Saudi visual artists take part in Qatif transformation project 

Misk Art Institute is one of Misk’s initiatives that seek to enrich the artistic culture and support creative experiences by organizing events that connect artists. (SPA)
Updated 15 April 2019
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Saudi visual artists take part in Qatif transformation project 

  • Misk Art launches Tajalat initiative to promote national cohesion
  • Saudi artists excited over the opportunity to showcase Kingdom’s cultural diversity

QATIF, Eastern Province: The Misk Art Institute has launched Tajalat initiative in Qatif as part of the central Awamiyah project to bring together visual artists from all across Saudi Arabia to carry a message of love by promoting the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom. 

Misk Art Institute is one of Misk’s initiatives that seek to enrich the artistic culture and support creative experiences by organizing events that connect artists. It is a cultural organization operating under the auspices of the Misk Foundation, established by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

The central Awamiyah project in Qatif was opened on Jan. 31 by the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, Prince Saud bin Naif. Local Mayor Fahd Al-Jubair said he was delighted at the progress made in central Awamiyah, which he hailed as one of the most ambitious transformations in the Kingdom.

“The inauguration of the central Awamiyah project is a vital step in the comprehensive development of Qatif and its cities, so that it remains a cultural hub,” he said.

Twenty-two male and female visual artists are taking part in the initiative that will help transform the area into a jewel of Saudi urban heritage. Misk Arts Institute CEO Reem Sultan extended thanks to Qatif people for hosting the Tajalat initiative. She said the institute always works on initiatives that support art and artists throughout the Kingdom.  

The Saudi Press Agency quoted several artists as saying that the initiative is an extension of the success of its first edition that was launched as part of the Winter at Tantora cultural festival in Al-Ula. It aims to provide artists a platform to discuss the Saudi art scene and promote creative activities in the Kingdom, they said.

Munir Al-Hajji, a visual artist from Qatif, said the initiative is very important as it promotes different art forms and contributes to promoting the message of love and peace and showcases Saudi Arabia’s rich history and bright future through art.     

He said several artists from different parts of the Kingdom are taking part in the second season of the initiative. “Taking part in the initiative is an honor,” Al-Hajji said. He said the artists see this as an opportunity to their nation and to boost national cohesion.

Many artists see this event as an opportunity to promote the diverse culture of the Kingdom and to achieve unity through diversity.

Al-Hajji stressed the importance of organizing such events for the preservation of regional and national heritage.

Abdullah Al-Tamimi from Riyadh said the initiative carries a message of peace, security and love among Saudi citizens. He lauded the Misk Foundation for this initiative.

Visual artist Layla Nasrallah from Qatif said that organizing this initiative is a dream come true to the region’s young men and women. She said the participation of visual artists from all over the Kingdom represents a cultural dimension. “Art is a message and it is the responsibility of artists to deliver it to future generations,” she said.

Youssef bin Ahmed Jaha, an artist from Makkah, said such initiatives help enrich the creative experiences of artists.

Visual Artist Sima Abed Al-Hay from Qatif stressed the importance of the initiative that constitutes a new beginning featuring the cultural and heritage aspect of the Kingdom.

Visual Artist Zaman Jassem from Qatif was delighted at the participation of so many visual artists, who got the opportunity to showcase their work through the Tajalat initiative. 

He said the initiative reflects the diverse cultures thriving across the Kingdom. Jassem said the initiative aims to promote humanitarianism and development and it seeks to promote peace and harmony.

 

QATIF, Eastern Province: The Misk Art Institute has launched Tajalat initiative in Qatif as part of the central Awamiyah project to bring together visual artists from all across Saudi Arabia to carry a message of love by promoting the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom. 

Saudi visual artists take part in Qatif transformation project 

 


Threat to Kingdom’s security is ‘red line’ that will be ‘addressed and neutralized,’ Saudi envoy says

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Threat to Kingdom’s security is ‘red line’ that will be ‘addressed and neutralized,’ Saudi envoy says

  • Abdulaziz Alwasil tells UN Security Council the situation in southern Yemen is ‘a just cause with social and historic dimensions’ that can only be resolved through dialogue
  • Recent military activity in the south was unilateral, resulting in an escalation that harms the interests of Yemeni people and undermines efforts to address issues in the south, he said

NEW YORK CITY: Any attempt to threaten Saudi Arabia’s national security is a “red line” and will be met with decisive action, the Kingdom’s ambassador to the UN told the Security Council on Wednesday.

Speaking during a meeting of the council to discuss Yemen, Abdulaziz Alwasil said the situation in the south of the country is “a just cause with social and historic dimensions” that can only be resolved through dialogue.

“We stress that any attempt to threaten our national security is a red line, and we will not hesitate to take the necessary actions and steps to address it and neutralize it,” he added.

Alwasil reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government in their efforts to achieve security, stability, development and peace while preserving national unity.

He said military activity by Southern Transitional Council forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra on Dec. 2, 2025, was unilateral, did not have the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council, and was not carried out in coordination with the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.

It had resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of the Yemeni people, undermined efforts to address the issues in the south, and ran counter to the coalition’s objectives, Alwasil added.

The Kingdom, working with its coalition partners, the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, had moved to contain the situation by dispatching a military force to coordinate arrangements with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, he said.

The aim was to ensure the return of the southern council’s forces to their previous positions outside of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, and the handover of camps to legitimate government forces and local authorities in line with agreed procedures, Alwasil added.

He expressed regret over the military operations that took place in Hadramout and Al-Mahra, close to Saudi Arabia’s southern border, which he said posed a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, as well as the security of Yemen and regional stability. Such steps were extremely dangerous, he added, and contradicted the principles on which the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen had been founded.

Alwasil welcomed a prisoner and detainee exchange agreement signed in Muscat on Dec. 23, which he described as an important humanitarian measure to alleviate suffering and build confidence.

He praised Oman for hosting and sponsoring the consultations and supporting negotiations, and commended the efforts of UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the International Committee of the Red Cross and all others that has played a part.

Regarding the political efforts to resolve the crisis, Alwasil said Saudi Arabia welcomed President Al-Alimi’s call for an inclusive conference in Riyadh to bring together all stakeholders to discuss just solutions to the situation in southern Yemen.

Preparations for the conference have begun, he added, in cooperation with the Yemeni government and southern representatives, reflecting the close ties between the two countries and their shared interests in stabilizing Yemen.

He urged all southern stakeholders to participate actively and constructively in the talks, to help find comprehensive and just solutions that meet the legitimate aspirations of the people of southern Yemen.

Alwasil called on all Yemeni forces and stakeholders to cooperate and intensify their efforts to reach a lasting political settlement that would ensure security and stability.

He described the southern issue as “a just cause with social and historic dimensions,” adding that “the only way to address it is through dialogue that leads to a comprehensive political solution” based on nationally and internationally agreed terms of reference.