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Fourth Edition of Noor Riyadh to Start on November 28

Fourth Edition of Noor Riyadh to Start on November 28
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Fourth Edition of Noor Riyadh to Start on November 28

Fourth Edition of Noor Riyadh to Start on November 28

The fourth edition of Noor Riyadh, the annual citywide festival celebrating light and art, will take place from November 28 to December 14, 2024, and will transform Riyadh into a luminous gallery with over 60 light-based artworks by leading Saudi and international artists, SPA reported.
Under the theme "Light Years Apart", this 17-day festival will illuminate key locations across the city, showcasing public art displays alongside workshops, seminars and community-driven events.
Noor Riyadh is part of the Riyadh Art Program, one of the four Grand Projects launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The program, managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, aims to establish the Saudi capital as a gallery without walls, blending tradition with modernity, and improving the quality of life of its residents and visitors.
Minister of Culture, member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and Chairman of the Riyadh Art Program’s Steering Committee Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud said: "Noor Riyadh is an annual creative platform that showcases inspiring light artworks by leading artists from around the world. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, this festival enhances Riyadh’s cultural landscape and continues to build the city’s reputation as a global hub for creativity and the arts."
Prince Badr also highlighted the support and patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, which continue to drive the success of Noor Riyadh, and are part of a broader commitment to cultural and artistic programs across the Kingdom, to position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the global art scene.
Noor Riyadh will be directed by a reputable team of local and international art curators experienced in some of the world’s most prestigious art festivals and exhibitions.
Leading this year's curatorial efforts are renowned international curator Dr. Alfredo Cramerotti, and prominent Saudi curator Dr. Effat Abdullah Faddag.
This year's edition will once again illuminate Riyadh’s skyline with a broad range of artistic light displays, creating an inspiring atmosphere for art and culture enthusiasts from all segments of society.

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US Bans Red Food Dye over Possible Cancer Risk

Fruit by the Foot, a product that uses Red Dye No 3, can be seen on a shelf at a supermarket in this illustration photograph on December 27, 2024 - AFP
Fruit by the Foot, a product that uses Red Dye No 3, can be seen on a shelf at a supermarket in this illustration photograph on December 27, 2024 - AFP
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US Bans Red Food Dye over Possible Cancer Risk

Fruit by the Foot, a product that uses Red Dye No 3, can be seen on a shelf at a supermarket in this illustration photograph on December 27, 2024 - AFP
Fruit by the Foot, a product that uses Red Dye No 3, can be seen on a shelf at a supermarket in this illustration photograph on December 27, 2024 - AFP

Outgoing US President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday announced a ban on Red Dye No 3, a controversial food and drug coloring long known to cause cancer in animals.

Decades after scientific evidence first raised alarm, Red 3, as it is also called, is currently used in nearly 3,000 food products in the United States, according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

"FDA is revoking the authorized uses in food and ingested drugs of FD&C Red No 3 in the color additive regulations," said a document from the Department of Health and Human Services, published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, AFP reported.

The decision follows a petition filed in November 2022 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and other advocacy groups, which cited the "Delaney Clause" -- a provision mandating the prohibition of any color additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals.

Notably, the FDA determined as early as 1990 that Red 3 should be banned in cosmetics because of its link to thyroid cancer in lab rats.

However, the additive continued to be used in foods, largely due to resistance from the food industry. Manufacturers of maraschino cherries, for example, relied on Red 3 to maintain the iconic red hue of their products.

It's also present in thousands of candies, snacks and fruit products.

The United States is one of the last major economies to take action on the dye. The European Union prohibited its use in 1994, with similar bans implemented in Japan, China, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

CSPI hailed the decision as overdue and expressed hope it would lead to further action against other potentially harmful chemicals in food.

"They don't add any nutritional value, they don't preserve the food -- they're just there to make food look pretty," Thomas Galligan, a scientist with CSPI, told AFP.

"There's growing discussion across the political spectrum about food additives and chemicals, which reflects ongoing failures by the FDA."