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What will Saudi Arabia’s new cultural sector offer to its audiences? While vistas of cranes and pile drivers sketch the scale of new infrastructure, does recent programming offer a taste of the future experiences? From the pulsating Tunnel of Calvin Harris’ DJ set at Sound Storm to the wonder of the Islamic Arts Biennale (with loans from the V&A), to Noor Riyadh (featuring Random International), and Thikra (with Manal AlDowayan). And who could forget Sir Anthony Hopkins’ composition, ‘Life is a Dream’, staged for a live broadcast with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under a floating dreamscape made of silk. Will new venues be brimming with these immersive and multi-sensory experiences? Will traditions and heritage be animated afresh by artistic new media? Across Saudi Arabia, the cultural sector is expanding at a breathtaking rate, and consolidating its role as a bedrock of long-term growth. It will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and share Saudi Arabia’s treasures and stories with the world. The sector targets SR24 billion in exports and aims to represent 3% of Saudi’s GDP. Looking back on the transformation which has taken place, investment and international collaboration have been cornerstones. As a Brit, I am immensely proud of all that the UK has engaged in. And there are some magical milestones on the near horizon – in particular the opening of Riyadh University of Arts (with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Royal College of Art, and SOAS University of London), and the Museum of World Cultures (finalising loan agreements with so many leading institutions). In 2029, we will also celebrate the UK-Saudi Year of Culture. Later this month, UK cultural institutions will begin a conversation about the works that they will bring to Saudi. The bilateral structure of the season will also see Saudi’s cultural sector stage events across the UK, with the exciting potential to reveal the new faces and voices of KSA. There will be the chance to showcase the rich breadth of cultural partnerships which are already flourishing. As well as the opportunity to explore a range of coproductions which draw inspiration from two cultures, and help us visualise the ever-closer partnership between our Kingdoms. For the British Council, this direction builds on decades of engagement in Saudi Arabia. For over fifty years, the organisation has worked to strengthen cultural connections and people-to-people exchange. Today, this role continues through partnerships with key institutions including the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Commission for AlUla, Ithra and Hayy Jameel. These collaborations champion new talent, seed institutional partnerships and inspire joint programmes across both countries. As we approach 2029, all of our work is now focused on preparing the ground for a Year of Celebration. Initiatives such as our AlUla Grants Programme, an annual call for Artists in Residence, and a commitment to capacity building and exchange are creating new pathways for collaboration. The sustained investment in new relationships and new projects will ensure that the Year of Culture delivers a legacy of hundreds of new UK-KSA cultural partnerships. This approach aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s broader cultural vision. As the Kingdom advances towards Vision 2030, culture is increasingly positioned as a space for participation, innovation and human development. Investment in the arts extends beyond production to focus on people and their potential. It supports the development of skills, confidence and connections that allow the sector to grow sustainably over time. But perhaps most importantly it has the power to nurture a deeper understanding, and to help us earn one another’s trust, with all the opportunity that is unlocked in the process. Within this evolving landscape, we are proud to launch a new digital platform called ‘Saudi Now’. This simple website is there to document developments in the UK-KSA cultural collaboration, to signpost ways in which stakeholders can connect across the sector, and to offer practical advice and resources for all those developing new partnerships. As collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the UK continues to grow, platforms like this will help ensure that collaboration is clearly communicated and widely understood. New journeys in new cultural venues, and a Year of Culture, will offer the chance for fresh discovery. During my own time in Saudi Arabia, I have come to appreciate the quarter tones of the oud, the irresistible rhythm of the tar drum, the beauty of rawasheen windows, the vast stillness of the desert, and the deep wells of hospitality shaped by centuries of tradition. I hope that, in the years ahead, we will also discover something deeper still: an affinity between our cultures – a common language of creativity, connection and generosity. Ultimately, the question is not only what Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector will offer its audiences, but what it will enable between our people. If recent experiences are any indication, it will create moments that move us, spaces that invite us in, and stories that help us see one another more clearly. In doing so, it will not only transform places, but build lasting connections between cultures, and between us all.
