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Saudi Culture Ministry Announces 'A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World' Exhibition in Venice

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
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Saudi Culture Ministry Announces 'A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World' Exhibition in Venice

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities

The Ministry of Culture announced "A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World," a new exhibition at the Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice on view from May 6 to November 22, curated by an Arab and international team, SPA reported.

"A Necessary Fiction" is a journey through territories in constant flux, where historical maps—dating from the thirteenth century to the present—serve as a lens through which to examine the enduring need to create models of the world.

These models offer fantastic mythological visions and imaginative interpretations of scientific inquiry throughout the ages to the present day.

Early-modern maps, loaned from the collections of major global institutions, are placed in conversation with contemporary artworks. First-century CE historical artifacts such as incense burners and eighteenth-century decorative manuscripts from the Arabian Peninsula demonstrate the legacy of trade and multifaceted cultural interaction that has always shaped this region.

This exhibition is part of the cultural events organized by the Ministry of Culture in Venice, coinciding with the Kingdom’s participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, as part of its efforts to promote international cultural exchange as one of the goals of the National Culture Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.

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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.