A digital library and a specialized institute… new arrangements that shape the future of Arabic calligraphy in the Kingdom

The Ministry of Culture issued the organizational arrangements for the Prince Mohammed bin Salman International Center for Arabic Calligraphy, with the aim of consolidating the position of Arabic calligraphy globally Arabic calligraphy as a global, cross-cultural means of communication, employing it in the fields of heritage, arts, architecture and design, and working to strengthen the Kingdom’s position in protecting and developing this heritage.

Determining the Center’s specializations

The Center aims to be a global reference and a national house of expertise for Arabic calligraphy, with a focus on embracing talent and developing knowledge related to it, in addition to encouraging community participation in this art, in a way that expands the base of those interested and practitioners.

The arrangements were granted. The center has a wide range of specializations to achieve its goals, most notably developing policies, plans, programs and projects related to its fields of work, and raising what requires completion Regular procedures regarding it.

The powers included setting standards, procedures, and models for Arabic calligraphy in coordination with relevant authorities, and supporting specialized research and studies, in addition to supporting the publication of books and research papers individually or in partnership with other parties.

The arrangements for the center allowed the establishment and activation of partnerships, agreements, and contracts locally, regionally, and internationally, and seeking the assistance of houses of expertise and specialized competencies, in a way that contributes to achieving Its objectives are in accordance with regulatory procedures.

Periodic reports and content development

The arrangements obligated the center to issue periodic reports on Arabic calligraphy and its indicators locally and globally, in addition to preparing and launching awareness campaigns to promote this art and support calligraphers, in a way that enhances the societal presence of Arabic calligraphy.

It stipulated encouraging the production and development of content related to Arabic calligraphy, providing advisory services, and establishing incubator and accelerator programs to support creators in this field.

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The terms of reference included creating a digital library for Arabic calligraphy, collecting data and information related to it, documenting, analyzing and archiving it through a dedicated platform, with publishing what the center deems appropriate, in a step that enhances the digital transformation of the sector.

The arrangements authorized the center to provide research grants, academic chairs and financial incentives through approved initiatives or through the ministry’s budget, and to work to create the appropriate investment environment in its areas of specialization in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Formation of a supervisory committee And organizing events

The arrangements emphasized the role of the center in organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, exhibitions and events locally and internationally, and participating in them inside and outside the Kingdom, in addition to organizing competitions in the field of Arabic calligraphy, in a way that enhances the international competitiveness of this art.

The arrangements stipulated the formation of a supervisory committee headed by the Minister of Culture and the membership of representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, the Museum Authority, the King Abdulaziz House, and the King Salman International Academy for the Arabic Language, in addition to three experienced people to be appointed. By order of the Prime Minister for a period of three years, renewable once.

It stipulated that the rank of representatives of government agencies should not be lower than the twelfth rank or its equivalent, with the selection of a vice president from among the representatives of government agencies, and the nomination of a secretary for the committee.

The arrangements granted the supervisory committee broad powers to supervise the management of the center’s affairs, most notably approving policies and plans, adopting standards, approving partnerships, incubator and accelerator programs, establishing the digital library, and providing grants.

The committee was authorized to review performance reports and take the necessary measures regarding them, and to accept gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and proceeds from endowments in accordance with the regulating rules, with the possibility of forming permanent or temporary committees and delegating some of their powers.

Controls of the Supervisory Committee

The arrangements set a detailed framework for the meetings of the Supervisory Committee, as they are held at the center’s headquarters and may be held anywhere within the Kingdom by decision of the president or his deputy, provided that they meet three times annually on At least.

It required the presence of a majority for the validity of the meeting, and that decisions should be issued by a majority of those present, with the vote of the chair of the meeting prevailing in the event of a tie, and it permitted the assistance of experts without the right to vote.

It affirmed the inadmissibility of members abstaining from voting or delegating to others, the necessity of documenting deliberations in Arabic, and the possibility of holding meetings and voting remotely in accordance with specific controls, while emphasizing the confidentiality of the center’s information.

Selection of the director and clarification of tasks

It stipulated The arrangements are that the center will have a general director chosen by the supervisory committee from inside or outside the ministry, provided that his rank is not less than fifteen, and he will manage the center’s affairs and implement its powers.

His duties include preparing policies and plans and submitting them to the committee, preparing standards, proposing partnerships and incubator programs, establishing the digital library, proposing research grants, spending from the budget according to the powers, preparing the annual report, and following up on the implementation of the committee’s decisions, with the possibility of delegating some of its powers.

The arrangements approved the establishment of an institute for Arabic calligraphy that is organizationally linked to the Director-General, responsible for granting or approving certificates and licenses and documenting them in coordination with the relevant authorities.

It stipulated the establishment of a museum and exhibition for Arabic calligraphy that would undertake the acquisition, preservation and display of material assets related to this art, with the possibility of assigning additional tasks to them by decision of the supervisory committee.

The arrangements determined the center’s financial resources in terms of appropriations allocated to it in the ministry’s budget, and what it accepts. Such as gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and proceeds from endowments, in addition to any other resources approved by the Supervisory Committee in a manner that does not violate the regulations.

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