Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity

Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity
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Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity

Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity

Under the patronage of Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Minister of Culture, the Music Commission, with the participation of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission (TPAC), organized a musical evening entitled "Marvels of Saudi Music" at the National Auditorium in Mexico City.

The event was attended by Mexican Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, Saudi Ambassador to Mexico Haitham bin Hassan Al-Maliki, TPAC CEO Sultan Al-Bazai, Music Commission CEO Paul Pacifico, ambassadors of the GCC member states and other Arab countries accredited to Mexico, Mexican cultural figures, and music lovers.

On behalf of the Saudi Minister of Culture, the CEO of the Music Commission delivered a speech in which he said: “I am pleased to welcome you to the ‘Marvels of Saudi Music’ initiative, in a wonderful concert, in which the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, the Mexican Carlos Chavez Orchestra, and performing arts groups from the two countries participate”

“Saudi music has been painted since ancient times, an immortal painting, taking it past its initial starting point to the future in a journey of continuous and endless development. Its mainstay was the creative Saudi man, who lives today in a prosperous age under the Saudi Vision 2030, which considers supporting culture and empowering intellectuals an essential part of a development project that is the largest in the country’s history,” the CEO of the Music Commission added.

The concert included the participation of 33 musicians, 39 singers from the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, 40 performers from the Performing Arts Ensemble, in addition to 57 musicians from the Mexican Carlos Chavez Orchestra and the Mexican Folkloric Ballet of Fulcorette de Amelia Ensemble.

During the concert, the Saudi Ambassador Al-Maliki, and Theater and Performing Arts Commission CEO Sultan Al-Bazai presented an oud musical instrument as a souvenir gift to the Mexican Minister of Culture, in appreciation of the great hospitality and interest that the Saudi delegation participating in this ceremony received.

The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir are among the initiatives launched by the Music Commission to celebrate Saudi musical creativity, share it with the world, and promote international cultural exchange through music.

The Mexico concert comes as part of the global tours of the “Marvels of Saudi Music” initiative organized by the Music Commission and the TPAC out of their belief in the importance of music and performing arts and their role in enhancing communication between peoples.

It also comes with the aim of achieving the goal of international cultural exchange, which is one of the strategic goals of the Ministry of Culture, which seeks to realize them under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.



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

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
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Workshop Held to Develop Cultural Heritage Documentation, Digital Archiving Guide in Saudi Arabia

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

The Saudi Ministry of Culture organized a specialized workshop to review and develop the third edition of the Cultural Heritage Documentation and Digital Archiving Guide in the Kingdom.

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners, as part of the center’s efforts to standardize methodologies for documenting and archiving cultural heritage and to enhance institutional practices for managing national cultural memory.

The workshop forms part of the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing efforts to establish national standard frameworks for the management and digital documentation of cultural heritage, strengthen integration among entities, and equip practitioners with the necessary tools and methodologies.

These efforts reinforce the role of the Saudi cultural memory center in preserving the Kingdom’s cultural memory and support the objectives of the National Culture Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.


Makkah Quran Museum Displays Rare ‘Blue Quran’ Manuscript

The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)
The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)
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Makkah Quran Museum Displays Rare ‘Blue Quran’ Manuscript

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

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 from Surah Al-Baqarah, from the end of verse 37 to the beginning of verse 42, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The exhibit highlights the richness of Islamic Quranic heritage and its ancient artistic legacy.

The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. It was written in pure gold ink in early Kufic script on a deep blue background, reflecting a distinctive artistic style that underscores early Muslims’ reverence for the Quranic text and their dedication to the aesthetics of its calligraphy.

Dating back to the 9th century, the manuscript holds exceptional historical and scholarly value. It stands as a testament to the development of Arabic calligraphy and illumination during the early Islamic period.

Surviving pages of the Blue Quran are extremely rare and are now dispersed among a limited number of museums and private collections worldwide.

The display forms part of the museum’s efforts to introduce visitors to the history of the mushaf and the artistic stages of its transcription, offering access to extraordinary examples of Quranic manuscripts.

The initiative aims to deepen cultural awareness and enrich the experience of visitors to the Hira Cultural District from within the Kingdom and abroad.

The Holy Quran Museum serves as a cultural and educational landmark, highlighting the history of the Quran and its journey since the revelation. It houses rare manuscripts and historic copies of the Quran, alongside interactive exhibits and modern technologies that reflect Muslims’ enduring devotion to the Quran throughout the centuries, in a location closely associated with the dawn of the Islamic message.


Riyadh Art Unveils Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026

The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA
The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA
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Riyadh Art Unveils Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026

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

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

Open to the public from February 9 to 22, the exhibition showcases 25 new artworks themed "Traces of What Will Be," exploring transformation and urban renewal.

The sculptures were crafted during a live phase from January 10 to February 5, during which artists from 18 countries used local stone and recycled metals, allowing the public to witness the creative process firsthand.

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

Overseen by a panel of international experts, the exhibition serves as an interactive cultural platform featuring workshops and panel discussions to foster community engagement.

All 2026 pieces will join Riyadh Art's permanent collection, which has hosted over 170 artists since 2019 and already installed more than 60 sculptures across the city to integrate contemporary art into Riyadh's urban fabric.