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Saudi Culture Minister Meets French Counterpart as RCU Announces Partnership with Center Pompidou

The commission affirmed that this collaboration with leading international cultural institutions reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting culture and the arts as essential pillars of comprehensive development under Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
The commission affirmed that this collaboration with leading international cultural institutions reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting culture and the arts as essential pillars of comprehensive development under Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
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Saudi Culture Minister Meets French Counterpart as RCU Announces Partnership with Center Pompidou

The commission affirmed that this collaboration with leading international cultural institutions reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting culture and the arts as essential pillars of comprehensive development under Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
The commission affirmed that this collaboration with leading international cultural institutions reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting culture and the arts as essential pillars of comprehensive development under Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan met with France’s Minister of Culture Rachida Dati during his visit to France.

According to a press release issued by the RCU, the commission announced that upon the reopening of the Center Pompidou, a section of the museum will be named in gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The specifics will be finalized in alignment with the museum's new layout. In addition, a cultural and artistic program will be implemented from now until 2030.

 

It will feature the launch of a research program focused on modern and contemporary Saudi artists, drawing on the resources and expertise of the Center Pompidou. This initiative will also include support to familiarize young audiences with art history, as well as a program for the transfer of expertise and exchanges between cultural professionals, SPA reported.

The release added that the RCU stated that the agreement is an extension of the strategic partnership between the two countries in the cultural and creative sectors, established under the leadership of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of RCU, and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening culture as a bridge for international dialogue and advancing sustainable development.

Under the agreement, the RCU will provide 50 million euros to support Center Pompidou 2030, a project to renovate and develop the Center Pompidou. This initiative aims to enhance its facilities and expand its educational and artistic programs, reinforcing its role as a leading global cultural institution.

The partnership is part of the broader Saudi-French collaboration to develop the Museum of Contemporary Art in AlUla, as cultural cooperation between the two nations has been rapidly growing in recent years.

RCU also announced the (Arduna) exhibition, scheduled to take place during AlUla Arts Festival in January 2026. Organized in collaboration with Arts AlUla, the Center Pompidou, and the French Agency for AlUla Development, the exhibition will feature new artworks and foster dialogue among artists from around the world. It will also include workshops and live performances designed to support emerging talent and enrich AlUla’s evolving cultural landscape.

The commission affirmed that this collaboration with leading international cultural institutions reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting culture and the arts as essential pillars of comprehensive development under Saudi Vision 2030. It further strengthens AlUla’s position as a global hub for creativity, where heritage, innovation, and knowledge come together to inspire future generations.

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Culture

Saudi Culture Ministry Launches UK-KSA Arabian Peninsula Cultural Research Fellowships

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Culture Ministry Launches UK-KSA Arabian Peninsula Cultural Research Fellowships

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Ministry of Culture has launched the UK-KSA Arabian Peninsula Cultural Research Fellowships in partnership with Effat University and the National Archives of the United Kingdom, to support archival-based research, advance cultural inquiry on the Arabian Peninsula, and strengthen collaboration between researchers and institutions in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

The program includes a 10-week research residency at the National Archives of the United Kingdom, where participants receive hands-on training in archival methods and gain access to a wide range of archival collections and cultural institutions across the UK. It supports diverse areas of cultural research related to the Arabian Peninsula.

This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Culture’s strategic vision for advancing cultural research, reflecting its commitment to fostering both local and international collaboration and promoting meaningful cultural exchange.

The fellowship is open to researchers and cultural heritage specialists capable of conducting independent research in English, regardless of their professional level.

Culture

Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama for Riyadh University of Arts

Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama for Riyadh University of Arts
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Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama for Riyadh University of Arts

Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama for Riyadh University of Arts

The Ministry of Culture signed on Thursday a partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama for Riyadh University of Arts (RUA)’s College of Music. The partnership aims to further develop cultural and artistic talent and drive cultural exchange.

Under the terms of the partnership, Guildhall School will work with RUA to co-design undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs spanning music performance, production and education, in addition to training and capability development opportunities for RUA’s faculty body.

The programs will help cultivate and support Saudi talent across a wide range of musical disciplines, as well as provide students with a firm understanding of creative processes, research pathways and professional skills.

