Arts and cultures, with their various manifestations, are a means to express human essence. They create sublime messages that transcend matter to uphold the values of love, goodness, and beauty through self-reflection that results in open and disciplined revelations that express feelings and thoughts. Consequently, arts and cultures are a victorious weapon for a free humanity standing in the face of tyranny that gives value to ignorant and unjust judgments, promotes hatred, and despises those who are different.
Art comes in many forms that reflect the talents and skills of artists who feel everything that surrounds them and draw the most beautiful images through several methods, such as sculpting, drawing, literature, ornamentation, poetry, architecture, music, plastic arts, acting and folk dances, such as Ardah and arts of the western, southern, eastern and northern regions. Saudis taste and feel the art. It nurtures their feelings and provides them with captivating expressive methods and means that reflect a major part of their unique behavior and awareness. The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts (SASCA) is the entity responsible for maintaining, growing, and fostering our country's culture and arts.
SASCA and its future vision are part of Saudi Vision 2030. SASCA aims to provide distinguished work of arts. Its mission focuses on developing the creative and innovative capabilities of society members, in addition to taking care of the talented in the fields of culture and arts to let them showcase outstanding works locally, regionally and internationally.
SASCA aims to achieve the following goals: "raising awareness of the importance of culture and arts in various fields, enabling young people in different regions of the Kingdom to acquire cultural experiences, and developing their artistic talents."
Highlighting our country's culture and arts has become more crucial over the years, which in turn led to the establishment of all kinds of institutions, foundations and colleges for culture and arts, offering various courses and specializations to contribute to the country’s development. Culture and art have become important and influential parts of the economy and development, and it would be nearly impossible to spot something in this life that is not closely connected to arts.
It is fair to say, without belittling the Kingdom's previous cultural and artistic achievements, that the country was unable to hold the ideal or desired cultural and artistic position for decades, until Allah, Glory be to Him, enabled His Highness the Crown Prince, may Allah protect him, to highlight the features of his bright and modern Vision that aims to make things right and improve the situation. The Vision is contributing greatly to support and enable the cultural and artistic sector, in addition to advancing the skills of its members.
There is no doubt that the Kingdom's riches and massive cultural and artistic diversity are both very precious and worthy of effort, attention, and care. This wealth, if properly administered, can generate fruitful and significant touristic and economic returns, and will even improve the stereotypical image of the Kingdom. It will play an important role in cultural and public diplomacy and will complement the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in developing the Kingdom's relations.
What is certain, with Allah's will, is that Vision 2030 opened new and unprecedented horizons in our history and paved the way for a major advancement with visible signs and tangible possibilities. The year 2019 witnessed a great breakthrough in the Saudi cultural and artistic activity in line with the Vision's strategy, which will turn culture and art into a way of life and a tributary of the national economy, in addition to promoting tourism and providing distinguished cultural and artistic products that improve the quality of life.
In conclusion, one of the goals of the Ministry of Culture is to make culture a way of life and a source of economic growth, as well as a means to promote the Kingdom's status. These honorable and noble goals and objectives are in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims at building a dynamic community, a thriving economy, and an ambitious country.
