Jeddah’s Red Sea Museum Announces January Cultural Program

The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)
The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)
TT

Jeddah’s Red Sea Museum Announces January Cultural Program

The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)
The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum announced the launch of its public program for January 2026, featuring a series of artistic workshops, cultural talks, live performances, and family activities. The program aims to connect the Red Sea's cultural heritage with contemporary creative practices, catering to various segments of society.

The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. These activities are presented through a cultural and educational agenda held across the museum's facilities and venues in Historic Jeddah.

The program begins on Tuesday, with a workshop titled "Junior Cartographers" in the Discovery Room, where children aged 6 to 12 will explore the art of mapmaking and the fundamentals of navigation through an engaging, interactive approach. On January 15, the "Alchemy of Light: Albumen Prints" workshop will be held at the auditorium, highlighting the historical albumen printing technique using egg whites and silver salts, and exploring 19th-century photography aesthetics through a contemporary perspective.

On January 17, a talk about Historic Jeddah will discuss traditional architecture and its relationship to heritage and modernity. This will be followed on January 18, by the "Navigation from Past to Present" workshop at the auditorium, offering an interactive experience that explores the evolution of navigation methods through hands-on artistic and practical activities.

On January 22, the program includes the screening of the animated film "The Menace from Above" at the auditorium. Later that evening, Bab Al-Bunt Courtyard will host the Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra, the world's only musical ensemble composed entirely of blind female musicians who perform using Braille musical notation, in a performance celebrating art, resilience, and diversity.

On January 23, an artist talk titled "The Gate of Gates" will be held in Historic Jeddah, documenting the transformations of the Bab Al-Bunt building and the human stories connected to this historic space. On January 28, the auditorium will host a talk titled "Encounters: Travel Literature," exploring journeys to Andalusia and Sicily and how Islamic heritage continues to live on through people and places.

The program concludes on January 31, with a lecture examining the development of quarantine systems and public health monitoring in the Red Sea, highlighting the historical role of Bab Al-Bunt as a quarantine center for pilgrims.

The Red Sea Museum's activities serve as a cultural and knowledge platform dedicated to documenting the Red Sea's tangible, intangible, and natural heritage, and presenting it through educational and interactive programs that foster dialogue between the past and the present, linking heritage with contemporary creative contexts from its headquarters in Historic Jeddah.



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

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

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, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday. The announcement follows an official visit by Britain’s Prince William to Saudi Arabia this week.

For nearly a century, formal relations between Saudi Arabia and the UK and Northern Ireland have evolved into a multifaceted international relationship that has expanded across culture, education, and innovation, reflecting shared values and a mutual commitment to long-term cooperation.

In recent years, cultural exchange has emerged as a cornerstone of Saudi-British relations, driven by joint initiatives in heritage conservation, visual and culinary arts, architecture, and higher education.

This ongoing expansion of cultural exchange lays the foundation for the Saudi-UK Year of Culture 2029, a year-long program celebrating creative dialogue and the shared heritage of Saudi Arabia and the UK, while deepening cultural ties for generations to come. It will also be a great opportunity for young people in both countries to connect in new ways.

Supported by Saudi Vision 2030 and the United Kingdom’s continued promotion of cultural innovation and creativity, the Saudi-UK Year of Culture 2029 will be an important milestone for both countries.


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

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

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

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

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 Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

During his tour, Prince William reviewed a number of environmental initiatives at Sharaan Nature Reserve, including ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation efforts. He was briefed on programs to rehabilitate natural habitats, restore ecological balance, and reintroduce species such as the Arabian oryx and mountain ibex, contributing to long-term goals for the recovery of the Arabian leopard in its natural environment.

He received an overview of the history of AlUla Old Town and the Incense Road, and the role of culture and arts as a bridge for cultural exchange between the two countries. The visit included viewing artworks at AlUla Arts Festival 2026.

Prince William met with Saudi youths participating in joint cultural programs and initiatives between the two countries. The visit also featured a tour of AlUla Oasis Cultural District.

The visit highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla and British cultural institutions within an organized framework of cooperation encompassing cultural, educational, and environmental entities, supporting balanced and sustainable development in AlUla and reinforcing its status as a global destination for heritage, culture, and nature.


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
TT

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.