Cultural life blossoming in Saudi Arabia amid pandemic - Asia Times
▻https://asiatimes.com/2020/09/cultural-life-blossoming-in-saudi-arabia-amid-pandemic
“Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble,” says an old Arab proverb. With only three months of it left, there is no doubt that 2020 will forever be marked as a year that changed the course of history and humanity itself, forcing both governments and individuals to review their role and status.
In Saudi Arabia, the closing of borders meant citizens and foreign residents were obliged to look closer to home for entertainment and respite from the pandemic – and the search took them on a journey of discovery. For years, Saudi Arabia had been all but closed to the outside world. Much of the country was relatively closed off to many of its own people. Unlike the region’s more established tourist hubs, such as the United Arab Emirates or Oman, Saudi Arabia has always been reticent about marketing itself. But the pandemic has changed all that, producing a massive surge in domestic tourism and a great flowering of the arts and of cultural life. A national campaign, “Saudi Summer,” encouraged people in the country to explore beach resorts, the mountains and archeological sites that are, if not quite on their own doorstep, at least within easy reach. Cruising was previously almost unheard of as a vacation option, but Red Sea cruises have proved to be a big hit, with passengers exploring the unspoiled coast and being entertained by top singing stars – all while remaining safely close to home.The drive to promote home-grown culture by organizations such as the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has brought the reclusive “flower men” from the southern provinces of Jizan and Asir to the cities during festivals such as National Day, to demonstrate the ancient art of creating intricate floral headpieces. (...) A more relaxed attitude to women’s dress, with some women venturing out in public minus their abaya, is just another part of the drive to connect the different communities in the country. Culture is a key component of the kingdom’s reform plan, 2030 Vision. “We consider culture and entertainment to be indispensable to our quality of life,” the 2030 Vision website states
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