Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah announced on Monday that the Riyadh University of Arts will be opened in the near future.
"The university aims to cultivate talent and creativity within the cultural sector and aspires to be among the top 50 international universities specializing in the creative arts," the minister said while inaugurating the Cultural Investment Conference 2025 at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh on Monday.
The Riyadh University of Arts seeks to be a leader in creative education through partnerships with leading international academic institutions in the cultural fields. It will also offer scholarships for talented individuals in the arts. The university will release full details of its programs in the first quarter of 2026.Located in the Arqah district of Riyadh, the university will comprise 13 colleges, covering a wide range of disciplines, including film, music, cultural management, visual arts, photography, culinary arts, and heritage studies. The first phase of its programs will be launched under three initial colleges: the College of Theatre and Performing Arts, the College of Music, and the College of Film.Prince Badr emphasized that the cultural sector has undergone a historic transformation, evolving into a key economic driver since the launch of Vision 2030.
"The cultural sector's contribution to the GDP has jumped to 1.6 percent, the number of people employed in the sector has reached 234,000, and the value of financial support flowing into the sector is expected to reach nearly $2 billion in 2024. Furthermore, infrastructure investments have reached record levels, exceeding SR81 billion," he said. The minister emphasized the key role of the private sector in the development of the cultural sector. "With the rapid growth of the creative and cultural industries, the private sector plays a crucial and strategic role as a partner in the development of the Saudi cultural sector. This conference contributes to strengthening this vital partnership, and will witness the signing of 89 agreements worth over SR 5 billion," he said. The conference, being held under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, features 38 panel discussions with 100 speakers, including Charles Stewart, CEO of Sotheby's; Guillaume Cerutti, Chairman of Christie's; Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel; and Tony Vinciquerra, Non-Executive Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.The two-day conference is discussing future trends in cultural investment and sustainable creative production, both locally and internationally.
