Youth creativity takes center stage at Hakaya Misk

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Showcasing the work and ideas of young artists in the Hakaya Misk festival at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. (Supplied photo)
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Showcasing the work and ideas of young artists in the Hakaya Misk festival at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. (Supplied photo)
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Showcasing the work and ideas of young artists in the Hakaya Misk festival at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. (Supplied photo)
Updated 08 August 2018
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Youth creativity takes center stage at Hakaya Misk

  • The Hakaya Misk festival includes a wide range of cultural and artistic activities and workshops
  • Now on its 10th edition, the festival brings together successful youth projects and experiences in fields including film production, animation, writing and theater

RIYADH: The five-day Hakaya Misk festival is underway, showcasing the work and ideas of young artists from across Saudi Arabia and 11 other countries.

The 10th edition of the event, which began on August 7 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, includes a wide range of cultural and artistic activities and workshops. It brings together a number of successful youth projects and experiences in fields including film production, animation, writing and theater. A number of familiar Arab and international media platforms are also taking part, and there is a special section — Hakaya Tech — devoted to technology innovators offering tools designed to assist creative talents. There is also a section for “young producers,” along with food carts to tempt visitors.

The workshops are a major part of Hakaya Misk, which has a major focus on learning. This year, a new section called “behind the scenes” has been added, featuring interactive film-production workshops hosted by leading international companies. Participants have a rare chance to learn some of the secrets of the film industry and benefit from the experiences of accomplished directors and producers.

The Hakaya Misk Theater, meanwhile, will present a rich collection of daily performances, along with the success stories of young actors, and humanitarian stories from the experiences of those working with the King Salman Relief Center. A selection of Saudi short films will also be screened.

Hakaya Al Murabitin is another important element of the festival, which highlights the work of those who document the great sacrifices made to protect the security of the Kingdom and its people. It has been expanded this year.

Hakaya Misk aims to empower Saudi youth, help them to discover their talents and abilities in creative fields such as the arts and technology, and encourage them to develop creative projects of a modern and global nature that will help to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. A large number of young people who participated in previous editions used their talents to create successful national projects.

 
 
 

Saudi entertainment expo returns to Riyadh for eighth year

Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi entertainment expo returns to Riyadh for eighth year

  • 500 exhibitors, 23,000 professionals attending May 19-21
  • Focus is on the Kingdom’s fast-growing cultural economy

RIYADH: The Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo returns for its eighth year from May 19 to 21, bringing together top brands and underscoring the rapid transformation of the Kingdom’s cultural economy under Vision 2030.

The SEA Expo, Saudi Light and Sound Expo, and the newly launched Middle East Museums and Heritage Expo, will take place together at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center.

A total of 500 exhibitors and 23,000 industry professionals will participate, according to organizers dmg events.

Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president – entertainment portfolio at dmg events, said that bringing all the main exhibitors back “reflects the scale and maturity of the sectors being built in Saudi Arabia today.”

“From entertainment destinations and live events to museums and heritage projects, the Kingdom is increasingly recognized as a global meeting point for these industries,” Kahwajian added.

He said the gathering reflects the scale of opportunity as ongoing developments, heritage developments and live event programming drive demand across the Kingdom.

The cultural sector is targeted to contribute 3 percent to the country’s gross domestic product by 2030 and create 346,000 jobs, Kahwajian added.

Visits to entertainment events in Saudi Arabia reached 76.9 million in 2024, representing 6.8 percent annual growth.

The number of businesses operating in the Kingdom’s cultural and entertainment ecosystem surpassed 51,000 in 2023, a 23.6 percent increase since 2021.

Continued strategic partnerships with the General Entertainment Authority and the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia have strengthened the expo’s role as an industry platform supporting investment, the organizers stated.

Responding to market demand, the light and sound expo will introduce The Event Production Show, reflecting the industry’s shift toward fully integrated ecosystems supporting concerts, festivals and touring productions.

The Kingdom's event management sector is forecast to grow from $2.6 billion in 2025 to $4.2 billion by 2030, representing a 9.7 percent compound annual growth rate.

The Middle East Museums and Heritage Expo will launch as Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated platform serving the sector.