Music and performances shine at Saudi Arabia’s National Cultural Awards

The awards aimed to encourage individuals and institutions promoting culture on both local and global stages.

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Saudi Arabia celebrated its National Cultural Awards ceremony, recognising outstanding contributions across 16 creative categories.

Held at the King Fahd Cultural Centre in Riyadh, the event was graced by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and attended by a diverse audience of local and international guests.

At the opening ceremony, Prince Badr extended a warm welcome to the creators and innovators from diverse cultural fields, highlighting the conclusion of the 2024 National Cultural Awards initiative.

He emphasised that this initiative is held under the esteemed patronage of the Crown Prince, who is a steadfast supporter and promoter of the cultural sector.

"Our country is experiencing a great cultural renaissance under the umbrella of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and the Ministry of Culture has been keen to adopt a strategy to develop cultural capacities in a comprehensive and integrated journey with partners in various sectors.

The National Cultural Awards initiative serves as a supportive and encouraging umbrella for talents and their creativity," he stated.

The awards honored achievements in various fields, including Cultural Personality of the Year, Youth Culture Award, International Cultural Excellence Award, Women and Businessman Award, Cultural Institutions Award, Film Award, Fashion Award, Music Award, National Heritage Award, Literature Award, Theatre and Performing Arts Award, Visual Arts Award, Architecture and Design Arts Award, Culinary Arts Award, Publishing Award, and Translation Award.

In his address, Prince Badr highlighted the unique place of Arab history, culture, and civilisation, and commended the remarkable contributions of Saudi citizens across creative sectors. He emphasized that the awards aimed to recognise and encourage individuals and cultural institutions that have significantly advanced cultural promotion both locally and internationally.

The ceremony featured performances by Saudi singers and an orchestra, which added to the event's celebratory atmosphere with their engaging melodies and musical artistry.