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Saudi Ministry Launches ‘Cultural Experiences’ Program to Promote Local Arts and Heritage

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Reuters)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Reuters)
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Saudi Ministry Launches ‘Cultural Experiences’ Program to Promote Local Arts and Heritage

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Reuters)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Culture unveiled the “Cultural Experiences” program to raise awareness of local culture and arts through interactive public experiences.

The initiative targets all segments of society and offers activities that enable participants to explore Saudi heritage and traditional arts in engaging ways, the Saudi Press Agency said on Thursday.

In its first phase, the program will feature two main trails.

The first, “Cooking Experiences,” will be held in April at the Hotel and Tourism Management Institute (HTMi Saudi Arabia) in Riyadh, Al-Baha, and Jazan.

It showcases Saudi cuisine through hands-on sessions where participants learn to prepare traditional dishes under the guidance of professional chefs.

Participants will explore the stories, ingredients, and cultural significance of these dishes, strengthening their connection to local culinary heritage.

The second trail focuses on handicraft experiences. It highlights traditional crafts through interactive workshops led by skilled artisans.

Participants will learn various handicraft techniques and create artistic pieces, promoting appreciation of crafts, and their role in preserving cultural identity.

The program will be rolled out in multiple phases. Experiences will be announced through the ministry’s official platforms and the hosting platform “Webook,” where participants can view schedules and register.

Registered participants will receive confirmation messages with details of the experience, including location, timing, and attendance requirements.

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Culture

Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ at Heart of Battle in Spain Over Location

A visitor looks at Spanish painter Pablo Picasso's master piece "Guernica" during a press conference presenting the "Year of Picasso" events, marking the 50th anniversary of the painter's death, at the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, on September 12, 2022. (Thomas Coex/ AFP)
A visitor looks at Spanish painter Pablo Picasso's master piece "Guernica" during a press conference presenting the "Year of Picasso" events, marking the 50th anniversary of the painter's death, at the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, on September 12, 2022. (Thomas Coex/ AFP)
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Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ at Heart of Battle in Spain Over Location

A visitor looks at Spanish painter Pablo Picasso's master piece "Guernica" during a press conference presenting the "Year of Picasso" events, marking the 50th anniversary of the painter's death, at the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, on September 12, 2022. (Thomas Coex/ AFP)
A visitor looks at Spanish painter Pablo Picasso's master piece "Guernica" during a press conference presenting the "Year of Picasso" events, marking the 50th anniversary of the painter's death, at the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, on September 12, 2022. (Thomas Coex/ AFP)

Pablo Picasso's anti-war masterpiece "Guernica" is swept up in a conflict in Spain, where Basque leaders want the government in Madrid to move the painting to their region, whose 1937 bombing inspired it.

The mural-sized painting has been on display since 1992 at the Reina Sofia museum in the Spanish capital, and repeated requests for it to be moved to Spain's Basque Country have been refused.

The latest demand was made by the head of the regional Basque government, Imanol Pradales, during talks with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The Basque government wants the painting to be hung in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the April 26, 1937, bombing, in which forces from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy razed the town of Guernica to help General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War.

Bringing the painting to Bilbao from October until June would be a form of "reparation and historical memory", the Basque government said.

Sanchez -- whose minority government depends on the support of two Basque parties in parliament to pass laws -- did not reject the proposal outright, instead referring it to the culture ministry.

The ministry asked the Reina Sofia museum for a technical report on the viability of the request, which once again "strongly advised" against moving the painting.

The report said the painting is too fragile to travel, citing risks of damage from vibration or movement.

Picasso's black-and-white masterpiece is the highlight of the Reina Sofia museum, which welcomed around 1.6 million visitors last year.

The outspoken head of the regional government of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the conservative Popular Party (PP), weighed in on Monday, calling the request to move the painting "provincial".

"It makes no sense for everything to be returned to its origin. In that case we should send all of Picasso's works to Malaga," she said, a reference to the southern Spanish city where Picasso was born.

- Return from New York -

Asked about the controversy on Tuesday, Spain's central government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said the government relies on the advice of "professionals", referring to the museum report, and "never resorts to insults".

Painted in 1937 in the aftermath of the bombing, "Guernica" debuted in Paris at the World's Fair, then was placed in the care of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

When Franco's forces overthrew the Spanish republic, Picasso stipulated that the painting should not return to Spain until democracy had been restored.

The work was moved to Spain in 1981, six years after Franco's death.

It was first displayed at the Prado museum, then moved to the Reina Sofia in 1992.

Picasso, who died in 1973, never lived to see the painting on exhibit in Spain.

In 1995, Spanish authorities refused to lend it to the Pompidou Center in Paris, citing the damage the work could suffer during its transport.

Culture

Cultural Development Fund Reports Strong Q1 2026 Growth and Impact

Cultural Development Fund Reports Strong Q1 2026 Growth and Impact
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Cultural Development Fund Reports Strong Q1 2026 Growth and Impact

Cultural Development Fund Reports Strong Q1 2026 Growth and Impact

The Cultural Development Fund has announced its results for the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating significant growth in financial performance and developmental impact. This underscores the fund's role as a key financial enabler and center of excellence in developing a sustainable cultural sector, enhancing Saudi culture as a vital economic and social pillar, SPA reported.

Since its inception, the fund has provided over SAR770 million in financial support to 165 cultural projects across various sub-sectors and regions of the Kingdom. It has also benefited more than 1,630 creative individuals and entrepreneurs through developmental services aimed at building entrepreneurial capabilities.

The fund achieved a 30% increase in financial returns compared to the same period in 2025, contributing an estimated SAR4.1 billion to GDP and creating over 12,540 job opportunities.

Additionally, it has stimulated private sector involvement with approximately SAR1.1 billion in contributions, reflecting growing confidence in developing the cultural sector.

These figures highlight the fund's essential role in empowering the private sector and fostering innovative financial solutions that promote growth and enhance the quality of life, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Culture

Historic Jeddah Showcases Cultural Heritage at Umrah and Ziyarah Forum

The pavilion highlighted the distinctive architectural features of Historic Jeddah - SPA
The pavilion highlighted the distinctive architectural features of Historic Jeddah - SPA
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Historic Jeddah Showcases Cultural Heritage at Umrah and Ziyarah Forum

The pavilion highlighted the distinctive architectural features of Historic Jeddah - SPA
The pavilion highlighted the distinctive architectural features of Historic Jeddah - SPA

Historic Jeddah participated in the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum to highlight its historical role as a key gateway for pilgrims to Makkah, while introducing visitors to its cultural status and the ongoing development projects that reinforce its status as a heritage destination, SPA reported.

The pavilion introduced visitors to the "Historic Hajj Trail" supported by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, designed as a sequential narrative that retraces the pilgrim’s journey from arriving at Bab Al-Bunt Port, now the Red Sea Museum, to Makkah Gate, passing through prominent historical sites that reflect Jeddah’s role in serving pilgrims.

The pavilion highlighted the distinctive architectural features of Historic Jeddah and its long-standing role as a major port for pilgrims since the 7th century CE and also featured interactive content showcasing the area’s cultural and social fabric.

This participation forms part of the "Revitalization of Historic Jeddah" project, led by the Ministry of Culture, within the framework of the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.