Jeddah’s Al-Balad district has been successfully highlighting parts of the Kingdom during this Jeddah Season, visitors of the historical areas were certainly stunned as they walked down a journey through the rich heritage, culture and art of the city.
The season continues to entertain more and more visitors and enchant them with exceptional performances, workshops and exhibitions that showcase the evolution of the city.
During this month, the season featured a lineup of musicals, street art, athletics, comedy shows and local dance performances, all accompanied by a wide range of retail options and a remarkable choice of cuisine.
Al-Balad district also included a number of new attractions that kept visitors very entertained and on their feet. Here is what went on during some of them in case you have missed it!
Bait Al-Dahaleezi — immersive theater
The new immersive theater called Bait Al-Dahaleezi takes visitors into an artistic realm of mystery and fantasy, where they also get to test their courage. The theater is inspired by Al-Balad folklore, and is now being supervised by Sidra Events Management, produced by the Jeddah Season team and directed by Todd Albert Nims.
Christie’s auction
The world renowned auction house hosted during the Jeddah Season is the Kingdom’s first international art auction. “Art for Al-Balah‘ celebrated artists from across the region and was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Hafez Gallery.
Arab artists generously donated a number of their beautiful pieces in order to help the auction raise the funds needed to build a heritage museum that shall preserve the culture of Al-Balah.
The profit made from the charity auction will contribute in establishing a new heritage museum in Jeddah’s historic district in addition to supporting The Help Center, which is a non-profit organization that provides customized educational support to children with special needs.
The season is offering a summer experience like never before, in Al-Balad until July 18 so make sure you attend one of the activities before they come to an end tomorrow.
The King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has launched a new exciting international Covid-19 exhibition that features a collective introspection on the pandemic.
The exceptional exhibition expresses different perspectives on the pandemic through a collection of thoughts, memories and feeling. In a way, really opening the stage to people’s various experiences.
For the actual show which will go live in July, Ithra is looking for brand-new artworks, images, or documentation that symbolizes the pandemic.
Ithra is currently inviting submissions for the gallery will go live to the public in July. If you believe you have something to share, don’t hesitate to apply at this link.
“Join a global exhibit and share with us those personal objects and the stories behind them in Ithra’s upcoming COVID-19 Exhibit. It could be a photograph that put a daily smile on you, a musical instrument that became your getaway, perhaps the pen you used to write your journal, or even a mug, item of clothing or a toy. If you have a particular object that you turned to for comfort, inspiration, or even in frustration during the COVID-19 pandemic we want to hear from you.” The website wrote calling out for artists.
“While this is an unprecedented time, it is also an unprecedented moment of global solidarity,” said Laila Faddagh, Ithra’s head of museums. “Art is about connecting people through culture — and culture is based on the exchange of ideas and identities — but we connect maybe even more easily through common objects.”
“Ithra is in Saudi Arabia, but, as a leading center for global culture, we want to include people from around the world. In the spirit of welcome, warmth and empathy — especially now during the pandemic — it is an opportunity to connect with everyone, from anywhere.” He added.
Share with us your thoughts on the exhibition and if you’re planning on taking part of such a magnificent movement.
The Ministry of Culture has announced the extension of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy campaign into 2021 due to the current crisis of the coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan tweeted the announcement earlier on Sunday.
بسبب الظروف الاستثنائية، وما يشهده العالم من جائحة كورونا، تم تمديد #عام_الخط_العربي_2020 ليشمل عام 2021.
سنعبر الأزمة وسنمضي في تحقيق أحلامنا. https://t.co/sbbvkLKbfC— بدر بن عبدالله بن فرحان آل سعود (@BadrFAlSaud) April 5, 2020
“Due to the exceptional circumstances, and what the world is witnessing in the coronavirus pandemic, the Year of Arabic Calligraphy 2020 has been extended into 2021. We will overcome this crisis and continue to fulfill our dreams,” the minister tweeted.
The year-long celebration was designed to show the true identity of Saudi Arabia and to be a source of inspiration for artists around the world. In addition to highlighting the importance and historical significance of Arabic calligraphy.
The year of Arabic calligraphy will also play a vital role in passing down the language through generations, the generations that are close to losing their mother language.
Artists were invited to submit ideas and project proposals that highlights Arabic calligraphy, and winners were to be provided partial or full financial media and logistical sponsorship from the ministry.
“The impact of the current circumstances and the Kingdom’s efforts in limiting the spread of the coronavirus necessitated the postponement of many cultural events organized by the Ministry of Culture.” The ministry’s official spokesman, Abdulkareem Al-Hameed, said.
شكراً قيادتنا الحكيمة.
شكراً أبطال الصحة.
شكراً جنود الوطن. #يوم_الصحة_العالمي #كلنا_مسؤول#وزارة_الثقافة pic.twitter.com/vwMkUlmFc0— وزارة الثقافة (@MOCSaudi) April 7, 2020
Let us all look at this extension as an opportunity for us all who are interested to join, to have the time to come up with different artistic ideas to take part and win not as an unfortunate news.
Visit the Ministry’s website for more information.
The long-awaited global event Expo 2020 Dubai was set to kick start six months from now, but due to the current unfortunate events, organizers of the event are currently looking into postponing the event till next year.
While everyone involved in #Expo2020 Dubai remains firmly committed, many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have expressed a need to postpone Expo’s opening by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge. pic.twitter.com/8xgk5D0UJl
— expo2020dubai (@expo2020dubai) March 30, 2020
In a conference call that brought together members of the event’s steering committee, which comprises local government officials and foreign country representatives, all agreed that a delay is indeed needed and that the Paris-based based Bureau International des Expositions, or BIE, should study this option. The BIE awards the global event and its member states will have the final say regarding the matter.
We support the proposal to explore a one-year postponement at today’s Steering Committee meeting. We will follow due processes with Expo’s governing body, @BIEParis, on making the decision to delay, which requires a two-thirds majority vote from the BIE General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/76Lz3CcbkD
— expo2020dubai (@expo2020dubai) March 30, 2020
“The World’s Greatest Show” was expected to witness the arrival of around 11 million overseas visitors who were eager to come and enjoy the event’s unique medley culture, business, trade, and technology featuring pavilions from 192 countries.
“The global situation is fast moving, and remains unpredictable,” the event’s managing director, Reem Al Hashemi, said in a statement issued on state news agency WAM.
For years now, organizers and officials have regarded the showcase exhibition as the perfect boost for Dubai’s economy and billions of dollars have already been spent on marketing, building hotels and facilities for the global event.
