Saudis will showcase arts to counter negative stereotypes

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it plans to showcase the arts and grow its media industry to counter negative stereotypes of the kingdom, whose rights record is regularly criticised abroad.

The initiatives are part of the wide-ranging National Transformation Programme (NTP) which sets targets for diversifying the oil-dependent economy.

“The intention also is to transform the society,” culture and information minister Adel al-Turaifi said on the sidelines of a briefing about the NTP, which was endorsed by Cabinet late Monday.

Saudi Arabia, an absolute Islamic monarchy, has no public cinemas or theatres, though private showings do take place.

But under the NTP a Royal Arts Complex would be developed, as well as a Media City.

Although small art exhibitions have occurred, the Wahhabi Islamic thought on which the kingdom is founded forbids paintings of the human form.

Mr Turaifi told a press conference that although some Saudi artists and performers have exhibited and gained popularity abroad, they “did not find the platform and space to support them” at home.

That will change with the Arts Complex which “would help convey a picture of Saudi Arabia to the world,” he said in the press conference with other ministers.

Similarly, the Media City will develop the production skills of young Saudis and create local content which so far is “very limited”, Turaifi said.

“What we’re aiming to do is actually to provide institutions that can display their work, that can support them, that can provide them with grants, scholarships, to pursue their dreams of creating art,” he said.

The NTP aims for 16,100 media and related jobs by 2020, up from 10,000 now.

Underlying the project is a goal of improving the kingdom’s image and promoting its culture, the minister said.

“During the last few decades accusations and stereotyping was instilled about Saudi Arabia,” he said.