Saudi women making their mark in the creative and cultural fields

“Wave Catcher” is an installation which places forms in space to give material expression to the call to prayer by artist and researcher Basmah Felemban. (AN photo by Ali Khamaj)
“Wave Catcher” is an installation which places forms in space to give material expression to the call to prayer by artist and researcher Basmah Felemban. (AN photo by Ali Khamaj)
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Updated 08 March 2023
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Saudi women making their mark in the creative and cultural fields

“Wave Catcher” is an installation which places forms in space to give material expression to the call to prayer.
  • Women’s skills are being recognized by the community and appreciated by the government
  • Saudi women helping to bridge the gap between the Kingdom and the international cultural scene

JEDDAH: Like all other domains, women in the Kingdom have matched their ambitions and skills in enriching the arts and culture sector. Their contributions are creating meaningful and innovative works with their freedom and creativity.

In recent years, Saudi society has seen a boom in culture and arts, with the Kingdom’s women being a significant part of the growing landscape. The foreign perception of women lacking social capacity in arenas beyond the home has changed drastically through the art and cultural movement.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, which falls on Wednesday, Arab News canvased several women from the art and cultural scenes to acknowledge them and celebrate their participation in shaping the creative prospects of the country.

“Being a female artist in Saudi Arabia at present is very different from before,” said Saudi actress Helda Yassin, who won a Joy Award for favorite rising star in a TV series.

“Whether it’s a woman or man, they are likely to be the same at work, in social life and in media.”

She considers herself lucky to be part of the change happening in the Kingdom and to be among the women in the media promoting Saudi culture.

“The amount of support from family, friends and other artists has helped me grow my talent and be more brilliant in my work,” she said.

“Such unconditional support gives the best motivation and helps me explore other talents in me.”

Saudi writer Hafsa Alkhudairi, whose work mostly revolves around contemporary art, said: “In Saudi Arabia, women have always been culturally recognized as artists and the constant support from the community is also a privilege for the growth.

“Being in the art sector is an interesting experience for me. I meet so many talented creatives and get to spend time picking their brains. That in a way supports my own development.”

Alkhudairi said the changes were signs of a thriving industry in which women’s skills and expertise were recognized by the community and highly appreciated by the government.

“My biggest issue was the lack of faith in myself but I was pushed by friends to share my voice. That opened my world up in an unimaginable way.”

The creative art and cultural industries have drastically changed with government support and offer career longevity more than ever before.

“With the launch of the Saudi Music Commission, the once shunned career has in a sense normalized music and become an integral part of an ever thriving community,” said Fulana, a Saudi singer, songwriter and producer.

“Support from the government and the community is seen through the birth of new record labels in the country, especially like my own, Wall of Sound,” she said.




Women in the Kingdom have matched their ambitions and skills in enriching the arts and culture sector. (AN photo by Ali Khamaj)

“These individual labels allow for equal opportunities for artists of many different genres and create spaces to truly grow. Moreover, the growth of the music community with the establishment of venues and events of different sizes and capacities happening all year long is the biggest achievement.”

Fulana said she did not categorize herself as a female artist but as a Saudi musician.

Another Saudi actress, Ida Al-Kusay, said the Kingdom was gradually shedding light on artists and different art forms.

She thinks it will take people time to fully understand the importance of media, but the immense support from the government will help it flourish.

“As a child, I would always watch movies and feel so affected by the stories. The day I got the support of my family to go ahead and give it a shot was music to my ears because I’d finally get the chance to play the demographic I didn’t see much growing up. Being a Saudi actress and representing my country is one of my biggest achievements,” she said.

As for her advice to aspiring artists, Al-Kusay added: “Although I happened to be given this opportunity I never took that lightly. When starting this path a lot of us will have tough days, due to many elements but managing to stay together and strong and helping one another will always be a priority.

“I think we are on our way to having a global breakthrough in the film industry. As an artist, we know what it is like to be rejected and it is time for our stories to be told by us.”

Saudi women have also played roles in bridging the gap between the Kingdom and the global art and cultural world, mainly through events such as Saudi Design Week, the Islamic Arts Biennale, and creative collaborative projects that attract local and international artists.

Lujain Ibrahim, an interior designer and artist, said: “Women are better at multi-tasking and can create new things and hone their skills to make a difference.

“I believe we have a different sense and touch when involved in any task or work. We can call it a woman’s touch. I always find myself getting inspired and motivated by women who create art their own way and pursue dreams on their terms.”

Academic researcher Asmaa Alfageeh said Saudi women were developing in art and culture through their artistic and intellectual productions, by voicing their stories and letting the world see who they were.

“As a Saudi woman who is heavily involved in academia, I explore Saudi art through reading and decoding it, exploring the philosophies, aesthetics, values and the stories Saudi arts depict,” she said.

“I see it as my responsibility to respond to these art productions in every way possible, as both an academic and art connoisseur.”

