Misk Art Institute to Launch Creative Forum 2026 in September

This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA
This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA
TT

Misk Art Institute to Launch Creative Forum 2026 in September

This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA
This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA

Misk Art Institute, a subsidiary of Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), announced the launch of the Creative Forum 2026, to be held on September 3 and 4 at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh.

Over two days, the forum will bring together more than 48 cultural experts, curators, academics, artists, and policymakers from around the world across 16 specialized panel discussions, eight artistic and cultural mentorship sessions covering various topics, and six sessions of the "Coffee with a Cultural Expert" program to examine the rapid transformations taking place in cultural practices amid technological developments, SPA reported.

This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change.

It will also examine aspects of storytelling and identity, creative collaboration networks, and the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on today's cultural landscape.

The forum reflects Misk Art Institute's commitment to fostering cultural dialogue at both the regional and international levels and creating spaces for discussion on issues shaping the future of the cultural sector.

It also underscores the importance of preserving the human dimension of creative practice and promoting the exchange of expertise and knowledge, contributing to a thriving creative ecosystem and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's position as a leading regional and international destination for cultural and artistic dialogue.

Since its launch in 2020, the Creative Forum has hosted more than 280 speakers from over 20 countries, attracted more than 14,000 participants, and generated more than three million digital impressions worldwide, reflecting its established position as one of the region's leading cultural events.



Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
TT

Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour, one of the most prominent names in Palestinian art, has died at the age of 79, his family announced.

Mansour, whose vivid artwork depicted both Palestinian traditions and his people's struggles under Israeli occupation, died on Monday at his home in east Jerusalem, his family said.

"The final chapter has been written. With hearts gripped by sorrow beyond description, we announce that our dear father has left this world," the family said in a statement.

"For the world, he leaves behind a life filled with beauty and memories, and a legacy that will continue through everyone whose lives he touched. As for us, we have lost a father who was the source of our love, our strength and our refuge."

Mansour was born in Birzeit, north of Ramallah, in 1947 and studied art and design in Jerusalem, graduating in 1970.

The Palestinian Culture Ministry mourned Mansour, calling him "one of the most important pillars of contemporary Palestinian visual art, whose career over decades formed part of the Palestinian visual and national memory".

The ministry hailed his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships", depicting an elderly Palestinian porter carrying the city of Jerusalem on his back, as "an artistic and national icon", adding that his work served "as witness to Palestinian history and guardian of identity".

Mansour was the recipient of numerous awards, among them the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in 2019.


Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris
TT

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

The Saudi Ministry of Culture announced on Monday the establishment of a Saudi cultural center in Paris on the sidelines of the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to France.

The center will serve as a platform for promoting Saudi culture and highlighting its historical depth and creative diversity through high-quality cultural programs and initiatives involving French practitioners, institutions and the public.

It will support the international presence of Saudi cultural practitioners, strengthen communication between intellectuals and creative professionals in the two countries, and build strategic partnerships between Saudi and French cultural institutions, facilitating the exchange of expertise and implementation of joint cultural initiatives.

The establishment of the center reflects the continued development of Saudi-French relations and underscores the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its international cultural presence and presenting an authentic cultural image that introduces the world to its rich heritage and contemporary creative output.


Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla Underlines Commitment to Deepen Partnership

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
TT

Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla Underlines Commitment to Deepen Partnership

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)

The joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla held a meeting in Paris on Monday, chaired by Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif, and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Commission for AlUla Abeer Al-Akel. Also present were French Minister of Culture Catherine Pegard, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Roland Lescure, and Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The officials welcomed the signing of an agreement to extend and amend the agreement concluded between the Saudi and French governments on the cultural, environmental, tourism, human, economic, and heritage development of AlUla Governorate.

They reviewed the partnership's achievements and discussed avenues for future cooperation, reflecting the strength of relations between the two countries and affirming AlUla's position as a meeting point of civilizations and a global destination for culture, creativity, and sustainable development.

They underlined their commitment to further deepening the partnership, which has become a global model for international cooperation based on the exchange of mutual benefits and knowledge, contributing to the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development goals.

The meeting reviewed the scale of joint investments and areas of ongoing cooperation in the sectors of archaeology, arts, culture, sports, hospitality, and human-capital development.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development through strategic projects, such as the AlUla Tram and the Sharaan Resort, designed by Jean Nouvel, as well as investments in renewable energy, water, and mobility, supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to attract one million visitors and global investments while preserving AlUla's cultural and natural heritage.