Culture

Venice Carnival Opens with Biodegradable Streamers and Ode to Casanova

Culture  Revelers participate in the celebrations of the historic Venetian Carnival in front of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP)

Venice Carnival Opens with Biodegradable Streamers and Ode to Casanova

The opening weekend of Carnival in Venice culminated with a water procession along the Grand Canal that finished in front of the Rialto Bridge with a flourish…

Culture The museum, set to open in the coming years in the heart of historical Diriyah aims to become a global cultural hub celebrating both tangible and intangible Saudi heritage. (SPA)

Spouse of Saudi Crown Prince Announces Launch of Misk Heritage Museum 'Asaan' in Diriyah 

Princess Sara bint Mashhour bin Abdulaziz, spouse of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, announced the launch of the programming for the Misk…

Culture Children play, with one raising the V sign, at the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Experts Push to Restore Syria’s War-torn Heritage Sites

Experts are returning to Syria’s war-ravaged heritage sites, hoping to lay the groundwork for restoring them and reviving tourism, which they say could provide…

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Culture  In this undated photo provided by Emma Paolin, a view of a selection of the mummified bodies in the exhibition area of the Egyptian museum in Cairo. (Emma Paolin via AP)

Research Discovers Ancient Egyptian Remains Smell Nice

At first whiff, it sounds repulsive: sniff the essence of an ancient corpse. But researchers who indulged their curiosity in the name of science found that…

Culture The program is part of the commission's strategy to boost the regional and international presence of Saudi cultural heritage. SPA

Saudi Heritage Commission, ICESCO Partner on Heritage Site Registration

The Saudi Heritage Commission has signed a specialized executive program with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)

Culture The program offers six to eight grants each year with a total value of up to AED600,000

Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches 5th Edition of Research Grants Program

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the launch of the fifth edition of its Research Grants Program 2025, Emirates News Agency (WAM)…

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dhabi)
Culture Morrison visited AlUla Old Town, toured its historical alleys - SPA

British Explorer Alice Morrison Arrives in AlUla

British explorer and television presenter Alice Morrison, who is embarking on a historic adventure to cross the Kingdom on foot from the far north to the far…

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Culture Amerigo Vespucci brings Italy's rich maritime culture to Jeddah's shores. (SPA)

Amerigo Vespucci Brings Italy's Rich Maritime Culture to Jeddah's Shores

The historic Italian ship Amerigo Vespucci has drawn thousands of visitors of all ages and nationalities during its stop at the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina,…

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Culture  French chef Paul Marcon prepares dishes as he competes in the 2025 Bocuse d'Or cooking competition in Chassieu, near Lyon, central-eastern France, on January 27, 2025. (AFP)

France Savors Competitive Cooking Win as Restoring Lost Prestige

After major investments in a bid to restore its lost national culinary prestige, France savored victory Tuesday at the world's most prestigious international…

Culture The courtyard of the Louvre museum is pictured Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Paris. (AP)

Macron Announces Major Overhaul to Modernize Louvre and Dedicated Room for Mona Lisa

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that the Mona Lisa will get its own dedicated room inside the Louvre museum, which he said will be renovated…

Culture Designed as a moving five-star destination, the train combines world-class hospitality with exquisite design, setting a new benchmark for premium rail travel. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Railways, Arsenale Unveil the Final Designs of 'Dream of the Desert' Luxury Train 

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Italian hospitality company Arsenale officially unveiled the final designs of the Dream of the Desert train, the first five…

Culture This photo provided by the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP) shows the roof and the spire of the Paris 12th district town hall burning early Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Paris. (P Millet/BSPP via AP)

Fire Damages a 19th Century District Town Hall in Paris, Leaving the Bell Tower at Risk of Collapse

Fire engulfed the town hall of Paris’ 12th district early Monday, causing no casualties but severely damaging the bell tower of the 19th century building. …

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Culture  The second phase builds upon a series of national initiatives dedicated to preserving the Kingdom's diverse cultural heritage. Photo via SPA

Heritage Commission Launches 2nd Phase of Red Sea Underwater Heritage Survey

The Heritage Commission has announced the launch of the project's second phase, which is focused on studying underwater cultural heritage sites along the Red…

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Culture This photo taken on January 22, 2025 shows members of a lion dance troupe playing drums and percussions during a lion dance practice session in Shantou, in southern China's Guangdong province. (AFP)

Chinese Lion Dance Troupe Shrugs off Patriarchal Past 

Flinging her male teammate into the air, performer Lin Xinmeng practices China's world-famous lion dance with a troupe that is shrugging off centuries of…

