RIYADH — The Ministry of Culture has announced the launch of six specialized research grants as part of the inaugural cycle of its Culture Research Grants Program, an initiative designed to reinforce scientific inquiry and generate deeper cultural knowledge. The program reflects the Ministry's strategic commitment to elevating research as a core pillar in the development and sustainability of Saudi Arabia's cultural sector. These grants align with the national research priorities outlined at the end of last year, which emphasize the importance of understanding culture within its local context, exploring cross-cultural connections, ensuring diversity and inclusion, enhancing sustainability and quality of life, and strengthening cultural policies and regulations. By supporting these themes, the Ministry aims to enable researchers and practitioners to produce high-impact studies that inform both academic discourse and policymaking. One of the newly announced grants focuses on anthropological studies of the Arabian Peninsula. This stream seeks to close gaps in current academic literature by deepening the scientific understanding of local cultural expressions and their broader social and economic significance. It is also intended to preserve national memory and offer a reliable scholarly foundation for the documentation and protection of Saudi cultural heritage. Another grant invites research on Saudi Arabia's role from a global cultural perspective, encouraging studies that explore the Kingdom's historical connections with global civilizations. The aim is to highlight Saudi contributions to the evolution of global culture and to underscore the significance of the Arabian Peninsula in historical and contemporary cultural exchanges. The Ministry is also introducing a grant aimed at addressing the research shortfall in children's culture. This effort supports investigations into cultural content produced for young audiences and explores patterns of participation and representation. This grant is part of the Ministry's broader inclusion agenda, ensuring that all sectors of society are reflected in and benefit from cultural development. Further supporting creative professionals, a grant dedicated to the rights of creatives and artists will examine the challenges around intellectual property. It aims to develop an evidence base for legal frameworks that protect the work of artists in the face of technological disruption, while also exploring innovative solutions to secure creators' rights. The creative economy is also a priority, with a grant supporting studies that examine how cultural industries contribute to sustainable development. Researchers are encouraged to assess the economic obstacles faced by cultural professionals and institutions, with a focus on developing viable, long-term business models to ensure the sector's resilience and growth. Environmental and social challenges are addressed through the Culture and Sustainability Grant, which encourages research on how climate and sustainability issues affect the cultural field. This grant supports efforts to empower practitioners to adopt environmentally conscious practices and to evaluate how cultural production intersects with broader sustainability goals. The Ministry emphasized that the introduction of these grants marks a significant step toward building a robust research ecosystem that strengthens the integration of scientific analysis within the cultural landscape. It also highlights Saudi Arabia's growing role in shaping regional and global discussions around culture, policy, and innovation.
