RIYADH: An event to promote cross-cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and China in design and traditional arts was held in Riyadh this weekend.
In a collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, known as Wrth, hosted the event from Friday to Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two-day event aimed to promote cultural exchange between the two countries and strengthen relations between China and Saudi Arabia.
The event aligns with the Ministry of Culture’s theme for 2025 as the “Year of Handicrafts,” emphasizing the importance of tradition in Saudi Arabia, delivering messages to future generations and telling stories through art.
Activities included conversations on traditional handicrafts and a presentation by Reema Al-Dossari, who is a lecturer at the College of Visual Arts, showing examples of Saudi arts on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Workshops also showed the art of Najdi decorations on wood, especially Najdi traditional designs on windows, in addition to other workshops displaying traditional Chinese metal crafting of hairpins.
Wrth was established as an initiative to improve the quality of life in Saudi Arabia, as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan.
