Saudi culture takes center stage in Paris

• From literature to fashion, the Kingdom’s gifts shine brightly in the French capital

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission has launched its Saudi Cultural Exhibition in Paris, which runs for two weeks until Nov. 10 and features participation from Ministry of Culture-affiliated entities and organizations.

The 14-day event offers diverse attractions and activities which showcase facets of Saudi culture, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

With the Ministry of Culture, the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission has collaborated with various commissions — including those of heritage, libraries, music, culinary arts, architecture and design, fashion and film, and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy — to create an extensive program.

The main aim of the exhibition is to promote cultural exchange between the two countries, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, fostering intellectual engagement and enhancing the presence of Saudi creatives in both local and global arenas.

Those attending in the first week will be given the opportunity to see four panel discussions covering a wide array of topics, including Saudi fiction and literature, and an in-depth exploration of both Saudi and French literary landscapes.

The future of the local fashion scene will also be highlighted, along with two poetry evenings, and the screening of seven short Saudi films from the Daw’s competition, a platform that supports emerging filmmakers.

There are eight panel discussions scheduled in the second week, along with three poetry evenings and the screening of five films.

There is also a scheduled panel discussion on the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism. Three presentations will explore the uncharted territories of handicrafts and local architecture vernacular, equipping participants with valuable skills in heritage preservation.

French publishing house Assouline is hosting a book launch for “Makkah: The Holy City of Islam,” by historian and geographer at Umm Al-Qura University, Meraj Nawab Mirza. The book boasts photos by French photographer Laziz Hamani.

A second book, “Al-Madinah: The City of the Prophet,” by Taneedeb Al-Faydi, will also be featured at the event.

A miniature museum devoted to Arabic poetry, in partnership with the Poetry Academy, is also featured at the exhibition.

The Ministry of Culture is aiming to showcase the unique nature and deep-rooted creativity of Saudi Arabia, spanning centuries of history.

It aims to achieve this through panel discussions on Saudi literature; translation; cultural and musical exchanges; preservation of culinary arts heritage through specialized books; and the introduction of World Heritage Sites in the Kingdom.