JEDDAH, 17 November 2005 — Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani has said that his ministry will establish a number of new literary clubs across the Kingdom. He also called for giving more space to women in these clubs so that their voices may be heard.
“We don’t have any plans to open separate literary clubs for women as the existing clubs are meant for all groups in society,” Madani told reporters after opening the 18th conference of the Kingdom’s 13 literary clubs in Makkah.
Madani said his ministry would not prevent press criticisms of clubs but advised journalists not to focus on the clubs’ shortcomings only. He said the ministry had allocated SR130 million for the construction of new literary clubs. “From next year onward, we will make special budget allocations for the operations and activities of literary clubs in order to enable them to carry out their missions properly,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.
He said the ministry had already prepared the executive bylaws of literary clubs and presented them to the authorities for approval.
He urged literary clubs to set out construction plans for their new headquarters. “We’ll start building offices of those clubs which have already presented plans,” he added.
Madani said his ministry would give all support to literary clubs and provide coverage to their activities through its media organs. He also stressed the need for reshuffling boards of directors of literary clubs as in other organizations.
“Reshuffling does not mean lack of confidence in any member,” he pointed out.
The minister earlier opened an exhibition of publications of literary clubs.
Dr. Rashid Al-Rajhi, chairman of Makkah Literary Club, which hosted the conference, emphasized the need for regular meetings of club officials to exchange views and promote cultural and literary movements in the country.
The conference discussed a number of topics including executive bylaws, development of financial resources, increasing government assistance, expansion of activities, conferences of literary men and intellectuals, preparation of radio and television programs and the establishment of a special fund for literary men.
The conference also proposed meetings of the minister with the chairmen of literary clubs more than once a year in order to solve their problems and discuss the prospects of holding joint programs with the Ministry of Culture and Information.
Those attending the conference also discussed ways and means of marketing the clubs’ books and other publications. They expressed their hopes that the ministries of culture, education and higher education as well as universities would buy large numbers of the publications.
