As Saudi Arabia’s cultural movement continues to evolve and blossom at breakneck speed, cafes have begun to host intellectual and literary events regularly, transforming into spaces where cultural works are presented and discussions are held.
After having flourished in the sixties and seventies, when cultural cafes in the Arab world had been the beating heart of cultural and intellectual life, they are now redefining their place in the public sphere and becoming sanctuaries for writers, musicians, and artists once again.
These are not drab, badly maintained relics with neglected bookshelves in the corner attended by old men reminiscing about past glories, but lively cultural centers where ideas are shared and crystalized, talent is nurtured, and the leading cultural and artistic figures of tomorrow can grow and learn.
For its part, the Ministry of Culture is playing its role in this regard, launching an array of initiatives and programs framework of its multifaceted, holistic approach to invigorate the cultural scene in the Kingdom. The Literary Partner Program, the most recent of these initiatives, ended last month.
Othman Al Shaqafi, who organized such events in coffee shops across his city in the past, calling them Evenings of the Successful, had been fruitful for a period, as droves of ambitious youths attended regularly. However, he stopped after the initial enthusiasm had subsided and he had failed to find funding.
He tells us that coffee shops are great for hosting these events, as they combine sustainability and culture, the shop receives new customers, and cultural activities receive support and access to an audience at lower costs. From these promising spaces, a sustainable mass cultural movement can grow, as these activities require lively debates, the exchange of ideas, and sharpening them through discovery, dialogue and experience.
For its part, the Literary Partner Program, which was launched by the Ministry of Culture’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, seeks to develop literary partnerships with establishments involved in the creative promotion of literary works so that they might be more accessible to society. To this end of raising cultural awareness, the program offers up to one million riyals in incentives.
In its inaugural year, the Literary Partner Program sought to collaborate on over 500 literary and cultural activities and contributions, enriching clients’ visits to their coffee shop, turning their evening cup of tea or coffee into a cultural experience, and facilitating access to culture.
