JEDDAH, 29 January 2008 — Artists with special needs from all over the Kingdom, as well as the Gulf, will showcase their various skills and talents at a unique event dubbed “Talents of the Desert — Springs of Arts and Creativity Festival” from April 8-10, 2008.
Maha Al-Juffali, director of Help Center and managing member of the board of trustees, explained that the festival included talent competitions in which people with special needs have been invited to submit their work in any one of the following categories: drama, dancing, music, poetry, literary works, fine arts (painting), photography and production of short movies.
The festival is organized by VSA Arts-KSA, a voluntary non-profit organization and the official representatives in Saudi Arabia of the Washington-based VSA Arts International, an affiliate of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts which has 66 representative offices around the world.
The festival will deal with all aspects of visual and theatrical arts including poetry, plays, and acting in addition to art shows and workshops. It will host artists from various regions of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
Al-Juffali added: “The festival will give opportunities to those from various specialized centers to participate in the workshops and review the latest developments in the field of special needs and people with disabilities.”
A panel of judges will be formed from professional artists in the various categories. The panel will be chaired by the executive director of (VSA Arts-KSA) and the winning works will be selected based on special predetermined criteria. Winners will receive prizes.
Artists, both male and female, with disabilities are invited to participate in the festival. Participants will be divided into three age groups — from 8 to 12 years, from 12 to 18 and above 18. Participation is free of charge.
