The Ministry of Culture today launched the "Between Two Cultures" festival at MEGA Studio in Boulevard City, Riyadh, celebrating the cultural convergence between Saudi Arabia and Iraq and highlighting the points of similarity and connection between the two cultures.

The opening ceremony featured a special artistic evening that included a tribute to the celebrated Iraqi poet Karim Al-Iraqi, honoring his outstanding contributions to enriching the Arab and international literary and artistic scenes.

The festival opened with a diverse program reflecting the depth of cultural ties between the two countries. The first seminar, titled "Hijaz Maqam and Iraqi Maqam," brought together oud players from both cultures in an artistic showcase highlighting shared and distinctive musical characteristics. It was followed by a second seminar, "Iraqi Mawwals and Saudi Melodies," which discussed folk and traditional musical styles in both countries and the impact of cultural modernization on musical heritage.

The festival, which runs until December 31, 2024, continues its cultural program tomorrow with a number of dialogue sessions held in cooperation with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah). These sessions cover key themes including "Saudi-Iraqi Relations: Najdi Merchants in Zubair," which will explore the historical dimensions of relations between the two countries; a session on the artistic career of the renowned Iraqi artist Saadoun Jaber, with a special tribute to his decades of musical achievement; and a seminar titled "Efforts of the Two Countries in Strengthening Economic Relations," spotlighting the development of Saudi-Iraqi economic cooperation in recent years.

The "Between Two Cultures" festival offers an opportunity to boost cultural dialogue between the Kingdom and Iraq, highlighting the cultural and historical bonds that connect them, in line with Vision 2030's goal of openness to world cultures and strengthening civilizational exchange.