RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced it was launching the “Modern Urban Heritage” initiative to preserve important landmarks of modern architectural heritage.
This includes the most important distinctive built cultural models, and represent key elements that shaped the memory and history of architecture and urbanism in the Kingdom in the past, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The initiative is part of the commission’s vision, which is embodied in celebrating heritage as a cultural wealth, and based on its mission to protect, manage and enable innovation and sustainable development of the components of cultural heritage.
The commission will activate the initiative according to three programs, which include the Modern Urban Heritage Exploration and Recording Program, the Modern Urban Heritage Documentation Program, and the Modern Urban Heritage Preservation and Restoration Program.
They will be implemented in six phases representing the life cycle of the governorate, and will include exploration, architectural and urban documentation, registration and coding, restoration and rehabilitation, development and investment, and management and operation.
The initiative identified eight main criteria for selecting and registering the landmarks and buildings of the modern urban heritage, which include aesthetic, historical and cultural value, scientific and technological value, prominent landmark, rarity, spatial context, site status, and authenticity, so that they are included in the National Urban Heritage Register after achieving all or part of these criteria.
The initiative is of paramount importance in the efforts of the Heritage Commission to preserve the components, elements and buildings of modern urban heritage, as the time scope of the initiative covers a major architectural period in the Kingdom’s development journey, closely linked with the change of building patterns in response to the economic and social growth that Saudi society has experienced in the past six decades.
The initiative seeks to restore the memory of the buildings that embody that period, whether they still exist, or have been lost or previously neglected.
Saudi authorities launch modern urban heritage initiative to preserve landmarks
https://arab.news/j3ps6
Saudi authorities launch modern urban heritage initiative to preserve landmarks
Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah
RIYADH: A new center for Arabic calligraphy under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially opened in Madinah on Monday.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region.
He was joined by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, touring the new facility’s exhibition spaces and receiving briefings on cultural programming and the center’s achievements.
They also viewed collections highlighting Arabic calligraphy’s artistic and historical importance.
Speaking at the opening, Prince Badr said: “From this land of enlightenment and scholarship, we proudly launch a global platform dedicated to Arabic calligraphy as an invaluable cultural asset.”
He went on to credit the crown prince’s “generous and boundless support” for the cultural sector.
The minister said that the center demonstrated to the world the legacy of Arabic calligraphy while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural identity and heritage.
According to Prince Badr, the facility represents an ambitious vision to elevate Arabic calligraphy as both a universal communication tool and an integral element of Arab heritage, art, architecture and design.
The center further aims to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural identity and strengthen its international presence, targeting calligraphers, emerging talents, visual artists, Islamic arts researchers, educational and cultural institutions, as well as art and heritage enthusiasts worldwide.
It will deliver specialized programs including research and archival services, calligraphy instruction, academic grants, a permanent museum, touring exhibitions, an international calligraphy association and a business incubator supporting calligraphy enterprises.
Additional offerings feature artist residency programs, expert-led workshops, and standardized curriculum development, complemented by international educational partnerships aimed at heritage conservation and expanding global appreciation for this time-honored art form.
The center’s establishment in Madinah carries particular significance, given the city’s historical role as the cradle of Arabic calligraphy and its association with transcribing the Qur’an and preserving Islamic knowledge.
