His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, met with France’s Minister of Culture, Her Excellency Ms. Rachida Dati, in Paris to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. The meeting explored opportunities for collaboration across a range of cultural sectors, including museums, libraries, theater, performing arts, culinary arts, film, heritage, and visual arts.
The two leaders discussed various initiatives, such as the exchange of Islamic and Arabic manuscripts for exhibitions, international art residencies to showcase Saudi talent in France, and a theatre exchange program with the Paris National Opera. Their conversations also centered on increasing cooperation in the cultural and creative industries to foster mutual understanding and global cultural exchange.
Prince Bader stated, “This meeting reaffirms our shared commitment to enhancing cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and France. I look forward to the many initiatives that will enrich the cultural landscapes of both nations.”
The visit follows Her Excellency Ms. Dati’s trip to Saudi Arabia in March, where she explored prominent cultural sites in Riyadh, including the Diriyah Biennale for Contemporary Art and the Irqah Cultural Center.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia and France have deepened their cultural partnership through various initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s participation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where the film Norah made history as the first Saudi film to be screened. The two nations also commemorated two decades of archaeological collaboration with a symposium in Saudi Arabia, and a selection of Islamic artifacts from the Louvre is set to be featured at the 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale.
Through these ongoing partnerships, the Saudi Ministry of Culture is leading a cultural renaissance and furthering its mission to build bridges of understanding through international cooperation in arts, heritage, and culture.