I think it is high time we convened a conference on cultural reform. Our cultural institutions have reached such a deteriorating state that warrants urgent intervention. If we do not move quickly things could get worse.
The atmosphere of cultural life in our country is one of fragmentation, entrenched bureaucracy and continuous internal conflicts. The quarrel is not confined to the corridors of cultural institutions but is often reflected in the print media.
Why did we reach this situation, and who is to benefit from the confusion and disputes marring cultural life and why isn’t the Ministry of Culture and Information doing anything?
One really doesn’t know if our cultural institutions are owned and run by individuals or a group of people, or whether the problem lies with those at the top or the others who want them out. Regardless of who is in control or who is against whom, things are getting worse by the day while the ministry maintains its long silence.
There have been repeated calls for reforming the cultural life and ending the duplicity in names and jurisdiction within the cultural institutions by bringing them under one single umbrella. More names and conflicting authorities means more staff and more spending, thus stretching an already meager budget allocated to cultural activities.
It would be much better and less costly if all these institutions are brought together under one body bearing the name of intellectuals’ union or writers’ league. We look forward to the Shoura Council to consider the issue as a major step toward serious cultural reform.
We need to have fresh blood injected into our cultural life, to care for gifted youth and help them polish and develop their talents, to replace the old rigid administrative rules with resilient and accommodating ones and above all to have capable and understanding management to produce a rich and diverse culture that reflects the pulse of the nation.
In a few months we may witness the first-ever national forum of Saudi intellectuals and thinkers attended by more than 300 delegates. Let us hope it will formulate a national strategy to govern future cultural and intellectual pursuits.
