Culture and Art
Characteristics of the Saudi landscape
The relationship between creators within the cultural sphere takes two main forms: "cooperation and competition," where cooperation
The relationship between creators within the cultural space takes two basic forms: “cooperation and competition.” Cooperation occurs between distinct creators, such as between a director, an actor, and a screenwriter, or between an actor and someone responsible for set design and costumes, or between a poet, a composer, and a singer, or between a poet, a publisher, and a critic, or between a novelist, a publisher, and a screenwriter. Competition, on the other hand, appears between similar creators who share the same creative practice, such as poets, novelists, filmmakers, composers, and playwrights.
Cooperation and competition are what create the cultural scene, because they contribute to defining the roles of creators and dividing and sharing responsibilities among them, to ensure that they do not get mixed up and “overlap” and turn into chaos. Therefore, it will become a healthy and required condition in every developing and evolving cultural environment that strives for the best and moves forward, under the auspices of the scene maker, who assigns responsibilities, distributes roles, and strives to urge the parties to perform them in the most complete and best way.
The overlapping of roles is a problem that negatively affects the cultural scene, as the efforts made are quickly lost, and their doer is lost, and they have no value, when they are issued by non-specialized creators, such as the novelist who turned to writing the screenplay, or the playwright who stormed into the field of acting. Here the creator has “overstepped his role,” and moved from the framework of cooperation to competition, and became a partner in the creative work, and a competitor to those with whom he is supposed to cooperate.
The commitment of creators to their roles means presenting the best they have and dedicating themselves to the principle of fair competition among them. This is what the creator of the scene may miss or not pay attention to because of his search for spread among individuals and to remain in the spotlight in order to increase momentum and continue the interaction of the audience, which may lead to the "quality" of performance and the "distinction" of presentation being affected, which are two things necessary for the scene to continue actively and effectively.
Quality and excellence are provided by the specialized creator who performs his role with all professionalism and is not under any kind of pressure, as the constraints he is exposed to, such as knowledge, competition, psychological inclination, listening to the opinions of figures he admires, or even listening to the opinions of figures he sees as lower in level, all of these affect in one way or another his performance and the quality of his output.
The Saudi scene is crowded with “events”, some of which belong directly to the Ministry of Culture, represented by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority, or the Architecture, Fashion and Film Authority, and some of which belong indirectly to the Ministry, such as the events held within the Literary Partner Initiative, or the initiatives supported by the Cultural Fund, as all of them aim to develop and elevate the scene.
The direct and indirect activities are all attributed to a single creator represented by the Ministry of Culture. Under its umbrella, events and initiatives are held, and invitations and hosting take place. Despite the difficulties contained in its requirements, it is characterized by high flexibility, allowing “freedom” of movement and choice for organizers and initiators, which is to its credit and theirs, as it contributes to moving the scene and utilizing a large number of local and Arab names.
Despite the freedom to choose names, the organizers and initiators fell into the problem of “repetition,” as the goal of the events is to spread, attract attendees, increase followers, and obtain high viewership rates. This is only achieved when creative personalities are present, followed by a large number of interested people. As for the creators who do not have widespread exposure, they are neglected and overlooked.
The emerging creator will be the first “victim” of the mistakes of the organizers and initiators, as the Ministry of Culture does not want the events and initiatives to end without discovering new names, or highlighting names that have remained hidden for years, especially since it offers general and free enrichment programs, such as Critic, Translation and Cultural Leave, which aim to create a different generation, in terms of quality and performance.
Culture and Art
14 Syrian songs in my upcoming work... Asala: I'm preparing a new Gulf album
Syrian artist Asala confirmed that her new album, sung entirely in the Syrian dialect, is nearing completion. She described it as a unique work that may be her first and last in this dialect. At a press conference held on the sidelines of her recent concert in Sharjah, she announced that the album features 14 Syrian songs, each with its own distinct musical, visual, and costume choices, aiming to deliver a comprehensive and engaging artistic experience. She anticipated the album's release between the two Eid holidays, noting that it incorporates folk songs from various Syrian provinces with musical updates to appeal to the younger generation. Regarding her other artistic endeavors, Asala confirmed that after finishing the Syrian album, she will begin preparing a new Gulf-style album as part of her upcoming artistic plans. She also clarified that her singing of the theme song for the series "Al-Qaysar - La Zaman Wala Makan" (The Caesar - No Time, No Place) will be her only musical contribution to drama this year, and it will have an emotional tone reflecting the series' sad and poignant nature.
Syrian artist Asala confirmed that she is nearing completion of her new album in the Syrian dialect, describing it as a distinctive work that may be her first and last in this dialect.
14 songs
At a press conference held on the sidelines of her recent concert in Sharjah, she announced that her new album includes 14 Syrian songs, each with its own unique focus on music, photography, and fashion choices, to present a comprehensive and attractive artistic experience.
She suggested that the album would be released between the two holidays, noting that it combines folk songs from various Syrian governorates with musical developments that suit the tastes of the new generation.
Gulf album
Regarding her new artistic projects, Asala confirmed that after she finishes the Syrian album, she will begin preparing a new Gulf music album, as part of her upcoming artistic plans.
