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Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with the Royal College of Art for the Riyadh University of Arts

The partnership with RCA will be part of a series of partnerships and MOUs between RUA and its colleges and leading international institutions to co-design academic programs - SPA
The partnership with RCA will be part of a series of partnerships and MOUs between RUA and its colleges and leading international institutions to co-design academic programs - SPA
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Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with the Royal College of Art for the Riyadh University of Arts

The partnership with RCA will be part of a series of partnerships and MOUs between RUA and its colleges and leading international institutions to co-design academic programs - SPA
The partnership with RCA will be part of a series of partnerships and MOUs between RUA and its colleges and leading international institutions to co-design academic programs - SPA

The Ministry of Culture has signed today a partnership with the Royal College of Art (RCA) for Riyadh University of Arts (RUA) 's College of Architecture and Design and College of Visual Arts and Photography. The partnership aims to further develop cultural and artistic talent and to drive cultural exchange.

The signing ceremony took place at the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale on the opening day of its third edition, titled "In Interludes and Transitions", one of the Kingdom's most significant art and cultural events, held at JAX district. Deputy Minister of National Partnerships and Talent Development at the Ministry of Culture Noha Kattan signed for RUA on behalf of the ministry, while RCA was represented by President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Christoph Lindner, SPA reported.

Under the terms of the partnership, RCA will work with RUA to co-design and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as foundational programs covering architecture, urban design, and design.

The programs stand as a bridge between heritage and innovation, cultivating Saudi talent to shape the built environments and design, as well as train students across traditional and contemporary visual arts with creativity from a global perspective rooted in the Kingdom's unique cultural identity.

Founded in London in 1837, the Royal College of Art has been ranked the number one art and design university in the world for 11 consecutive years according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015-2025, and is one of the most research-intensive specialist art and design universities in the UK. It offers a wide array of visual arts, design, architecture, communication and humanities programs across its schools, focusing on developing professional competence and pushing the boundaries of practice through teaching, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The partnership with RCA will be part of a series of partnerships and MOUs between RUA and its colleges and leading international institutions to co-design academic programs, collaborate on research, and offer enriching cultural education and development programs.

In December 2025, RUA announced partnerships between RUA's College of Film and the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Cinematic Arts (SCA), between SOAS University of London and RUA's College of Heritage and Civilization Studies, AMDA College of the Performing Arts and RUA's College of Theater and Performing Arts, and between ESSEC Business School and RUA's College of Cultural Management.

Riyadh University of Arts was announced in September 2025 at the Cultural Investment Conference by Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan as a cornerstone of creative education and cultural innovation. The university aims to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and vision needed to shape the future of Saudi Arabia's creative economy.

Further details of RUA, its colleges, and partnerships will be announced on its official website when it launches in the first quarter of 2026.

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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)
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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.

Culture

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.

Culture

Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
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Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA

Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh visited the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair, held from February 6 to 16, where the Kingdom is serving as the Guest of Honor.

He commended the efforts of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission in showcasing the rich diversity of the Saudi cultural and literary scene. The pavilion features exhibitions of manuscripts, a Saudi fashion corner, and archaeological replicas, SPA reported.

The minister reviewed the commission's Tarjim translation initiative and Saudi literature comics.

This participation at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair showcases Saudi creativity and fosters cultural dialogue, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of knowledge exchange and cultural leadership.