Many Join Saudi Online Platform to Teach Arabic Calligraphy

The Ministry of Culture announced its launch of the first electronic platform to teach Arabic calligraphy and Islamic decoration, with support from the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, under the title “Alkhattat Platform” (Calligrapher Platform).

The electronic platform will be supervised by a group of professional calligraphers from the Kingdom and the Arab world. Through the platform, they will teach the basics of Arabic calligraphy, its arts, and methods via training courses, projects, and professional workshops.

Nasser Maymoun, a prominent Saudi calligrapher, praised the initiative put forth by the culture ministry especially after Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan having announced that 2020 would be designated as the “Year of Arabic Calligraphy.”

Maymoun said that it is a great start to presenting the work of Arabic calligraphers and it is part of promoting Islamic and Arabic heritage.

The platform offers various training courses, including professional courses in the types of Arabic calligraphy, explanation of the alphabets and how to combine them, writing the words and expressions, improving handwriting, training in making calligraphic paintings and artwork in Arabic calligraphy, letter formations, gilding, Islamic decoration, drawing and coloring, the art of paper marbling and Ebru (needle art).

The platform will also give the trainee the opportunity to develop Arabic computer fonts by learning designs and programming fonts.

Alkhattat Platform founder Mohammed Al-Sharqawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that it was important to keep up with technological advances.

Sharqawi revealed that, due to the coronavirus, the Year of Arabic Calligraphy was extended until 2021.

He added that the platform first launched in 2018 and has over 19,000 users from 30 different countries around the world. Top tier calligraphers have joined the platform and were selected to teach.