Founded in 1880, Guildhall School is a vibrant, international community of musicians, actors and production artists. Ranked as number one in Arts, Drama and Music by the Complete University Guide 2025, and in the top three in the world for Music by the QS World University Rankings 2025, Guildhall delivers world-class professional training in partnership with distinguished artists, companies and ensembles, SPA reported.

The partnership with Guildhall School sits within a series of partnerships for the Riyadh University of Arts and its colleges with leading international institutions to co-design academic programs, collaborate in research, and offer enriching programs in cultural education and development.

In December 2025, RUA announced partnerships between their College of Film and the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Cinematic Arts (SCA); between SOAS University of London and their College of Heritage and Civilization Studies; AMDA College of the Performing Art and RUA’s College of Theater and Performing Art; and between ESSEC Business School and RUA’s College of Cultural Management. A further agreement was signed with the Royal College of Art (RCA) and RUA’s College of Architecture and Design and College of Visual Arts and Photography in January 2026.

Riyadh University of Arts was established by royal decree and is headquartered in Riyadh. Its Board of Trustees is chaired by Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan. The university is dedicated to advancing education in the fields of culture and the arts, serving as a cornerstone for creative learning and cultural innovation. It aims to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and vision needed to shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.

The university will launch its programs in phases, gradually expanding to cover a wide range of fields and specialized disciplines. It will offer a comprehensive academic portfolio that supports continuous education across the arts and culture sectors, including short courses, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, higher diplomas, master’s degrees, and PhDs.

Culture

Czech ‘Arks’ Help Preserve Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage

A photo taken in Prague's National Museum shows a 3D scanner in the Archa III (Ark Project) truck on March 24, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (AFP)
A photo taken in Prague's National Museum shows a 3D scanner in the Archa III (Ark Project) truck on March 24, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (AFP)
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Czech ‘Arks’ Help Preserve Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage

A photo taken in Prague's National Museum shows a 3D scanner in the Archa III (Ark Project) truck on March 24, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (AFP)
A photo taken in Prague's National Museum shows a 3D scanner in the Archa III (Ark Project) truck on March 24, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (AFP)

The National Museum in Prague on Tuesday unveiled a van containing a 3D scanning device that will soon travel to war-ravaged Ukraine to help preserve its cultural artifacts.

The Archa (Ark) III is a Volkswagen van comprising a studio equipped with a robot and three cameras to create precise models of endangered historic items in Ukraine, which has been battling a full-scale Russian invasion since 2022.

"Archa III is a unique mobile digitization device enabling us to create high-quality 3D images of endangered artifacts and collection items out in the field," National Museum director Michal Lukes told reporters.

He added the scanners could handle both tiny objects and more sizeable items even inside museums.

"In this way, we can create precise digital copies of items that can then serve for documentation and research purposes, but also for restoration, potential reconstruction, or the production of copies," he added.

Museum staff will drive the van to Kyiv in early April and hand it over to Ukrainian partners under the project carried out in cooperation with the foundation of Czech billionaire Karel Komarek.

It follows an Archa I container equipped to conserve and restore books and an Archa II van digitizing two-dimensional items, which Prague sent to Ukraine earlier.

The foundation, which worked on the first two "Arks" with other institutions, said they have so far handled almost 40,000 pages of documents, such as historic newspapers retrieved from the Regional Scientific Library in Kherson.

"The van comprises an autonomous robotic system designed for photogrammetry and 3D output," said the museum's IT director Martin Soucek.

Speed is crucial, and the robot moving along three axes can generate thousands of high-quality photographs within minutes.

"It then uses the photographs to create a hyper-realistic model with high detail, a so-called digital twin," Soucek added.

The project also involves expert training and a website on which the scanned artifacts will be exhibited.

Vitalii Usatyi, the charge d'affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Prague, hailed the van for being able to work across Ukraine, "including regions exposed to risks related to the Russian aggression".

"This is crucial for preserving cultural heritage," he added.

A recent UNESCO report said that 523 cultural sites had been verified as damaged as of March 11, including 153 religious sites, 273 buildings of historical or artistic interest, 39 museums, 33 monuments, 20 libraries, four archaeological sites and one archive.