Boasting of rich heritage and culture, the need to highlight Saudi Arabia’s unique traditional art and culture has been long due. Thus, to bring traditional Saudi art to the masses both locally and internationally Saudi Arabia’s Institute of Traditional Arts at the Royal Academy of Arts has come forward to develop the cultural sector.

Offering artisans of all levels a range of ways to experience and learn the traditional arts of the Kingdom, this decision by the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts is a major step forward in the development of Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector. The plan has been approved by the Council of Ministers, which was first announced in 2019.

The new foundation will provide advanced educational programmes in the arts with an aim to preserve, cultivate and re-imagine vital components of Saudi culture for future generations. Not just that, the plan will also enable craftspeople to professionalise their skills and create a talent pipeline for the fast-growing cultural and creative industries.

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts is set to offer three educational tracks as apprenticeship programmes, academic schemes and short courses. The courses are divided into traditional visual arts studies such as textiles and fashion, raw materials, buildings, artefact studies and book art in areas ranging from music and museums to heritage and antiques among others.

The institute will also pay heed to raise public awareness and involvement in the preservation of cultural heritage, encourage international cultural exchange, and support creators through the provision of research grants related to traditional arts. This will help in highlighting Saudi national identity, promoting traditional arts, and running specialist training.

An initiative by the Vision 2030 Quality of Life Program, The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, will also promote cultural exchange as creative partnerships with leading international institutions that are expected to be announced in the forthcoming months.