logo
Saudi Arabia displays cultural depth at Seoul, Beijing book fairs

Saudi Arabia displays cultural depth at Seoul, Beijing book fairs

Arab News19-06-2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, is taking part in the Seoul International Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair, both being held from June 18 to 22.
The Kingdom inaugurated its pavilion at the Seoul International Book Fair 2025 on Wednesday at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in the South Korean capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Commission CEO Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Wasel said Saudi Arabia's participation reflects its growing presence in global cultural events.
He said the initiative underscores the Kingdom's commitment to fostering partnerships with international publishing houses and building cultural bridges.
The Saudi delegation includes representatives from the King Abdulaziz Public Library, King Fahd National Library, the Publishing Association, and local publishing houses, as well as the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, and Nashir publishing and distribution company.
KSGAAL Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Washmi said the fair provides a platform for engaging with those interested in the Arabic language and culture. It also offers an opportunity to underscore Saudi Arabia's efforts to support the Arabic language and promote its use in academic and technical fields.
The academy is presenting a selection of its latest publications and introducing visitors to its digital platforms and initiatives for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, compiling dictionaries, and developing linguistic resources to support Arabic digital content.
The Saudi pavilion is also at the Beijing International Book Fair 2025, which kicked off at the China National Convention and Exhibition Center on Wednesday.
The book fair is part of 2025 being celebrated as Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, reflecting the strength of bilateral relations built on decades of friendship and cooperation and embodying both countries' aspirations to enhance cultural and intellectual exchanges between their peoples.
During the five-day book fair, the Saudi pavilion presents a diverse literary and cultural program that reflects the growing momentum of the Saudi cultural scene, displaying the Kingdom's evolving creative and intellectual landscape.
The pavilion reflects a spirit of cultural dialogue and openness, making the exhibition a key international platform to present Saudi initiatives in the book sector while deepening literary and cultural relations with intellectual figures and global publishing houses.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Where We Are Going Today: Pop Tayer in Jeddah
Where We Are Going Today: Pop Tayer in Jeddah

Arab News

time6 hours ago

  • Arab News

Where We Are Going Today: Pop Tayer in Jeddah

Pop Tayer has become a go-to in Jeddah for lovers of bite-sized pastries, blending the rich flavors of Lebanese cuisine with the comforting taste of Saudi favorites. Seeing classic pastries in such small portions is both surprising and appealing, with each piece fresh, flavorful and hard to resist. The signature selection includes spinach, kebbeh and pizza. The spinach variety offers a tangy burst of flavor, the mini pizzas carry a nostalgic, homemade taste, and the kebbeh is crisp on the outside with a savory, well-seasoned filling. Pop Tayer's Lebanese-inspired menu also features safiha, shish barak and waraa einab, while the Saudi flavors include aish bilahham and sambusa — all served in the brand's signature miniature style. The pastries make great guilt-free snacks, whether at home, at work or on the go. They are sold by the kilogram or the dozen. A kilogram of spinach pastries is priced at SR220 ($59). All pastries are homemade and preservative-free, with orders prepared fresh, except for the spinach filling, which is frozen in advance before baking. Orders can be placed via Instagram @pop_tayer.

Saudi ‘Art Bridges' 4-nation project opens for applications
Saudi ‘Art Bridges' 4-nation project opens for applications

Arab News

time7 hours ago

  • Arab News

Saudi ‘Art Bridges' 4-nation project opens for applications

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission has launched its 'Art Bridges' initiative for 2025–2026, a series of international programs designed to promote cultural exchange. The programs will be hosted in Scotland, Japan, South Korea and Spain. The first in Scotland will be held from Sept. 22 to 27, in partnership with the British Council Scotland. Japan will host an event from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7, followed by South Korea from Nov. 19 to 27, and Spain from March 2 to 9, 2026. Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission, said in a statement that the initiative offers a unique opportunity for cultural practitioners to share their creative voices with the world. Each edition of 'Art Bridges' will be tailored to the host destination. There will be meetings with thought leaders, visits to major cultural institutions, museums, galleries and artist studios, as well as workshops, knowledge-exchange sessions, and discussions with prominent local art figures. The 2025–2026 programs will explore specific themes, with Japan focusing on art and the environment by examining how artists interact with natural, urban and traditional settings. South Korea's program will address identity through art and society by studying community cultural movements, independent artist spaces and collaborative platforms. In Spain, the program will highlight heritage and collaborative practice by showcasing the intersection of shared artistic expression, and social purpose in cultural spaces. The application window for those wishing to participate opens on Aug. 13. The deadline for Japan is Aug. 21, while South Korea and Spain close on Aug. 31. Applicants must be over 21, have at least five years of professional experience, submit a strong portfolio, be fluent in English and commit to the full program schedule. The commission stated that 'Art Bridges' forms a cornerstone of its strategy to expand Saudi Arabia's cultural presence globally, build sustainable creative ecosystems, and forge long-term international partnerships.

Hunna mentorship program hits right notes for women in MENA
Hunna mentorship program hits right notes for women in MENA

Arab News

time7 hours ago

  • Arab News

Hunna mentorship program hits right notes for women in MENA

RIYADH: The women-led music initiative, Hunna, has launched its 2025 mentorship program and workshop series. Now in its third year, the program connects women across the region with mentors, resources and networks to help them grow professionally. It has more than 120 members from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere. This year's program began in July, with six participants paired with professionals from various musical disciplines. They will each receive monthly one-on-one mentorship and tailored development plans as well as access to Hunna's wider programming. The culmination of their hard work will be a showcase at this year's XP Music Futures in December. Mentorship program manager Nadia Khan, who also founded the nongovernmental organization Women in Ctrl, said: 'This year's mentor-mentee pairings reflect the diversity of talent in the region and the global reach of the women guiding them. 'Having such inspirational and accomplished mentors means our mentees aren't just receiving guidance, they're learning directly from women who have carved their own paths in music, broken barriers and proven that it's possible to thrive while staying true to your vision.' This year's pairings are: Tunisia-based Chaima Soudani with Celine Hitti, head of artist services MENA at Believe; singer Nadine Lingawi (Fulana) with Emmy-nominated composer and BBC Radio 3 presenter Hannah Peel; Egyptian multi-instrumentalist and producer Martina Ashraf with Montreal-based experimental electronic artist Liliane Chlela; Saudi composer and pianist Nora Aljebrin with Nadin Al-Khalidi, lead vocalist of Tarabband; DJ and producer Lena Chercaoui with Saudi DJ and producer Cosmicat; and Palestinian-Jordanian vocalist Lina Sleibi with singer-songwriter and visual creative Lina Makoul. The pairings were chosen through an anonymized selection process led by Hunna committee members and former participants. 'Hunna is about creating a space of solidarity and community where women can grow in every part of the music industry,' Hitti said. Al-Khalidi said: 'I joined the Hunna mentorship program to share my journey and inspire others to tell their own stories through music.' Workshops are a core part of the program. The first, 'Introduction to Music Production,' will be held on Aug. 20 at Beast House in Riyadh. Monthly sessions through November will cover production, live performance, artist strategy and global positioning. They will be accessible to all members of the Hunna community. Tanya Awad, head of music and experience at XP Music Futures and MDLBeast Foundation, which leads the Hunna initiative, said: 'Our vision is clear: to see MENA women in every facet of the music industry.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store