4th Ithra Art Prize winner to be announced Monday

A view of the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran. (SPA file photo)
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Updated 27 August 2021
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4th Ithra Art Prize winner to be announced Monday

  • Entries were open to artists from all 22 Arab countries as winning submission will be awarded $100,000
  • Prize is presented in partnership with Ad-Diriyah Biennale Foundation as winning artwork will be unveiled at inaugural Ad-Diriyah Biennale

DHAHRAN: The King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has said the 4th Ithra Art Prize winner will be announced Monday and the top prize will be $100,000.

The Ithra Art Prize is presented in partnership with the Ad-Diriyah Biennale Foundation as the winning submission will be unveiled at the inaugural Ad-Diriyah Biennale, the Kingdom’s first biennale.

Entries were open to all Saudi and Saudi-based contemporary artists, as well as artists from or based in the 22 Arab countries. A jury of local and international leaders in the art world will evaluate the proposals and decide the winner.

The winning artwork will be unveiled on Dec. 7 and will then join Ithra’s prestigious permanent art collection.

Since its inception, the Ad-Diriyah Biennale Foundation has contributed with Ithra in bringing the program — first launched in 2017 — back to the Kingdom after being held abroad for three years. The Ithra Art Prize aims to develop the art industry in Saudi Arabia and beyond through interaction between different cultures.

HIGHLIGHT

The winning artwork will be unveiled on Dec. 7 and will then join Ithra’s prestigious permanent art collection.

The foundation will hold the Ad-Diriyah Biennale of Contemporary Art 2021 and the Islamic Arts Biennale 2022 annually to promote diversity. It aims to create more space for Saudi artists from different creative directions while allowing them to showcase their work and interact with international artists.

The biennale is a creative platform that allows international audiences access to diverse world-class Saudi art and culture. It will be held between Dec. 7 and March 7, 2022 under the curatorship of writer and critic Philip Tinari.

UAE-based Saudi artist Ayman Zeidani’s project “Meem,” won the inaugural edition of the Ithra Art Prize in 2018. The second winner, in 2019, was Dania Al-Saleh’s “Sawtam,” which breaks down language into phonemes using multimedia visual and auditory displays. Most recently, Fahad Bin Naif won the 2020 prize for his artwork “Rakhm,” which evokes agricultural nurseries in the Kingdom and incubates indigenous vegetation instead of traditional house plants. 

All winning artworks were displayed at Art Dubai.

 


Saudi Arabia calls for unified Arab efforts to confront environmental challenges

Updated 9 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia calls for unified Arab efforts to confront environmental challenges

  • Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadli spoke of biodiversity and the Arab region’s natural resources
  • Al-Fadli said that the region was capable of utilizing technology and innovation

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadli has stressed the importance of regional action to combat environmental challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa region and the world, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

Speaking during the 38th meeting of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development in Riyadh, the minister spoke of biodiversity, the area’s natural resources and the range of agricultural environments, while stressing the challenges facing the region. He called for a united effort to reduce the impact on the region’s peoples.

Al-Fadli said that the Arab region was capable of utilizing technology and innovation, as well as seizing opportunities to invest in agriculture and improve practices to become more productive, efficient and sustainable in the use of water and natural resources.

He said enhancing trade, regional and international cooperation, and the benefits of international organizations were sources of optimism.

The minister said that the Arab region could take advantage of opportunities in technology, innovation and investment in agriculture by improving practices to make the utilization of water and natural resources more productive, efficient and sustainable.

Ibrahim Al Dukhairi, the director general of the organization, pledged his support for sustainability and agricultural development in the region, along with the development of the Arab landscape and food security.

He pointed out the significance of strategies to launch the necessary initiatives and partnerships to achieve the region’s goals.


