Culture

UK Proposal to Charge Tourists to Visit Museums Sparks Backlash

Culture FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo

UK Proposal to Charge Tourists to Visit Museums Sparks Backlash

Britain is considering introducing entry fees for tourists visiting some of England's most renowned museums, a proposal that has drawn criticism from…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Culture The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA

Riyadh Art Unveils 75 Works in Expanding Public Art Collection Across Capital

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, through its “Riyadh Art” program, has unveiled 75 new artworks as part of a growing permanent collection installed across…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture A conservator works on the restoration of gilded moldings at the Prado museum's sculpture restoration department in Madrid on October 23, 2025. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/ AFP)

New Tools Rescue Old Art at Madrid’s Prado Museum

In a quiet space secluded from the throngs of daily visitors to Madrid's Prado art museum, a team of experts perpetuate an ancient tradition of restoring…

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

Saudi Culture Ministry Launches Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum with Wide Participation from Experts, Entities

Under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the sessions of the Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum, organized by the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Maraya Hall reflects one aspect of the cultural transformation witnessed in AlUla - SPA

AlUla’s Maraya Hall Highlights Creative Fusion of Art and Landscape

In AlUla Governorate, features of human creativity are manifested in their finest form, as Maraya Hall hosts an exceptional artistic and architectural…

Asharq Al Awsat

Culture The celebration underscored the role of cultural houses in strengthening national identity - SPA

Riyadh Cultural House Marks Founding Day with Creative Heritage Programs

The Riyadh Cultural House celebrated the Kingdom’s Founding Day with a range of cultural programs that highlighted national values and showcased the nation’s…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. SPA

Riyadh Cultural House Marks Founding Day with Creative Heritage Programs

The Riyadh Cultural House celebrated the Kingdom’s Founding Day with a range of cultural programs that highlighted national values and showcased the nation’s…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Renovates Historic Al-Qibli Mosque in Riyadh

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques continues efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s authentic architectural identity. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Qassim Region Principality illuminated in green marking Founding Day - SPA

Qassim Region Principality Illuminated in Green in Celebration of Founding Day

The Qassim Region Principality building was illuminated in green in celebration of Founding Day. The scene reflected pride in the historical roots of the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The renovation utilized traditional mud, stone, and wood to preserve the mosque's authentic Najdi architectural style. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Restores Century-Old Uqlat Al-Suqur Mosque in Qassim

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques has completed the restoration of the Uqlat Al-Suqur Mosque in Qassim Region,…

Culture This handout picture released by Panama’s Ministry of Culture shows an archaeologist working inside a pre-Hispanic tomb approximately 1,200 years old, discovered at the El Cano Archaeological Park in Cocle, Panama, on February 20, 2026. (Handout / Panama’s Ministry of Culture / AFP)

Tomb More Than 1,000 Years Old Found in Panama

Archaeologists have discovered a tomb more than a thousand years old in Panama containing human remains alongside gold and ceramic artifacts, the lead…

Culture László Bárdossy, head chef of the Neverland Pizzeria adds topping on the restaurant's Roman-era pizza in Budapest, Hungary, on Feb. 11, 2026. (AP)

When in Rome: Budapest Pizzeria Offers Time-Travel Twist with Ancient Rome-Inspired Pie

In Hungary’s capital, a city best known for its goulash, a pizzeria is inviting diners to travel back two millennia to a time before tomatoes, mozzarella or…

Culture The Red Sea Museum. (Red Sea Museum)

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum Announces Ramadan Program 

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum announced on Thursday a curated program of creative and cultural activities for the holy month of Ramadan, running from February 22 to…

Culture The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan. SPA

Saudi Arabia: Ship of Tolerance Initiative Promotes Cultural Dialogue in Jeddah

The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the "Lenobadir" volunteer and community partnership program and the Athr Foundation, has launched the Ship…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture A view of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, William Shakespeare's childhood home, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Britain, February 9, 2026. (Reuters)

Oscar Contender ‘Hamnet’ Boosts Tourism at Shakespeare Heritage Sites 

On a cloudy winter's day, visitors stream into what was once William Shakespeare's childhood home in Stratford-upon-Avon and the nearby Anne Hathaway's cottage…