Alfageeh thinks Saudi women are not only embracing their cultural identity but also celebrating it by engaging with the country’s history and heritage, manifesting the aesthetics of the old and authentic.


Saudi Cultural Mission in Japan celebrates Kingdom’s 93rd National Day

Saudi Cultural Mission in Japan celebrates Kingdom’s 93rd National Day
Updated 22 September 2023
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Saudi Cultural Mission in Japan celebrates Kingdom’s 93rd National Day

Saudi Cultural Mission in Japan celebrates Kingdom’s 93rd National Day
  • Officials, students laud leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Mission in Japan recently hosted a gathering to celebrate the Kingdom’s 93rd National Day, attended by officials and students from both nations.

Badr Al-Otaibi, director of the office of the Saudi cultural attache in Japan, extended his “sincere congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and to His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and to the Saudi people” in his welcoming remarks at the event on Sept. 20.

“On this day, we remember the sublime principles upon which our beloved country was founded, based on the shariah of Islam and entrenching the values of justice, equality and tolerance,” Al-Otaibi said. “We also remember the heroic historical deeds of King Abdulaziz Al-Saud, may God have mercy on him, along with the first founding fathers to establish this blessed country, unify it and extend its influence over wide areas of the Arabian Peninsula.”

“The subsequent phase of construction and development was led, after the founder, may God have mercy on him, by his sons, the kings, until reaching the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him, who leads our country with a wise vision and sound steps in all fields. His highness the crown prince supports him in this regard through the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, through which our country seeks to occupy an advanced position among the developed countries in the world,” Al-Otaibi said.

The event included lectures by Dr. Kaoru Yamamoto, assistant professor at Keio University, titled “Arabic Literature in Japan,” and “Saudi National Day” presented by Faisal Sarbland, a master’s student at Tokai University.

A video was shown about Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdulaziz, followed by a lecture — “My Journey to Mecca” — presented by Aqeel Qureshi, a bachelor’s degree student at Keio University.

This was followed by the introduction of Takushoku University students, and the awarding of certificates of appreciation.

According to data from the cultural mission, there are 64 students from Saudi Arabia studying in Japan, majoring in nuclear, aerospace and information systems engineering, as well as dentistry, and speech and hearing therapy.


Saudi Arabia’s climate envoy meets ministers, officials at UN General Assembly

Saudi Arabia’s climate envoy meets ministers, officials at UN General Assembly
Updated 22 September 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s climate envoy meets ministers, officials at UN General Assembly

Saudi Arabia’s climate envoy meets ministers, officials at UN General Assembly
  • Discussions were held on how to deal with the effects of climate change

RIYADH: Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs and climate affairs envoy, met this week with ministers and senior officials on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York.

In a meeting with Bahrain’s minister of oil and environment, Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, discussions were held on how to deal with the effects of climate change.

Talks were also held on the subject, and other issues, with the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, and President of the 78th Session of the UN Dennis Francis.

 

 

Al-Jubeir held further meetings with Prince Jamie de Bourbon, climate envoy for the Netherlands, and Jennifer Lee Morgan, state secretary and special envoy for international climate action at the Federal Foreign Ministry of Germany.

He also reviewed ties, as well as international and regional developments, with Alvaro Leyva Duran, Albert Ramdin, and Ana Cecilia Gervasi Diaz, the foreign ministers of Colombia, Suriname and Peru respectively.

 


Drugs seized, arrests in Jeddah and Asir

Drugs seized, arrests in Jeddah and Asir
Updated 22 September 2023
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Drugs seized, arrests in Jeddah and Asir

Drugs seized, arrests in Jeddah and Asir
  • The Saudi government has urged anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs violations to call the confidential hotline

JEDDAH: Saudi authorities seized a large cache of drugs in Jeddah and Asir on Friday. 

The Jeddah Traffic Department arrested two Yemeni nationals for selling 300 kg of qat, and border guards in Asir thwarted an attempt to smuggle 57,600 prescription pills into the Kingdom.

Qat leaves are chewed for their stimulatory effects.

The Saudi government has urged anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number 00 966 114208417, or email [email protected]. Reports notifying the authorities of suspected cases of drug smuggling are treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for tips leading to arrests.


Saudi FM takes part in OIC, Arab League meetings during UN General Assembly

Saudi FM takes part in OIC, Arab League meetings during UN General Assembly
Updated 22 September 2023
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Saudi FM takes part in OIC, Arab League meetings during UN General Assembly

Saudi FM takes part in OIC, Arab League meetings during UN General Assembly
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan calls for collective response to common challenges facing global community

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday took part in a coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session in New York, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The minister expressed the Kingdom’s condolences, sympathy and solidarity with Morocco and its people in the aftermath of the earthquake that rocked the North African country, and to Libya and its people following the deadly flooding in Derna.

He praised the OIC and member states’ response to a call by the Kingdom for an extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers to address the desecration and burning of copies of the Qur’an in Sweden and Denmark.