Culture This initiative aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of both nations while fostering innovative cultural exchanges

Saudi Museums Commission, Triennale Milano Foundation Forge Partnership to Advance Cultural Collaboration

The Saudi Museums Commission and the Triennale Milano Foundation in Italy have signed an executive program to strengthen cultural relations and collaborate on…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Saudi Film Commission Joins Asian Film Commissions Network

Saudi Film Commission Joins Asian Film Commissions Network

The Saudi Film Commission has joined the Asian Film Commissions Network (AFCNet), a non-profit organization established in 2004. The network represents over 50…

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Culture The Islamic Arts Biennale takes place in Jeddah, a city that has been a cultural crossroads for centuries. SPA

2025 Islamic Arts Biennale Opens in Jeddah

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation inaugurated on Saturday the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, titled And All That is in Between, which will run…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture This photograph shows a dress created by John Galliano for Christian Dior fashion house from the Haute Couture 2005 collection displayed at the exhibition "Louvre Couture, Art and fashion: statement pieces" at the Louvre Museum in Paris on January 23, 2025. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Louvre Museum Adds Haute Couture to High Antiquity

The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, is for first time displaying haute couture gowns and accessories from fashion houses, including Chanel, Saint…

Asharq Al Awsat (Paris)
Culture The pavilion featured studies and publications focused on literature, translations, and the Arabic language. SPA

Saudi Pavilion Draws Large Crowd at Cairo International Book Fair

The pavilion of the Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair drew a large and diverse crowd on its…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Culture This handout photograph released by Buckingham Palace on January 25, 2025, shows Britain's King Charles III, posing for a photograph in the library at Balmoral, Scotland in Autumn 2024. (Photo by Millie Pilkington / Buckingham Palace / AFP)

King Charles Wears Kilt in Tartan Named after Him in New Photo

Buckingham Palace published a new photograph of King Charles wearing a kilt made of a tartan named in his honor to mark the birthday of Scotland’s national…

Culture Indonesia Showcases Returned Artifacts it Had Sought for Decades from the Netherlands

Indonesia Showcases Returned Artifacts it Had Sought for Decades from the Netherlands

Centuries-old stone Buddha statues and precious jewelries repatriated by the Dutch government to its former colony are on display at Indonesia's National…

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Culture An aerial view of the fire damage caused by the Palisades Fire is shown in the Pacific Palisades, California, US January 22, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Los Angeles Artists, Collectors Reel from Wildfires

As the Los Angeles area begins the formidable task of rebuilding after the most destructive wildfires in its history, the city's artists and art collectors are…

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Culture The Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill as smoke from a wildfire is seen in the village of Varnava blankets Athens, Greece, August 11, 2024. REUTERS/Elias Marcou

2,000-year-old Statue is Found Abandoned in Garbage Bag in Greece

A marble statue of a woman believed to be more than 2,000 years old was found abandoned in a garbage bag near the Greek city of Thessaloniki, police said…

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Culture People walk past a light installation ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Snake, at a new year lantern fair in Fuzhou, in eastern China's Fujian province on January 21, 2025. (AFP)

Lanterns Light up Southern Chinese City Ahead of Lunar New Year 

Dozens of giant lanterns in the shape of mythical creatures, flowers and legendary characters light up the night sky in southern China -- a dreamlike spectacle…

Culture The initiative also aims to raise awareness of Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage

Saudi Arabia Prepares to Participate in Cairo International Book Fair 2025

The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission is set to lead Saudi Arabia's participation in the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, organized by the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Indian Cinemas to Spotlight Saudi Films in Landmark Event

Indian Cinemas to Spotlight Saudi Films in Landmark Event

The Saudi Film Commission has announced the upcoming launch of the "Saudi Film Nights" in India from January 31 to February 5, building on the success of…

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Culture The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo

Saudi Ambassador Announces Launch of ‘Saudi Tours in Japan’

The Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Kingdom's Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, participated in the final International…

Asharq Al Awsat (Osaka)
Culture People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)

Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

Sumo will stage a tournament in Paris for the first time in over three decades next year in a push to expand the ancient sport beyond Japan, organizers said…

Culture Emerging from the blue waters of the Red Sea stands Jabal Sirin, a mountain rising approximately 500 meters above sea level. (SPA)

Jabal Sirin: A Meeting Point of Coral Reefs and Turquoise Waters Along the Coasts of Makkah

Emerging from the blue waters of the Red Sea, west of Al-Lith Governorate, stands Jabal Sirin, a mountain rising approximately 500 meters above sea level. Its…

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