Culture Historic Jeddah has emerged as a leading cultural tourism destination during Ramadan. (SPA)

Culture Ministry Continues Preparations in Historic Jeddah to Welcome Visitors during Ramadan 

The Saudi Ministry of Culture is continuing its efforts to revitalize Historic Jeddah in preparation for welcoming visitors during the holy month of Ramadan,…

Culture Skulls of several mammals before the destruction (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Thousands of Animals, Rare Specimens Stolen from Sudan Museum

“Everything is over.” With that short and painful phrase, a Sudanese government official summed up the loss of nearly a century and a half of history after war…

Asharq Al Awsat (Khartoum)
Culture An elderly spectator watches a ssireum match during a Lunar New Year Ssireum championship at the Taean Complex Indoor Gymnasium in Taean, South Korea, February 14, 2026. (Reuters)

Once a National Obsession, Traditional Korean Wrestling Fights for Survival 

As South Korea's global cultural influence expands in areas such as music, film and television, one form of entertainment struggling to attract attention even…

Culture The Kingdom’s pavilion, led by the commission, attracted strong attendance and active engagement through its cultural activities - SPA

Saudi Arabia Concludes Guest of Honor Role at Damascus International Book Fair 2026

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission concluded the Kingdom’s Guest of Honor participation at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026, held…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Qiddiya Performing Arts Center supports the city’s positioning as a destination for creativity and cultural expression - SPA

Qiddiya City Begins Construction of Landmark Performing Arts Center

Qiddiya Investment Company has announced the commencement of construction works for the Performing Arts Center in Qiddiya City, marking an important milestone…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture This seminar is part of the commission's efforts to promote Saudi culture in regional and international forums. SPA

Saudi Arts Commission Engages in Cultural Dialogue at Damascus Book Fair

The Theater and Performing Arts Commission hosted a panel discussion on symbolism and heritage in traditional Saudi performing arts at the Kingdom's pavilion…

Asharq Al Awsat (Damascus)
Culture Kim Morgan and Guillermo del Toro attend a premiere for the film "Frankenstein", at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, US, October 6, 2025. (Reuters)

English Museum Shines Light on Mary Shelley and Her Gothic Classic ‘Frankenstein’ 

On a window of a Bath townhouse, one of the southwestern English city’s most famous residents looks out at passersby. Inside is Mary Shelley’s House of…

Culture "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" runs from February 25 to May 29. (SPA file photo)

'Sunken Treasures' Exhibition on Exploring Maritime Heritage to Be Held at Red Sea Museum

The Red Sea Museum, under the Museums Commission, announced the opening of "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea", running from February 25…

Culture A view shows the Porte des Lions, the new public entrance to the renovated Denon wing (Aile Denon) at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, December 2, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Louvre Museum's Denon Gallery Damaged by Water Leak, Mona Lisa Unaffected

The Louvre museum's Denon gallery, where its most valuable paintings are displayed, was hit by a water leak on Thursday evening, although the area which houses…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Comparative analysis and organic sampling indicate the site’s timeline spans from the pre-Islamic era - SPA

Saudi Heritage Commission Uncovers 147 Architectural Units at Ra’s Qurayyah Port

The Saudi Heritage Commission has concluded its second archaeological season at the Ra’s Qurayyah Port in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Eastern Region, uncovering 147…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Pamuk brought his bestselling novel to life in a red-painted house in Istanbul. Yasin AKGUL / AFP

Crowds Flock to Istanbul's Museum of Innocence before TV Adaptation

On a cobbled street in Cukurcuma, a district on Istanbul's European side known for its antiques shops, the story penned by Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk in his…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The prince met with a group of talented young men and women from AlUla active in various artistic and cultural fields - SPA

Prince of Wales Explores AlUla Arts Festival, Engages with Local Artists

AlUla Arts Festival captured the interest of the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Saudi Cinema Expands International Footprint at Berlin Festival

Saudi Cinema Expands International Footprint at Berlin Festival

The Film Commission took part in the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, held from February 12 to 22, to showcase its key achievements in advancing the…

Asharq Al Awsat