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Saudi Culture Minister: Attacks on Gaza Civilians, Facilities are ‘Unjustifiable’

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA
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Saudi Culture Minister: Attacks on Gaza Civilians, Facilities are ‘Unjustifiable’

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan voiced the Kingdom’s denouncement of the ongoing “unjustifiable” attacks on civilians in Gaza as he attended the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General Conference in Paris.

“We strongly condemn the continuous attacks on civilians and the destruction of schools, hospitals, and cultural properties in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories,” the minister said as he gave Saudi Arabia’s speech at the conference on Friday.

He described these actions as “unjustifiable violations that are contrary to international norms and laws.”

The minister said the Kingdom’s condemnation of these practices are “based on UNESCO’s founding charter, which promotes international understanding as a prerequisite for preventing the recurrence of crimes, genocides, racism, and wars.”

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls for intensified international efforts to protect the rights of civilians in a way that contributes to the achievement of global peace and stability," the minister said.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah, also Chairman of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, affirmed the Kingdom's pride in its achievements over the past two years in UNESCO.

Such achievements could be made thanks to the effective contribution of the organization and its member states in achieving international cooperation, the minister added.

He said that the sector of education, culture and science receives support and attention from the wise leadership as an essential component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This vision has backed noble international efforts to promote education, culture, and science, the minister said, adding that Saudi Arabia has utilized all its capabilities to achieve sustainable development goals.

The minister highlighted Saudi Arabia’s keenness to actively participate in the various executive councils of UNESCO’s programs.

He shed light on the fruitful partnership between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO and the launch of six pioneering projects through the Cultural Development Fund to positively impact cultural heritage around the world.

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Culture

New Tools Rescue Old Art at Madrid’s Prado Museum

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)
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)
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New Tools Rescue Old Art at Madrid’s Prado Museum

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)
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)

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 centuries-old European cultural treasures.

Creations by some of art's most illustrious names -- Goya, Velazquez, Rubens, Caravaggio, Bosch and El Greco -- are conserved in the vast, bright space at one of the world's most-visited museums.

The Prado has always put an emphasis on the conservation and restoration of art since it opened to the public in 1819.

Cutting-edge technology and modern tools to analyze and treat paintings and sculptures allow Almudena, Marta, Maria, Alvaro, Alicia, Elena, Sonia and Eva to maintain the tradition.

The team is capable of caring for the museum's most prized collections as well as works from other institutions.

In February, the Prado launched the restoration of "Pablo de Valladolid", an emblematic portrait that Spanish master Velazquez produced in the 17th century.

But the work will first undergo a deep technical analysis by new equipment, the museum said in a statement.

Scanning technology will allow the experts to identify and locate the materials used by the artist, while multispectral infrared reflectography will reveal details invisible to the naked eye.

Everything contributes to a deeper understanding of the artist's technique, the work's state of conservation and preparing its restoration.

Culture

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

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
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Saudi Culture Ministry Launches Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum with Wide Participation from Experts, Entities

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several 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 Ministry of Culture in Riyadh, kicked off on Wednesday, SPA reported.

The first day featured eight panel sessions with a group of local and international experts and specialists, discussing several strategic themes related to the nonprofit cultural sector.

 

The sessions addressed the sector’s role in shaping the future in light of modern trends, the importance of empowering nonprofit cultural organizations to build sustainable cultural and economic impact, and the role of social responsibility in developing the nonprofit sector.

The forum is also witnessing the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding, as part of enhancing partnerships and enabling nonprofit cultural organizations to expand their scope of work and achieve sustainable cultural and societal impact.

Culture

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

Maraya Hall reflects one aspect of the cultural transformation witnessed in AlUla - SPA
Maraya Hall reflects one aspect of the cultural transformation witnessed in AlUla - SPA
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AlUla’s Maraya Hall Highlights Creative Fusion of Art and Landscape

Maraya Hall reflects one aspect of the cultural transformation witnessed in AlUla - SPA
Maraya Hall reflects one aspect of the cultural transformation witnessed in AlUla - SPA

In AlUla Governorate, features of human creativity are manifested in their finest form, as Maraya Hall hosts an exceptional artistic and architectural experience that blends art and nature, in a scene that embodies the presence of arts as a universal language that transcends borders and cultures.

Maraya Hall is considered the largest mirrored building in the world by Guinness World Records, with its structure covered by around 9,740 reflective panels designed to mirror the beauty of the surrounding sandstone cliffs, giving visitors a unique visual experience that appears as a natural extension of the desert landscape, SPA reported.

The hall includes multiple spaces and halls equipped with the latest technologies, accommodating around 500 seats, making it an integrated platform for hosting concerts, artistic performances, conferences, and various cultural events.

Maraya Hall reflects one aspect of the cultural transformation witnessed in AlUla, within an integrated cultural and artistic ecosystem that enhances the governorate’s presence on the global arts map, coinciding with the celebration of World Art Day, which falls on April 15 each year, highlighting the importance of arts in building cultural bridges and promoting human dialogue.