Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The first edition of the Cultural Investment Conference 2025 will begin Monday in Riyadh, under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The two-day event, organized by the Ministry of Culture under the theme “From Our Culture We Build Our Economy,” will be held at the King Fahd Cultural Center.

The conference will be attended by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, alongside global investors, decision-makers, cultural leaders, representatives of government and private entities, NGOs, cultural entrepreneurs, and creatives.

Speakers include Saudi and international officials and experts such as Deputy Minister of Culture Hamed Fayez, Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan Al-Touq, Sotheby’s CEO Charles Stewart, Christie’s Chairman Guillaume Cerutti, Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz, Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra, Eagle Pictures founder Tarak Ben Ammar, and Historic England Chairman Lord Neil Mendoza.

The program features more than 38 sessions and workshops built around three main pillars.

The first, “Cultural Wealth,” highlights culture as an attractive investment opportunity and a driver of tourism, job creation, and regional development, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading destination.

The second, “Enhancing Cultural Capital,” focuses on innovative investment mechanisms in emerging markets, maximizing returns, mitigating risks, and strengthening cultural infrastructure for sustainable growth.

The third, “Culture’s Role in Social Cohesion,” emphasizes an inclusive, collaborative investment approach that fosters global cultural exchange and diplomacy.

Key topics include the capital dimension of culture, return on cultural investment, cultural diplomacy, new models of public financing, global cultural investment funds, creative entrepreneurship, risk management in cultural investments, financing the future of culture, and the role of philanthropy in supporting the cultural sector.

The conference has drawn strong engagement from cultural institutions, government bodies, and major corporations.