Tourism Ministry signs job-creation deal

Updated 33 min 17 sec ago
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Tourism Ministry signs job-creation deal

  • Agreement was inked by Hind Al-Zahed, in charge of human-capacity development at the MoT, and Sabbar’s founder and CEO Mohammed Taha Ibrahim
  • Agreement is aimed at ensuring the sector employs citizens in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has signed an agreement in Riyadh with Sabbar, a hiring company, to ensure job creation for the sector.

The agreement was inked by Hind Al-Zahed, in charge of human-capacity development at the ministry, and Sabbar’s founder and CEO Mohammed Taha Ibrahim.

Sabbar is a digital platform connecting employers with those seeking jobs.

The agreement is aimed at ensuring the sector employs citizens in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, and to boost the development of the nation’s tourism companies.

The ministry wants to ensure that quality jobs are created in the private sector; and establish a database of those seeking employment.


Specialist hospital is top healthcare institution

Updated 02 May 2024
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Specialist hospital is top healthcare institution

  • Report highlighted a 31 percent increase in the brand value of the institution, surpassing SR5.6 billion
  • Increase is attributed to its commitment to integrate the latest medical technologies and treatments

RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has led its sector for the second successive year, ranking as the top healthcare institution in the Kingdom and the Middle East.

It stands out as the only hospital globally to be among the top 10 valuable brands in its country, according to two reports by Brand Finance about the top 50 most valuable brands in Saudi Arabia, and the top 150 most valuable brands in the Middle East for 2024.

The report highlighted a 31 percent increase in the brand value of the institution, surpassing SR5.6 billion ($1.49 billion). This increase is attributed to its commitment to integrate the latest medical technologies and treatments, provide specialized medical care according to the latest international standards, and continuously develop research and patient care.

Muhannad Abdullah Kadi, chief corporate communications and marketing officer at KFSH&RC, said: “This achievement reflects the hospital’s commitment to achieving the highest quality standards and providing exceptional healthcare, as well as the value it provides to beneficiaries.”

He stressed that being among the top 10 most valuable brands in the Kingdom was evidence of the success of the transformations taking place in the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia.


Digital Cooperation Organization to attend Islamic Summit in Gambia

Updated 02 May 2024
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Digital Cooperation Organization to attend Islamic Summit in Gambia

  • 15th annual event will be held this weekend in Banjul

RIYADH: The Digital Cooperation Organization, which works to shape the global digital economy, will take part in the upcoming 15th annual Islamic Summit Conference in the Gambian capital Banjul.

DCO Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya will head a delegation at the event, which runs from Saturday to Sunday alongside a series of summits organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to enhance cooperation and understanding between Islamic countries.

“The DCO’s participation in the conference embodies our firm commitment to strengthen multilateral action to reduce the digital gap and accelerate digital transformation and prosperity in cooperation with all concerned parties in the public and private sectors and civil institutions, as well as international and regional organizations concerned with development,” Al-Yahya said.

“It is consistent with the goal of the organization, digital cooperation aimed at promoting comprehensive and sustainable development in the global digital economy within a cooperative framework.”

Al-Yahya said she would hold talks with several heads of state as well as the leaders of other delegations during the event.

The agenda of the conference, which is being held under the slogan “Promoting Unity and Solidarity Through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” covers areas of political, economic, social, cultural and technological interest as well as issues related to the media, law, social affairs, administration and finance.

The DCO has signed a memorandum of understanding with the OIC to provide a framework for cooperation to develop a sustainable digital economy and collaborate in the field of digitization of human resources to help enhance internet connectivity in remote and rural areas.


Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to UAE president on key official’s death

Updated 02 May 2024
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Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to UAE president on key official’s death

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday offered condolences to the ruler of the United Arab Emirates on the death of a key official and a member of the royal family, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

In a cable to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president, King Salman expressed "our deepest and sincere condolences" on the death of Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s ruler representative in Al Ain, who died on May 1, 2024.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed "my warmest and most sincere condolences" in a separate cable to the UAE leader, the SPA said.