As Saudi Arabia continues its journey towards societal and economic advancement, it has been focusing on a number of key areas, one being the development of its cultural and creative offerings. Under its Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and transform it into a knowledge and technology based one, Saudi Arabia has been working on recreating its cultural industry with specific regards to the arts, literature, theater, and cinema. That is where projects such as King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture, also known as “Ithra,” come in.
Designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta, which also designed the award-winning Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Oslo Opera House, Ithra has been created with the aim to ensure that culture in Saudi Arabia becomes a force that influences human interaction. It aims to “make a tangible and positive impact on human development by inspiring a passion for knowledge, creativity, and cross-cultural engagement for the future of the Kingdom.”
Inaugurated in December last year, the center has already received more than 250,000 visitors to date and is expected to welcome almost 2.5 million more by 2020. Ithra offers a unique program of events for visitors to experience and, according to Arab News, is now also offering several programs – or “trips” – in line with Eid Al-Adha.
Ali Al-Mutairi, who is the director of Ithra, explained to the news site that the center’s programs have been designed to take visitors through a unique journey of thought, with the belief that it can ultimately contribute to fostering knowledge, creativity, and cross-cultural interaction in many areas.
It is no surprise that arts and culture have been taking centerstage in Saudi Arabia lately. Unlike neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates, which has a relatively small, young population, the Kingdom has a much more sizeable population and a grassroots artist-led scene that has existed for years. By developing relevant cultural infrastructure and providing the right institutional support, Saudi Arabia hopes to places culture and entertainment at the center of its plans for increasing quality of life.
