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…

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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…

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Culture Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport have announced the year 2029 as the official Saudi-UK Year of Culture,…

Culture The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)

Prince William Visits Historic, Natural Sites in AlUla Accompanied by Saudi Culture Minister

Britain’s Prince William visited a number of historic, natural, and cultural sites in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, accompanied by Saudi Minister of Culture and…

Culture The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA

Workshop Held to Develop Cultural Heritage Documentation, Digital Archiving Guide in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Culture organized a specialized workshop to review and develop the third edition of the Cultural Heritage Documentation and Digital…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)

Makkah Quran Museum Displays Rare ‘Blue Quran’ Manuscript

The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is displaying a rare folio from the famed “Al-Muṣḥaf Al-Azraq” (Blue Quran), featuring verses…

Culture The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA

Riyadh Art Unveils Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, via its Riyadh Art program, has launched the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 exhibition on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street …

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA

Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh visited the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair, held from February 6 to 16, where…

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Culture Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, Syria Underline Depth of their Cultural Ties

Saudi Arabia and Syria underlined the strength of their cultural relationship during high-level meetings held in Damascus on Thursday, on the sidelines of the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Damascus)
Culture Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA

UNESCO Honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as Thousands Flock to Al-Ahsa Festival

The third edition of Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival is drawing thousands of regional and international visitors to Ibrahim Palace in historic Al-Hofuf. …

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Culture The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA

Saudi, Syrian Culture Ministers Tour National Museum of Damascus

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his Syrian counterpart, Mohammed Yassin Saleh, have toured the National Museum of Damascus…

Asharq Al Awsat (Damascus)
Culture Saudi Culture Minister Inaugurates Kingdom's Pavilion as Guest of Honor at Damascus Book Fair

Saudi Culture Minister Inaugurates Kingdom's Pavilion as Guest of Honor at Damascus Book Fair

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who is the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Board Chairman, has inaugurated the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Damascus)
Culture AlUla boasts a rich, diverse cultural and artistic landscape - SPA

AlUla Consolidates Its Position as a Premier Global Cultural and Arts Destination

AlUla Governorate continues to strengthen its standing as one of the world’s prominent cultural and arts destinations, drawing on a deep-rooted civilizational…

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Culture This picture taken on January 8, 2026 shows miniature art carved on the wall of Jami Masjid, also known as the Great Mosque of Herat in Herat. (AFP)

UNESCO Recognition Inspires Hope in Afghan Artist’s City

Hundreds of years after the celebrated painter Kamal ud-Din Behzad roamed the streets of Herat, artists in the Afghan city are finding joy and hope in his…

Culture The manuscript measures 312 by 220 centimeters and comprises 700 pages. SPA

Saudi Arabia: Hira Cultural District's Museum Displays World's Largest Quran Copy

The Holy Quran Museum at the Hira Cultural District is showcasing a monumental handwritten copy of the Holy Quran, recognized as the largest Quran of its kind…

Asharq Al Awsat (Makkah)
Culture The fifth annual iRead Marathon is taking place from February 5 to 7. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's Ithra Launches iRead Marathon with Participation from 13 Arab Countries

Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) announced the launch of the fifth annual iRead Marathon, in collaboration with the Arab…

Culture 02 February 2026, Italy, Rome: First day of paid admission to the Trevi Fountain basin for tourists and non-residents of Rome. (dpa)

Trevi Fountain Fee Takes Effect as Rome Seeks to Manage Tourist Crowds

Tourists hoping to get close to the Trevi Fountain had to pay 2 euros ($2.35) starting Monday as the city of Rome inaugurated a new fee structure to help raise…

Culture The program featured interactive workshops for children - SPA

Red Sea Museum Strengthens Community Connection to Cultural Heritage through Enriching Knowledge Experiences

As part of its cultural program, the Red Sea Museum presented a series of high-quality activities. These included art workshops, cultural dialogues,…

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Culture The exhibition serves as a cultural window into the unique character of the Farasan Islands - SPA

Farasan Islands Showcase Cultural Heritage at Jazan Festival

The Farasan Islands, renowned for their rich cultural and human heritage, are prominently featured in a dedicated section at the Cultural Street during Jazan…

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Culture Culture Ministry, ALIPH Foundation Partner on Regional Headquarters in Riyadh

Culture Ministry, ALIPH Foundation Partner on Regional Headquarters in Riyadh

The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage (ALIPH) have signed an agreement establishing ALIPH’s first…

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Culture The Arduna exhibition features over 80 artworks from Saudi, regional, and international artists. (SPA)

Arts AlUla Unveils Vision for Contemporary Art Museum with 'Arduna' Exhibition Launch

Arts AlUla has inaugurated the Arduna (Our Land) exhibition as part of the fifth AlUla Arts Festival 2026. The initiative marks a new chapter in AlUla’s…

Culture Jeddah to Host Eighth International Conference on Arabic and Literature

Jeddah to Host Eighth International Conference on Arabic and Literature

Jeddah will host the eighth International Conference on Arabic and Literature: Language from Communication to Knowledge Innovation and Literary Creativity from…

Culture A toddler held by a woman looks at the prosperity decorations at a booth for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, at a New Year Bazaar, in Beijing, China, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP)

China’s Lunar New Year Travel Rush Kicks off Ahead of an Extra-Long Holiday

China's annual Spring Festival travel rush, a 40-day period commonly referred to as the world's largest annual human migration, kicked off on Monday ahead of …

Culture Officials are seen at the signing ceremony at Diriyah Art Futures. (SPA)

Saudi Museums Commission Signs Executive Program to Strengthen Cultural Cooperation

The Saudi Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, signed an executive program with the Centre national…

Culture The installation features sand benches that mimic AlUla's geological layers - SPA

Saudi Artist Reimagines AlUla’s Geology at Arts Festival

Saudi artist Aseel Alamoudi is presenting her interactive installation “Playformation: The Curve & The Dot” at AlUla Arts Festival 2026 in the Design Space…

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Culture The agreement provides technical assistance and institutional capacity-building across heritage, science, and culture. SPA

SDRPY, UNESCO Sign MoU to Safeguard Yemen’s Cultural Heritage

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and UNESCO have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the preservation of…

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