Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (RITA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will establish a strategic relationship to drive cooperation and implement several joint projects and initiatives.
These programs will cover a range of focus areas, including training and education in traditional arts, urban heritage, protection and preservation of archaeological and heritage sites, assessment, and documentation of tangible and intangible heritage.
It will also enable both the DGDA and the Royal Institute to conduct studies and exchange the wealth of experiences both parties have.
DGDA-RITA MoU
The MoU will also help activate the role of the local community through the preservation of Diriyah’s heritage and the provision of various programs and services to the community of Saudi craftsmen and will facilitate the establishment of a library of traditional arts and crafts of Diriyah and the Najd region.
Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of DGDA, and Dr Suzan Al-Yahya, acting director-general of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, signed the MoU, whereby the two parties will begin to cooperate in developing educational, cultural, and community initiatives of common interest and organise specialised courses in Diriyah’s crafts and traditional arts, including wicker-crafting, jewelry-making, stone, and woodwork, building with mud, and other similar crafts.
These initiatives will take place in the palace of Prince Saad bin Saud, one of the largest mud palaces, located in At-Turaif historic district, a UNESCO world heritage site.
DGDA drives rich history and heritage of Saudi Arabia
Inzerillo further said: “Remembering the rich history and heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is essential to helping guide our path into the future. By cooperating with the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts to drive innovation in heritage and culture management and preservation and organising workshops on programs of common interest linking them to the labour market, we bring that history and heritage to life for a key segment of the population.
This is a critical undertaking and one that we are extremely honoured to be pursuing with our partners at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts. We especially look forward to working with the Royal Institute to propose a plan for graduates of the Institute to work and connect with entities interested in preserving the heritage and culture of this great kingdom.”
From her side, Dr Suzan Al-Yahya affirmed that the MoU comes within the framework of strategic cooperation between the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and DGDA, saying: “This MoU expands the scope of collaboration between us to include the exchange of research, statistics, and related studies and strengthens our cooperation in publishing educational materials related to traditional architecture. We will work together diligently to establish a unified platform for collecting heritage and cultural data, coordinating initiatives, organizing joint events and programs, and holding art exhibitions to display the work of the students and craftsmen.”
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s identity
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts is tasked with highlighting Saudi Arabia’s national identity and enriching traditional arts locally and internationally. It was established in Riyadh in 2021, as part of the Quality of Life Program, one of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs.
The institute provides various services in five main areas: support and appreciation, training and education, awareness, international communication, and research.
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