Jeddah Book Fair… 15 calligraphers compete to revive the heritage of Arabic calligraphy

In an atmosphere that harmonizes creativity and heritage, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman International Center for Arabic Calligraphy – one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Culture – launched a unique competition for Arabic calligraphy artists, during its participation in the Jeddah International Book Fair 2024.
The competition continues until tomorrow, when the participating works will be presented before a jury that includes an elite group of the most prominent experts in Arabic calligraphy: Mukhtar Alam, Abdul Samad Muhafiz, and Muhammad Jaber, to choose the winners from among 15 calligraphers representing various Arab countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait. Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, and Morocco.

Arabic calligraphy

Participants will compete within 3 artistic tracks according to the types of Arabic calligraphy: Thuluth Al-Jali, Diwani, and Naskh. A winner will be chosen from each track and their works will be displayed on the competition site itself, at the end of competitive stages that extended across 6 stages, starting with the announcement of the competition and leading to the final nomination and announcement of the winners. On Saturday, within the activities of the Jeddah International Book Fair.

The competition reflects the initiative’s vision of reviving the art of Arabic calligraphy and stimulating creativity in it, by bringing together talents from all over the world to highlight the importance of this ancient art according to the highest artistic standards.

Reviving cultural heritage

The competition seeks to enhance the status of Arabic calligraphy locally and internationally, and to highlight its cultural and artistic role as part of the Arab and Islamic cultural identity.
The competition focuses on reviving the Islamic cultural and artistic heritage by producing calligraphic works inspired by the established historical rules, in addition to motivating artists to innovate within the framework of the traditional rules of Arabic calligraphy.
It also aims to spread awareness of the importance of preserving ancient heritage, and enhance its role in promoting creativity and cultural identity.