helps raise awareness of the importance of preserving archaeological sites as a key pillar in forming national memory.

The project is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to protect and effectively manage cultural heritage, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, which gives special attention to the cultural sector. It seeks to turn heritage sites into vibrant spaces that support cultural tourism and sustainable development while reconnecting society with its historical roots.