RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom signed on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cultural cooperation in the sectors of heritage and culture. The MoU was signed by Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Farhan and UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries at the authority's headquarters at the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in Riyadh. Commenting on the MoU, Dorries said on her Twitter account: "The amazing Diriyah Biennale was the perfect place to sign a new UK-KSA agreement on culture with Prince Badr." "Culture has the power to unite people from every background, and this new agreement will strengthen our ties on film, museums and heritage." The MoU aims to expand cultural relations and support the growth of the creative industries in both countries. It includes strengthening cooperation and cultural exchange between the two countries in various cultural fields, including, museums, heritage, films, theater and performing arts, music, literature, publishing and translation, visual arts, architecture and design, and libraries. The MoU also includes cooperating in the field of exchanging experiences for joint strategic projects and coordination between the two parties with regard to regulations and policies concerned with the cultural aspect. The agreement includes developing cooperation in aspects related to preserving the Saudi heritage of all kinds, facilitating communication procedures between the cultural authorities in the two countries. It also includes enhancing participation in cultural festivals, artistic residency programs between government and private institutions, exchanging visits by official delegations and experts, as well as holding training programs and practical sessions. Later, Prince Badr accompanied his British counterpart on a tour of the Diriyah Biennial for Contemporary Art, which is being hosted by Diriyah. They toured the works of more than 60 artists from Saudi Arabia and other countries. Dorries was briefed on the innovative works of artists and their paintings that stimulates an exploration of social transformation under the title "feeling the Stones", inspired by the famous saying "Cross the river by feeling the stones".