Prince Faisal highlighted the Palestinian issue and the pursuit of a comprehensive solution, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also chaired the Arab side of a high-level foreign ministerial informal interactive dialogue session between the Arab Summit Troika and the UN Security Council.

During the session, the Saudi foreign minister said the international community faces many common challenges that require collective action, but no progress will be achieved without a safe and stable regional and international environment that enables countries to work together.

The Arab Summit Troika is a group of three rotating countries that monitors the implementation of resolutions and commitments adopted by the Arab League, which consists of the outgoing, current, and incoming Arab Summit chairs — Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Other countries belonging to the Arab Group at the UN have been invited to participate in the meeting, along with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Prince Faisal said that since Arab issues make up a prominent share of the topics raised in the Security Council, strengthening cooperation and joint work between the Arab League and the Security Council to establish peace and security in the Arab world is of great importance.

The Kingdom is interested in improving this cooperation to achieve a common perspective for dealing with crises and developing peaceful solutions, he said.

Prince Faisal warned of the growing role of armed groups outside the framework of the state in creating these crises, which threaten international peace and security.

He said the ease with which these groups gain access to advanced technology and weapons enables them to undermine state institutions.

He called on the Security Council to take serious and strict measures against the groups.

Prince Faisal welcomed the results of discussions on a road map to support the peace process in Yemen, which brought together the Saudi communication and coordination team with the Sanaa delegation in Riyadh, with the participation of Oman.

He expressed the Kingdom’s hopes for dialogue between the Yemeni parties to pave the way for security and stability in the war-torn country, and ensure a future in which Yemen enjoys a comprehensive renaissance and sustainable development.


Saudi Arabia calls for reform of global cooperation frameworks ahead of Summit of the Future

Saudi Arabia calls for reform of global cooperation frameworks ahead of Summit of the Future
Updated 21 September 2023
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Saudi Arabia calls for reform of global cooperation frameworks ahead of Summit of the Future

Saudi Arabia calls for reform of global cooperation frameworks ahead of Summit of the Future
  • Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the UN needs to be part of the process, in particular the Security Council which ‘must be expanded and more representative in nature’
  • The UN describes the September 2024 Summit of the Future as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance global cooperation to tackle critical challenges

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia on Thursday called on the international community to reform multilateral cooperation frameworks to better take into account the concerns and needs of all states, including developing countries.

“We need more-influential and more-effective multilateral mechanisms … and international development that will be supported as we work toward a world that is more just and more peaceful,” said Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session in New York, at a ministerial meeting to prepare for the Summit of the Future in September 2024. The UN describes the upcoming summit as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance global cooperation to tackle critical challenges, address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments, including to the UN’s charter and Sustainable Development Goals, and establish a multilateral system better positioned to positively affect people’s lives.

Prince Faisal said the summit aims to help overcome the challenges that undermine global hopes for a better future, and stressed the need to reaffirm shared principles and intensify consultations to agree a mutual vision that can “improve the world for our populations.”

UN bodies need to be included in the reforms process, he added, in particular the Security Council, which “must be expanded and more representative in nature,” and that implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through international partnerships must be high on the list of topics for discussion at the event next year.

“The Global Sustainable Development Report for 2022 noted the significant progress made by the Kingdom because we have prioritized sustainable development as a priority for the Saudi Vision 2030,” the prince told the meeting.

“The Kingdom is working tirelessly, through its membership in international organizations and blocs, to revitalize the path of development in relations between countries, to support better understanding and better cooperation.”

He said constructive relationships that rely on dialogue to resolve differences, and cooperation in establishing security and stability, offer a path toward achieving comprehensive development.

“International cooperation frameworks must be facilitating and supportive of partnership and cooperation, resistant to the pressures of competition and polarization, and discouraging any calls that spread hatred between peoples, disrespect for religions, and fuel extremism and terrorism,” said Prince Faisal.

The summit will also take into account the comprehensive nature and specificity of human rights concepts, he added, while also addressing inherent rights such as the rights to development and food, preservation of the pivotal role of the family, and reject of contempt for or belittlement of religions.

Thursday’s meeting provided an opportunity for ministers to set out their visions and priorities for the Summit of the Future, and to outline their expectations for the action-oriented outcomes that can be achieved when the heads of state and government meet next year.

The summit aims to build on a two-day Sustainable Development Goals summit that took place on Monday, and breathe new life into the multilateral system so that it can deliver on the promises of the UN Charter and the organization’s 2030 agenda for a sustainable future.

“The Summit of the Future is a unique opportunity to help rebuild trust and bring outdated multilateral institutions and frameworks into line with today’s world, based on equity and solidarity,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“But it is more than an opportunity; it is an essential means of reducing risks and creating a safer and more peaceful world.”

During the summit, UN member states are expected to adopt a Pact for the Future that covers five main issues: sustainable development and related financing; international peace and security; science, technology, innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance.