Flourishing Arabic script: The Kingdom invests in a digital library and a specialized institute.

The Ministry of Culture has issued the regulatory guidelines for the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy, a move aimed at strengthening the position of this ancient art form both locally and internationally and developing the institutional infrastructure that supports it. These arrangements seek to elevate Arabic calligraphy as a global language of communication and to invest in it across diverse fields such as heritage, arts, architecture, and design, as well as to solidify the Kingdom’s role in protecting and developing this cultural legacy.

The Center aspires to be a global reference point and a national center of expertise for Arabic calligraphy, through nurturing talent, encouraging scientific research, and expanding the base of those interested in this art. The Ministry has granted the Center broad powers including the development of plans and programs, setting standards, supporting specialized research and studies, and establishing local, regional, and international partnerships.

The Center is mandated to issue periodic reports on the state of Arabic calligraphy and its indicators, and to launch awareness campaigns to promote the art and support calligraphers, in addition to producing specialized digital content and creating a comprehensive digital library to document and archive all that relates to Arabic calligraphy. The Center is also authorized to provide research grants and financial incentives and to create an attractive investment environment in this field.

The arrangements include organizing various events such as conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and competitions, both within the Kingdom and abroad. A supervisory committee, chaired by the Minister of Culture and comprising representatives from several government agencies and prominent cultural bodies, has been formed to oversee the Center’s affairs and approve policies, plans, donations, and grants.

The guidelines stipulate periodic meetings of the supervisory committee, with mechanisms for decision-making and member attendance defined. The tasks and competencies of the Center’s Director General have also been specified, who will be responsible for managing its affairs and implementing its competencies in accordance with the approved guidelines.

These competencies include preparing plans and programs, proposing partnerships, establishing the digital library, providing research grants, and overseeing a specialized institute and museum dedicated to the art of Arabic calligraphy. Finally, the arrangements have defined the funding sources available to the Center, including the Ministry’s budget, gifts, donations, grants, and endowments.