18th November – Saudi Ministry of Culture hosts ‘1st Islamic Art Biennale’ at the Islamic Museum in Riyadh to mark ‘UNESCO’s International Day of Islamic Art’

18th November .

The day aims to raise awareness about the art of Islam and its contribution to culture and civilization. The ministry is working with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization to produce the Biennale.

Islamic art is not restricted to religious art — it includes the art of the rich and varied cultures of Islamic societies throughout history.

It is a complex art to define because it spans over 1,400 years, covering many lands and populations, and is not restricted to a single medium. Instead, Islamic art covers a range of artistic fields, including architecture, calligraphy, painting, glass, ceramics and textiles.

Last year, Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan designated 2021 as the Year of Arabic Calligraphy in appreciation of its importance in expressing the Arabic language’s historic significance. The ministry has launched “The Calligrapher Platform,” an electronic platform to teach Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation with the support of the Quality of Life Program.

The International Day of Islamic Art was proclaimed at the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2019 and takes place every year on 18 November.  It aims to raise awareness of past and contemporary artistic expressions of Islam, and the contribution of culture through Islamic Art to civilization. 

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: en.unesco.org

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SAUDI ARABIA