ABHA — The Culture and Arts Society in Abha held a notable cultural event last evening highlighting the importance of documenting the folk arts of Asir region, and the role literary and research works play in preserving this cultural heritage and introducing its historical and artistic value to new generations.

The event forms part of the society's ongoing efforts to preserve and document authentic heritage arts, specifically forms such as "Al-Khatwa" and "Al-Shaqr," which are considered among the most prominent features of Asir's artistic identity.

The session discussed a new poetry collection by poet Saeed Al-Asiri titled "To Whoever Cares About Al-Shaqr," in which the author provides a detailed documentation of the melodies and modes of the "Al-Khatwa" art form, along with a thorough explanation of the inherited "Al-Shaqr" lyrical-poetic style, presenting field examples and old recordings of well-known melodies.

The event also featured an interactive discussion session reviewing renewal efforts in preserving Asir's folk heritage, and addressing the challenges researchers and enthusiasts face in recording and documenting this art form, and the need for cooperation between cultural bodies and academic institutions to preserve local artistic identity in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Participants stressed the importance of documenting folk arts in a scientific, systematic way that helps pass on the cultural heritage to future generations and strengthens Asir's standing as a region rich in artistic and literary traditions.