المملكة: National Cultural Awards: A system that honors creators and documents cultural movement

Although five cycles have passed since the launch of National Cultural Awards, and the official celebrations and large attendance that accompany the evenings of announcing the winners, a large part of the actual work remains out of the eyes of the public.

While the audience only sees the names of the winners, the flash of the camera lenses, and the moment of stepping onto the podium, behind this final image lies a complex journey extending for months, based on sorting, auditing, and reviewing to arrive at results that reflect the highest levels of accuracy and credibility.

The process begins with the opening of nominations, It is a tradition established by The Saudi cultural scene, where nominations come from various regions and specializations, and reflect the level of cultural movement and the expansion of its circles year after year.

After receiving applications, the files are subjected to an initial screening stage based on the “validity” criteria for each award, to ensure that they meet the technical and procedural conditions, and that they belong to completed works.

At this stage, the first annual image of the cultural harvest is formed, revealing new trends in creativity and young experiences. Rising and established works continue to enrich the various cultural sectors.

The development of the cultural sector

The arbitration stage is the most sensitive and precise stage; Nominations are presented to committees that include experts, specialists, and practitioners from multiple fields, so that each work is evaluated according to a number of criteria, including its cultural impact, originality, quality, and extent of its connection to the development of the local cultural sector.

This stage often witnesses lengthy discussions to reach shortlists that represent the highest levels of achievement during the year, before the final results are approved.

After the completion of the judging processes, the details of the closing ceremony are based on this accumulated work. Here, procedural and cognitive efforts turn into a moment of public celebration that honors creators in front of the public.

A Long Journey

The conclusion of the fifth edition last September represented a meeting point between this long journey and the moment witnessed by the audience, when new names appeared and were added to the record of Saudi culture.

The nomination and arbitration process has transformed, over the years, from administrative steps into a complete cultural narrative through which the awards create a unique Saudi model in celebrating creativity; A model based on transparency and accuracy, and on the belief that an achievement is not complete until its owner receives well-deserved recognition.

Thus, appearing on the platform is only the last chapter in a journey that begins with the nomination files, extends through committee discussions, and ends with recording new names in the memory of Saudi culture, so that the National Cultural Awards confirm their role as one of the most important initiatives supporting the creative scene in the Kingdom.

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