Specialists for "today"The Crown Prince’s movement strengthened the Kingdom’s presence on the global cultural map
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed since Prince Mohammed bin Salman The Crown Prince and the launch of his Vision 2030 is a remarkable cultural transformation, which was reflected in the launch of dozens of cultural initiatives and projects that contributed to building an integrated cultural system, and strengthened the Kingdom’s presence regionally and internationally as a growing center for creativity, arts and knowledge.
These came CultureSaudi Arabia In 2018, the Kingdom began a new phase of organized institutional work in the cultural sector, as specialized strategies were launched to develop 16 cultural sectors, including literature, theatre, cinema, music, visual arts, museums, heritage, and others, in a step aimed at building an integrated cultural industry that supports creativity and opens new horizons for creators.
These efforts resulted in a significant expansion of cultural activity within the Kingdom, as the number of cultural activities and projects increased, and the number of cultural projects increased. Institutions and activities registered in the cultural fields, which reflects the growing interest in the cultural sector as one of the engines of social and economic development.
Cultural reports indicate the existence of tens of thousands of commercial records related to cultural and creative activities, which indicates the expansion of the base of the cultural economy in the Kingdom.
A number of intellectuals and those interested in cultural affairs confirmed this during their talk to "today" What the Kingdom is witnessing today represents a historic turning point in the path of Saudi culture, as culture is no longer a limited activity, but has become an integrated sector that contributes to development, building identity, and enhancing the image of the Kingdom globally.
A radical transformation in Saudi culture
Art critic Wael Saud Al-Otaibi said that what the Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, brought about caused a radical transformation in Saudi culture through… "Vision 2030"adopting an approach that balances pride in national heritage and global openness.
The most prominent influences include establishing the Ministry of Culture, promoting tolerance and moderation, supporting the arts and cinema, developing heritage, and highlighting the Saudi identity globally, which made culture a pillar for improving the quality of life.
At the heart of this transformation, Saudi culture pulses with a new pulse that redefines identity and opens the doors towards internationalism. This radical transformation is not just a change in policies, but rather a comprehensive cultural revolution that has made the Kingdom a platform. For creativity and openness.
Al-Otaibi added that art in Saudi Arabia has become a powerful industry that enters international arenas and leaves an indelible mark. Saudi artists today are more daring and open, presenting creative and daring ideas that were prohibited in the past. This new generation of creators possesses an artistic vision that transcends borders and challenges restrictions.
He stated that the Saudi cinema scene is witnessing a noticeable transformation, as Saudi filmmakers are no longer limited to the local scene, but are now competing in… They are winning important awards in international arenas, and this success is not a coincidence. Rather, it is the result of unprecedented governmental and academic support aimed at transforming culture into a basic pillar of development.
Al-Otaibi explained that culture has become a soft force that enhances global cultural dialogue and supports creative industries, and that art is no longer just self-expression, but rather has become a tool for changing the mental image of the Kingdom and making it a center for dialogue and coexistence.
He explained that the Saudi cultural revolution is not just a change in policies, but rather a transformation in the Saudi psyche, which makes creativity and thinking more important. Outside the box is possible, this transformation will have a major impact on the future, and will make the Kingdom a cultural force that cannot be ignored.
A long-term civilizational project
For her part, the Italian consultant in public relations and cultural republican communication, Elena Gramatica, explained that the cultural transformations in the Kingdom are “a long-term civilizational project that seeks to build a sustainable cultural industry,” and that the Kingdom has never been isolated from the outside world, as it is a land full of civilizations and full of cultures and arts.
She indicated that the cultural media plays a pivotal role in highlighting these transformations, stressing that the Kingdom has today become an important player in cultural diplomacy through its participation in international exhibitions and hosting global events that reflect the richness of Saudi culture and its history.
She indicated her feeling of pride in her work since 2023 with a number of prominent cultural institutions in the Kingdom, which contributed to supporting the process of achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The presence in the Saudi cultural scene witnessed great activity, and it is an area in which the Kingdom is distinguished thanks to its ancient heritage in arts, architecture, embroidery and traditional crafts, considering that it has a great honor to participate with the efforts of the Kingdom’s government in highlighting these cultural treasures and making them known globally.
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Gramatica considered that the increasing investments in the cultural sector represent a strategic step towards building a creative economy that contributes to diversifying sources of national income, explaining that the launch of programs to support artists and writers and the development of cultural infrastructure, including theatres, museums and art centres, contributed to strengthening the environment for cultural production, adding that the cultural sector now provides broad opportunities for young people to work and create in multiple fields.
A New Space for Creativity
The Saudi poet and writer Abdul-Ilah Dashisha said that the cultural movement witnessed by the Kingdom It created a new space for creativity, and provided poets and creators with broader opportunities to express their experiences and interact with audiences locally and globally.
He added that the multiple cultural initiatives contributed to rediscovering the creative energies of young people and highlighting the cultural diversity that abounds in the Kingdom’s regions.
He explained that poetry is the oldest type of cultural arts in the Arabian Peninsula, and that its people were known for eloquence, as the Book of God was revealed with a eloquent miracle and a unique arrangement to be a miracle for them in eloquence and statement.
Dashisha continued that the Kingdom was interested in poetry and nurturing literature and intellectuals, and opened spaces for expression and cultural convergence, considering that its support for literary activities represents an extension of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision, which paid great attention to culture, and contributed to Empowering writers and poets.
The Saudi Ministry of Culture launched many initiatives, including the “Year of Arab Poetry 2023” initiative. It also launched cultural satellite channels, documentaries, plays, poetry concerts, and a wide variety of cultural and artistic programs covering various sectors, presented by a number of intellectuals, academics, and poets, and this is part of the efforts to preserve and document the cultural heritage.
Dashisha wrote on the occasion of the anniversary of the pledge of allegiance to Wali. The Covenant:
O youth of my beloved country… We extinguish the flames with the flag
The crown prince called out… The homeland is the most precious lover
He lit the candles and my light… The one with the generous chest
The falcon resembles his father… O dear ones, support him
Do not obey the words of a snitch… Whoever snitches, expose him. Only the forearms remain… O loved ones, they took them up
They strengthened their resolve and built… and the lands they inhabited
Long live, O king… giving birth to a king after them
With a bright thought, how baffled… everyone who used to have perished
Your pride, we are your men… good and evil we share
A global launch
As for the visual artist Walaa Baazeem, she confirmed that the Saudi presence in international artistic exhibitions and events has become more evident during In recent years, she pointed out that Saudi artists participate in international exhibitions and display their works in front of a global audience.
She said that institutional support for culture has contributed to enabling artists to access international platforms, which enhances the Kingdom’s image as a growing center for artistic and cultural creativity, noting that the anniversary of the pledge of allegiance to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman represents an important occasion that makes her stand grateful in the face of the scene of great transformation that the Kingdom is witnessing.
She added that what we are witnessing today is not just an economic renaissance, but rather a “creative explosion” that has reshaped the cultural identity and placed Saudi art at the heart of the global map. Cities have turned into open museums, and the dreams we were drawing have become a reality that the state embraces and supports.
She continued: The Crown Prince’s interest in culture and the arts has made the artist’s brush an authentic partner in building the nation’s future, as he touches everyone in every corner of the country with unwavering support. limited to creators, and in the belief that culture is the soft power that reflects the modern and bright face of Saudi Arabia.
She concluded her speech by renewing loyalty and allegiance, promising that artistic works will remain a mirror that reflects this golden age and documents the story of an ambition that does not know the impossible.
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