Saudi Arabia Honors Cultural Talents At The 4th National Cultural Awards

Under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the fourth edition of the National Cultural Awards took place on Monday evening. The event, held at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, saw Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan honouring the winners. Senior officials, intellectuals, writers, artists, and media professionals attended the ceremony.

Prince Badr expressed his gratitude to creators and innovators from various cultural sectors. He stated: "We welcome the creators and innovators from various cultural sectors at the conclusion of the 2024 National Cultural Awards initiative, which comes under the generous patronage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the supporter and enabler of our cultural sector." He highlighted that Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant cultural renaissance under Vision 2030.

The Ministry of Culture has adopted a strategy to develop cultural capacities comprehensively with partners across different sectors. The National Cultural Awards initiative aims to support and encourage talents and their creativity. This year’s awards saw two new categories: the Cultural Media Award and the Handicrafts Award.

Dr. Saad Al-Sowayan received the Cultural Pioneer Award for his notable scientific, literary, and cultural contributions. Writer and artist Diaa Youssef was honoured with the Youth Culture Award for her dedication to culture and young talents. The Business Owners Award went to Badr bin Mohammed Al-Bowardi for his family's efforts in preserving cultural heritage.

The International Cultural Excellence Award was given to the Turquoise Mountain Foundation for its work in protecting cultural heritage and supporting artisans. MBC Group received the Cultural Institutions Award in the private sector track, while King Faisal Foundation (KFF) won in the non-profit sector track.

Celebrating Diverse Talents

Dr. Abdullah Al-Sharakh was awarded the National Heritage Award. Osamah Al-Muslim won the Literature Award for his contributions as a short story writer and novelist. Qyadiya Publishing House, known for publishing children's books, received the Publishing Award.

Other notable winners included Dr. Walid Al-Omari with the Translation Award and film director Tawfik Al-Zaidi who won the Film Award. Abadi Al-Johar was honoured with the Music Award while Dr. Khalid Azzam received recognition in Architecture and Design.

Encouraging Creativity

The Theatre and Performing Arts Award went to Mohammed Al-Tuwaiyan, while Dr. Mohammed Al-Mansouri won in Culinary Arts. Taha Al-Sabban received recognition in Visual Arts, and Dr. Lailah Al-Bassam was awarded for her contributions to Fashion.

This ceremony marks an important event organised annually by the Ministry of Culture to celebrate Saudi accomplishments in various cultural sectors. The Ministry remains committed to nurturing culture, supporting creative individuals, and fostering a dynamic environment aligned with Vision 2030 goals.

With inputs from SPA