The culture ministers of Saudi Arabia and the UK have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which sets out the framework for enhanced cooperation between both countries in the cultural and creative sectors.

The MoU was signed by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, the Rt. Hon. Nadine Dorries.

The Rt. Hon Nadine Dorries said: "I was delighted to sign a new cultural agreement between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the amazing Diriyah Biennale - a place for dialogue and exchange between Saudi Arabia and the world - with HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud. Culture has the power to unite people from every background, and this new agreement will strengthen our ties in film, museums and heritage."

Under the MoU, the longstanding allies and close trading partners will work to increase collaboration in high-growth industries such as film and music production, architecture, design, and fashion. Partnerships in technical fields such as archaeology and publishing will also be facilitated, and both sides have committed to sharing policy best-practice and experience in the cultivation of successful creative industries.

The MoU will also facilitate greater knowledge transfer and cooperation in fields such as heritage preservation and archaeology. Technical experts and academics will share their findings and best practice from groundbreaking programs in several locations around the Kingdom through exchanges and workshops that will help to build capacity in both countries.
 
Other aspects of the MoU include plans for expanding artist residency and cultural exchange programs, which will enable Saudi and UK talents to learn from and create with their counterparts, and the promotion of both cultures across Saudi Arabia and the UK.  

The MoU signing took place in Riyadh in the creative district of JAX on the first day of Rt. Hon. Nadine Dorries’ visit to the Kingdom. As part of the trip, the delegation toured the Kingdom’s first art biennale, the Diriyah Biennale, and met with industry leaders, cultural professionals, and other government officials.

The Kingdom’s cultural and creative sectors have grown rapidly as part of Saudi Vision 2030’s diversification efforts, with the Ministry of Culture implementing a raft of business-friendly regulatory changes and overseeing exponential growth of the country’s cultural infrastructure. – TradeArabia News Service