RIYADH: Among several new additions at the 26th National Festival for Heritage and Culture that opened at Al-Janadriya Wednesday is the Fine Art Gallery. The gallery has been introduced for the first time at Jandariya Village, the venue for the annual festival located some 43 km north of Riyadh. Visitors will be able to participate in a number of activities such as paintings, drawing, calligraphy and other artworks. However, the most significant aspect of the gallery is a specialized section for people with special needs and autism. Members of Saudi Autism Society can enjoy by visiting a section devoted to artwork, in addition to the works by people with special needs. Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years of age. A number of Saudi artists will participate to educate the visitors about different forms of artwork by conducting workshops in their respective jurisdictions such as calligraphy, fine arts, and photography. A section attracts autistic and people with special needs with live demonstration of paintings and artwork with an aim to build the competence level of this particular category. The basic idea behind the gallery is to transfer expertise and knowledge to the visitors that might include school, college and university students during the morning visiting hours. There are several sections designed to meet the different styles of artwork based on the taste of visitors that might want to know about different art categories. A section for painting and modern art offers a rich experience to the visitors to test and try their skills, even for the novice, he said. “Fine Art Gallery carries a message of appreciation and gratitude to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the people of this country,” said an official. He said a section on Arabic calligraphy and arts introduced for the first time this year is a giant leap for the enthusiasts of art lovers visiting the Janadriya Festival. The Fine Art Gallery was designed as per the high quality standards. The gallery organizers are planning to introduce compiler system with delivery, archiving and electronic procedures to facilitate the participants that have business interest. Some millions of visitors of various nationalities visit the Janadriya Village every year.
