SEOUL: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, which is being held from June 26-30, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Held at the Convention and Exhibition Complex south of the Korean capital, SIBF’s 66th edition is a celebration Saudi culture, with the Kingdom’s pavilion reflecting various aspects of its cultural heritage.
The pavilion will highlight features of Saudi culture through an integrated experience led by the Ministry of Culture’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, in collaboration with the Heritage Authority, the Fashion Authority, the Film Commission, the Culinary Arts Commission, King Abdulaziz House, the King Salman International Academy for the Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the King Fahd National Library, the Publishing Society, and the Ministry of Investment.
Throughout the exhibition, LPT will present a diverse cultural program at the pavilion and the exhibition’s main theater, in collaboration with an elite group of writers and authors. The program includes dialogue sessions and seminars on various topics, most notably the Kingdom’s history and antiquities, Saudi women writers, and the contribution of the language in transmitting cultural values, traditions and customs, societal and identity formation, the common features between Korean and Arabic languages and cultures, and the historical and contemporary interactions between the two cultures, including trade, travel and cultural exchanges and their effect on the language.
The program includes seminars on poetry and what it represents to Arabs, the Saudi novel, and the Kingdom’s role in teaching Arabic to non-natives in Korea. One of the seminars will also discuss ways to activate cooperation between Korean and Arab singing.
The Saudi pavilion will also host the inauguration of the “Book of Poems in Korean Language,” which was the result of fruitful cooperation between the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and the LPT.
The King Salman International Academy for Arabic Language will launch a project for Arabic language in Korea.
There will be live performance of traditional Saudi arts such as the Ardha (a type of group folk dance), and a special display of books and artifacts discovered on Saudi land to enrich the experience of Korean visitors to the pavilion.
A Saudi dinner night presenting national dishes from various regions will also be organized.
Through participating in SIBF, Saudi Arabia aims to consolidate the bonds of partnership and cooperation with Korea, enhance dialogue between cultures and civilizations, and enrich areas of joint cooperation in literature, culture and arts.
Launched in 1954, SIBF is one of the most famous book fairs in Asia and the world. In 1995, the Korean Publishing Culture Association developed the event into an international fair. This year, there are about 90 publishing institutions and companies from 19 countries participating, alongside 350 Korean publishing houses.
Saudi pavilion inaugurated at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair’s
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Saudi pavilion inaugurated at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair’s
- The Kingdom is the guest of honor at the fair
- The 66th edition of the event is a celebration of Saudi culture
Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah
- The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
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.