Asala also explained that her singing of the theme song for the series “Al-Qaysar – No Time, No Place” will be her only musical work in drama this year, and it will have an emotional character that reflects the sad and moving nature of the work.
Culture and Art
Officially, Syria is the guest of honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2026
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Farhan announced that Syria has been chosen as the guest of honor for the Riyadh International Book Fair 2026, in a move that reflects the depth of cultural relations and supports the goals of Vision 2030.
His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, announced that the Syrian Arab Republic has been chosen as the guest of honor for the next edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair in 2026. The fair is scheduled to be held next October, under the direct organization and supervision of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, in a step that reflects the growing cultural movement that the Kingdom is witnessing.
Cultural bridges and strategic partnership
In announcing the selection, the Minister of Culture affirmed that this choice embodies the deep-rooted cultural ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic, ties built on solid foundations of partnership and mutual respect. His Highness noted that this step stems from the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to fostering cultural exchange, a cornerstone and objective of the National Cultural Strategy, which is itself a key component of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Ministry has placed particular emphasis on opening channels for constructive dialogue between peoples and exchanging knowledge and expertise, thereby solidifying the Kingdom's active and influential role in the cultural landscape, both regionally and internationally.
The status of the Riyadh exhibition and the history of Syrian culture
The Riyadh International Book Fair is one of the most important and largest cultural platforms in the Arab world, serving as an annual window through which readers and intellectuals can view the latest intellectual and literary works. The selection of Syria as guest of honor adds a qualitative dimension to the fair's events, given the rich cultural heritage and diverse intellectual landscape of Syrian society. Damascus, long known as one of the capitals of Arab literature and art, possesses a vast reservoir of creativity in poetry, novels, criticism, and visual arts, which will enrich the fair's halls and offer the Saudi public and visitors an exceptional cultural experience.
Dimensions of the choice and its expected impact
This selection is expected to foster a broad and vibrant interactive space between the Saudi and Syrian publics, as well as between the intellectual elites of both countries. The guest of honor program will provide an opportunity to highlight the intellectual and creative output of Syrian intellectuals through panel discussions, poetry readings, and artistic performances that reflect Syria's rich heritage. This decision also reflects the general trend toward strengthening Arab unity through the soft power of culture, emphasizing that books and knowledge remain the best means of bridging distances and building lasting bridges of communication between brothers, thus enhancing the shared Arab cultural presence on the international stage.
Culture and Art
Heba El-Sisi begins chemotherapy treatment for cancer and asks for prayers
Artist Heba El-Sisi announces the start of her first chemotherapy treatment sessions to fight cancer, and reveals details of her serious surgery and her moving message to the public after her health crisis.
Egyptian artist and former Miss Egypt, Heba El-Sisi, has begun a new and crucial phase in her cancer treatment journey, sharing touching moments from inside the hospital with her fans and announcing that she has undergone her first chemotherapy session, amid a wide wave of sympathy and prayers for recovery.
Heba El-Sisi posted a photo of herself on her official Instagram account, showing her receiving intravenous fluids for her treatment. She captioned the photo with a brief but hopeful message: "Today I received my first chemotherapy dose." The post garnered significant attention from her followers and colleagues in the entertainment industry, who quickly posted messages of support and encouragement, wishing her a speedy recovery from this health challenge.
Details of the dangerous surgery and the silent suffering
The chemotherapy session wasn't the first chapter in Heba El-Sisi's battle with illness; she had previously revealed that she underwent a delicate surgical procedure. During her recent media appearance on the "Miss Egypt" program, which she hosts on Al-Shams TV, El-Sisi shared details of her suffering, which she had kept out of the public eye for some time.
In her moving address, El-Sisi said, "Today is my first episode after a very difficult period of treatment following my cancer diagnosis and major surgery. But thank God, I recovered well." She explained that this ordeal changed her perspective on many things, especially regarding the value of emotional support, adding, "I want to reassure everyone who asked about me, worried about me, and prayed for me from the bottom of their hearts that, thank God, I'm doing well now. But the past period has made me realize what a sincere prayer from the heart truly means, and what it means to have such wonderful people standing by me unconditionally.".
Who is Heba El-Sisi? (Artistic background)
Heba El-Sisi is a familiar face in the Egyptian beauty and entertainment world, having gained widespread fame after being crowned Miss Egypt in 2004. This title opened doors for her in the arts, leading to roles in several films and television dramas, most notably her participation in the film "Katakout" alongside star Mohamed Saad, which marked a significant milestone in her career and established her connection with Egyptian and Arab audiences. Her recent illness has once again highlighted the human side of celebrity life and how illness can strike at any age.
The importance of psychological support in the treatment journey
Doctors and specialists consistently emphasize that a cancer patient's psychological state plays a pivotal role in their response to treatment, a fact clearly demonstrated by Heba El-Sisi's words of gratitude for the prayers of her loved ones. Celebrities bravely announcing their illnesses helps break down the barrier of fear among the public, promotes a culture of early detection, and reveals the artist's human side beyond the spotlight, fostering a sense of community solidarity and the moral support that patients need on their arduous journey to recovery.
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