The Saudi women are creating a network of women's salons that demonstrate her dignified contribution to literary and artistic culture in the Kingdom. Benefiting from what is allowed, some writers and artists have organized periodic meetings in their homes.
The plastic artist, Safiya Bin Zager started her cultural salon in 1412H/1992 in her family's house in Jeddah. Her first plastic art exhibition was held in Jeddah 1968. This was the birth of women's artistic exhibitions in Saudi Arabia. She is a well-known leader among the pioneers of plastic art. She has continued to make contributions to our artistic heritage for more than thirty years. She has participated in numerous individual and collective exhibitions - both locally and internationally. Her unique contributions have earned her the title "The Artist of the Saudi Heritage."
She established "The House of Safiya Bin Zager" in 1414H/1994 that is basically a museum of all her works. It also houses her private art and literature library; a children's library; and a private studio.
Among the many outstanding events that have taken place at "The House of Safiya Bin Zager" were: a biography on May Ziyada by Nahed Addas; a presentation on women's literature by Thuraya Qabel; an art therapy presentation by Halah Buck; and a lecture on "How to Reconstruct Totally Buried Ruins" by the civil engineer Afaf Badran.
"The House of Bin Zager" occupies a special place within society for its role in introducing the history of our heritage to the public.
The "Ahadia" is the Sunday Cultural Meeting that takes place in Riyadh. The word "Ahadia" is derived from the word "Ahad" which means Sunday. The meeting was founded by Dr. Hatoon Ajwaad Al-Fasi - a specialist in ancient history and has attracted a group of leading academics from different fields.
Dr. Hatoon Al-Fasi told us "the issue of activating women's role in society and giving it a prominent place in discussions has long been the core of our monthly meetings. This year, we have particularly focused on the issue of violence from different angles - like domestic violence and violence against children etc."
"A committee has been formed to study the possibility of making "Ahadia" an official organization with an archive and a library," said Dr. Hatoon.
Sultana Al-Sudairi spoke about an experience in Riyadh. "Need is the mother of innovation. The absence of an independent women's cultural association is what inspired this idea and movement. It is a means of literary connectivity, to provide channels for humane communication in addition to preserving the creative contributions of Saudi women."
The artist, Hadi Al-Amry, and the writer and journalist, Khariah Al-Saqqaf and Muzna Al-Wabel all enriched the salon with their presence. The salon's objective is to spread awareness among, and attempt to embrace, the talented and creative woman.
Maha Fitaihi - a mother and housewife - has organized a popular and famous literary salon in Jeddah. She spoke of how it all began. "The idea was always there from my childhood and throughout my adolescence when I read about May Ziada and Sukainah bint Al-Hussein and Aqad. I used to imagine and enjoy those times. And it coincided with the visit of an American specialist in Middle East studies, Dr. Mariam Cook. She met Saudi women who were cultivated and literary figures and authors. We didn't have a place to meet, so I offered my house and said that it would be an honor for me to host such an event on condition that it was a collective, and not individual, effort. Around 50 Saudi female writers and cultured women were invited and 15 were chosen to establish the salon and determine its mission"
Fitaihi believes that collaboration between all salons would be an enriching experience and feels that a collective annual meeting of all the women's salons in the Kingdom would be an important step.