Some 270 Arab artists of both genders unite next week not only to display their works but also to show their adherence to Arab unity. These artists will participate in the 10-day First Arab Small Artwork Festival in King Abdul Aziz Cultural Center at Abrag Al-Raghamah on June 24. On behalf of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, Prince Misha'al Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, will open the festival organized by Roshan Gallery, a body of the Roshan Company. Several artists from many Arab countries like Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Tunisia, Oman, Qatar and Algeria are scheduled to display their works at the festival. Twenty-seven Saudi artists will also participate. According to Dr. Wa'el Bahi, assistant manager of Roshan Company for Fine Arts, the festival comes under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Information, and the care of the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (GCTA). “The event will provide about 1,500 artwork pieces including paintings, sculptures and pottery works,” Bahi told Saudi Gazette. He added that the festival would host some 60 artists, critics and media figures from outside the Kingdom. Eng. Talal Kordi, head of the Roshan Company and chief of the organizing committee, that his company, established in 1980, has been activating the role of fine arts through art exhibitions for a number of Saudi Saudi artists. Kordi revealed that the idea of the festival is the brainchild of the general coordinator for the festival who is also an artist, Na'il Mulla, whom the Roshan Company immediately gave full support. According to Etedal Etawe, a leading Saudi artist, color can unite peoples and hearts. __
