Ministry of Culture and Information: Nasseriya Street, Riyadh 11161, Saudi Arabia

+966 1 442 0753

Music is not normally taught as a subject in any of Saudi Arabia’s universities, but it is actively promoted by the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and the Arts. Founded in 1973 as the Saudi Arabia Arts Society, it gained its current name in 1978. With headquarters in Riyadh the Society operates in 16 branches across the country, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Information. Its work is managed by four committees: Cultural Committee (with the emphasis on raising public literary and cultural taste), Plastic Arts Committee (arranging exhibitions of the works of Saudi artists), Music and Vocal Arts Committee (involved with music and singing of the rich folk art of poetry and song throughout the nation), and the Information and Publications Committee (for dissemination of all cultural information to the local media, and for maintaining an archive of artistic productions and events in the Kingdom). In 2020 the Society launched Thaqqif, an institute for arts and culture supporting training programs covering the areas of fine arts, photography, digital arts and design, calligraphy, theatre, music, cinema, film making and folklore arts. The first programs, open to both men and women, began in November, 2020. The Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival is an annual two-week event which includes a traditional camel race as well as the performance of traditional music by musicians from all over Saudi Arabia and dances by folklore troupes.

June 2022