Saudi Arabia and Colombia sign landmark MoU to boost cultural collaboration

Saudi Arabia and Colombia have taken a significant step to deepen cultural collaboration, signing a memorandum of understanding that sets out a wide-ranging framework for cooperation across multiple creative sectors. The agreement underscores both nations’ commitment to fostering mutual understanding through cultural exchange.

Signing of the memorandum

On Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah, and Colombia’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Traditional Knowledges, Yannai Kadamani Fonrodona, formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) designed to enhance bilateral cooperation in cultural domains. The meeting highlighted the shared dedication of both countries to expand collaborative efforts and strengthen cultural links.

Areas of cooperation

The MoU specifies cooperation across a wide array of cultural sectors, including:

• Heritage: Preservation and promotion of historical and cultural landmarks.
• Music: Exchange of musical expertise, performances, and educational programmes.
• Architecture and Design: Collaborative projects, knowledge sharing, and innovative design initiatives.
• Museums: Joint exhibitions, curation strategies, and institutional partnerships.
• Film: Development of co-productions, screenings, and film festivals.
• Libraries: Enhancement of library services, digital resources, and cultural outreach.
• Visual Arts: Exhibitions, artist residencies, and cross-cultural artistic projects.
• Theatre and Performing Arts: Collaboration in staging, training, and touring productions.
• Literature, Publishing and Translation: Exchange programmes for writers, translators, and publishers.
• Fashion: Joint initiatives to explore design, innovation, and cultural expression.
• Culinary Arts: Shared culinary heritage, workshops, and gastronomy events.

This extensive list reflects the ambition of both nations to cultivate broad and inclusive cultural collaboration.

Practical frameworks for collaboration

The agreement goes beyond symbolic partnership, establishing practical mechanisms to facilitate cooperation. These include:

• Knowledge exchange in cultural policy and management.
• Training programmes, workshops, and skill-building initiatives for professionals in the cultural sector.
• Capacity-building projects aimed at strengthening institutional capabilities.

Such frameworks are designed to ensure that the collaboration translates into tangible benefits for cultural institutions, artists, and communities in both countries.

Building on existing cultural partnerships

The signing of this MoU builds on an already growing cultural partnership between Saudi Arabia and Colombia. It reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment to international cultural dialogue, creating new opportunities for joint initiatives, and fostering mutual understanding through cross-cultural engagement. By formalising these agreements, both nations signal their dedication to promoting cultural innovation, knowledge sharing, and creative collaboration on a global scale.