Ashraf AboArafe
The AlUla Summit for the Future of Culture, organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, concluded yesterday evening. It witnessed the participation of more than 150 global cultural leaders to explore and address the most important challenges facing culture today.
The summit, which spanned 3 days in the heart of the AlUla Cultural Oasis, included a diverse program of panel discussions, interactive performances, workshops, and innovative experiences, and represented a dialogue platform that reviewed the impact of culture on identity, and its role in promoting positive change and societal progress.
For his part, His Excellency Assistant Minister of Culture, Rakan Al-Tawq, said during the keynote speech of the summit, “This summit brings together global pioneers and change makers from across the cultural field, who share the belief in the ability of culture and arts to grow and develop societies.”
In turn, the Authority’s Executive Director of Arts and Creative Industries, Noura Al-Dabal, said, “Over the past three days, we witnessed a diverse presence of participants who came together to communicate, share, and learn from each other’s experiences, through dialogues, inspiring discussions, and artistic expression,” adding, “The participants were inspired by the beautiful natural landscapes of Al-Ula Governorate.” They participated in talks and dialogues, which in turn will contribute to redefining the cultural system and strengthening the Kingdom as a center for global cultural exchange.”
During the panel discussion “The Future of the Cultural Scene: The Factor of Success,” the Director of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), Abdullah Al-Rashed, stressed the necessity of maintaining a successful cultural future, while the Vice President for Cultural Affairs at the Authority, Jason Harborough, called for considering what… It goes beyond numbers and KPIs to focus on how we learn and expand mutual human connections.
In another episode, “The Natural Environment”: Cultural Development and the Environment,” the speakers reviewed the relationship between cultural structure and the environment, and the integration of art with natural landscapes. The international artistic director of the “Penisei” art site in Naoshima and director of the “Naoshima” Modern Art Museum, Akiko Miki, explained that “ “The trip to a specific location is part of the experience, and taking time and experience is something that is very important to human activity,” and she believed that sustainable travel allows visitors to fully experience the art and its surroundings.
The workshops, led by leading cultural institutions, covered various topics such as integrating “blockchain” into museums, thinking about landscapes as means of cultural expression, and promoting multicultural cooperation, while Saudi artist Balqis Al-Rashed presented the performance “Unpatterned Legends,” which is intertwined with music. The rhythmic zaffa and fragrant incense, guiding participants towards AlUla Oasis.
Participants took tours to explore AlUla’s cultural and natural landscapes, and enjoyed a journey full of performance, poetry, music, and stories between the Valley of Art, in an immersive experience entitled “Stories of Youth: Intersections of Creativity,” where artist Ahed Al-Amoudi illuminated the canyons of the valley, turning them into an echo that echoes ancient melodies and Arabic chants.
It is noteworthy that the summit comes within the framework of the efforts of the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate and the Ministry of Culture to leave an imprint on the future of culture and arts globally through modernization and development through continuous dialogue, cooperation and innovation.
