Images courtesy of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture
Saudi minister of culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud has confirmed that the Council of Ministers has approved the establishment of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts to boost culture sector development in the Kingdom.
The Institute, created as part of the Vision 2030 Quality of Life programme, will provide advanced educational programmes in the arts, with the goal of training a new generation of highly skilled craftspeople and raising awareness of the country’s artistic heritage.
Three educational tracks will be offered by the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts; apprenticeships, academic programmes, and short courses. These paths will include content comprising traditional visual arts studies, performing arts, and studies tailored to the museums and heritage sector.
It has been announced that six courses will be open for registration this August. These are: Traditional palm arts; Traditional arts with pottery; Traditional hand embroidery; Traditional weaving (Sadu); An introduction to UNESCO; and Saudi intangible cultural heritage.
Education will not be the institution’s sole focus, however. Its remit also includes the promotion of cultural exchange, with building creative partnerships internationally a key target. Job creation for artistically talented citizens and driving demand for Saudi products both domestically and abroad are also seen as important outcomes.
