RIYADH — The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (RITA) have Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding that will help establish a strategic relationship to drive cooperation and implement several joint projects and initiatives.

These strategic 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.

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.

DGDA CEO Jerry Inzerillo and Acting Director-General of RITA Dr. Suzan Al-Yahya signed the MoU, whereby the two parties will begin to cooperate in developing educational, cultural, and community initiatives of common interest and organize specialized 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.

Inzerillo expressed his happiness at strengthening DGDA’s collaboration with RITA, saying, “Remembering the rich history and heritage 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 organizing workshops on programs of common interest linking them to the labor 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 honored 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.”

Dr. Al-Yahya affirmed that the MoU comes within the framework of strategic cooperation between RITA 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.”

Diriyah holds a prominent place in Saudi Arabia's history as the capital of the first Saudi state, of which today's Kingdom is an extension. It has also recently been named the Capital of Arab Culture for 2030.

Upon completion, the Diriyah Gate project will have cultural, entertainment, commercial, hospitality, educational, institutional, and residential areas, including 38 hotels and various museums and cultural institutions and commercial markets.

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts is the organization 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.

In addition, the Institute offers local talents, such as artists, craftsmen, and traditional art enthusiasts, an attractive destination to discover, learn and enrich Saudi traditional arts, in addition to supporting them with expertise and offering many local and international awareness activities. — SPA