RIYADH: In a concerted effort to raise public awareness on the diversity and vulnerability of the cultural heritage in the Kingdom, as well as on the efforts required to protect and conserve such sites, the Kingdom will mark the World Heritage Day this year by organizing a heritage and arts forum on the occasion.

The forum, to be held under the patronage of Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) and founding member of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society (SHPS), will be attended by several government and private entities as well as a number of charities including arts and heritage related associations.

“The second Heritage and Arts Forum will be opened on April 17 at the King Fahd Cultural Center in conjunction with the World Heritage Day observed every year on April 18,” said an official at the SCTNH on Wednesday.

The theme of the forum is “Honor your heritage through museums”, in order to focus on raising public awareness about the importance of preserving national heritage as well as enhancing the role of museums in the development of cultural heritage. This forum serves to highlight the importance of heritage among members of the local community and will start to build strategic partnerships for the development of heritage projects.

The forum will feature a number of events and activities related to the importance of museums and their key role in the preservation of the heritage including cultural programs and discussions by a number of national and international experts.

Notably, the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society is continuing to highlight the significance of the preservation of national heritage through programs to raise awareness about the issue.