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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

Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts Marks International Museum Day 2026

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
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Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts Marks International Museum Day 2026

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past.

The exhibition showcased aspects of traditional life and reflected the atmosphere of old homes through rare collectibles and personal items contributed by collectors and heritage enthusiasts from within the Kingdom and abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Through several interactive stations, the exhibition highlighted social life inside traditional homes, featuring settings inspired by majlis gatherings, evening social events, home interiors, and offices, alongside collectibles, furniture, and memorabilia associated with daily life and social traditions of the past.

The exhibition included collectibles representing diverse cultures and artistic styles, featuring rare Arab and European pieces, vintage devices, classic furniture, paintings, antiques, and personal household items displayed by their owners as reflections of the memories of people and places.

The exhibition is part of the events celebrating International Museum Day 2026, which aim to highlight the role of museums in preserving heritage and promoting cultural dialogue through interactive experiences that connect generations with their history and shared memory.

Culture

Private Museums in Jazan Offer a Window into the Region's Cultural Past

A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
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Private Museums in Jazan Offer a Window into the Region's Cultural Past

A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA

Private museums in Jazan Region are reintroducing local memory through a contemporary cultural vision by preserving collections and artifacts documenting features of old life and bringing details of the past closer to new generations while also enhancing tourist attraction and enriching visitors’ knowledge experience.

As the world celebrates International Museum Day, observed on May 18 each year, these museums emerge as cultural spaces combining documentation and exhibition, allowing visitors to move through different eras, from daily life tools that shaped the details of old homes to collections associated with agriculture, the sea, crafts, and travel, reaching heritage artifacts and coins that reveal the depth of the relationship between humans and their environment throughout the ages, SPA reported.

A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections, but also enhance awareness of local heritage and convey details of old life to new generations through methods that are closer and more interactive. They noted that the increasing presence of heritage enthusiasts and visitors has contributed to transforming the museum into a space for learning and discovering the history of the place through its authentic collections.

With growing national interest in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing the presence of licensed museums within the cultural landscape, these destinations have become part of the tourism and knowledge movement in Jazan Region, receiving history enthusiasts, researchers, students, and visitors as windows overlooking a history that is not read in books alone, but seen in objects and collections that remained witnesses to the life of humans and place.

Culture

Rare Inscribed Marble Column Chronicles Grand Mosque Minaret's Construction

This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture - SPA
This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture - SPA
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Rare Inscribed Marble Column Chronicles Grand Mosque Minaret's Construction

This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture - SPA
This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture - SPA

The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah showcases a rare marble column bearing an inscription documenting the construction of one of the Grand Mosque’s minarets in 1370 CE (772 AH).

The marble column is regarded as a historical, documentary artifact of significant value, bearing inscriptions that highlight an important phase in the construction and restoration of the Grand Mosque and revealing aspects of the evolution of its architectural elements, SPA reported.

The exhibition allows visitors to closely examine the column’s details, along with the Islamic decorations and inscriptions it features, reflecting the artistic style prevalent during that era. It also offers insight into the development of minaret architecture, which has historically been one of the most prominent features of the Grand Mosque.

This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture, which documents the historical stages of care for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque through a collection of rare pieces, models, photographs, and artifacts.