Ithra is a Business Reporter client
The past five years have been transformational for the creative industries in Saudi Arabia. The government has responded to growing public interest by making substantial and diverse investments in the creative and cultural industries, and has expanded its understanding of the kind of output that constitutes “creativity”. No longer is it just about the traditional mediums, such as literature, poetry or art, that had long dominated the space. “Creativity” has become more dynamic, to include film, architecture, fashion, technology – the kinds of things that would enable Saudi Arabia to develop creative partnerships with international bodies working in those areas, and that would diversify and enrich the creative options available to its own citizens and inspire them to break new ground. Festivals proliferated, access to cultural and creative sites and events have opened up to a wider audience, and the creative cultural industry is growing at 13 per cent annually.
