Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative
The Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2020, as part of the Quality of Life Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 realization programs (VRPs). It was extended through 2021 with the aim of enhancing the presence of Arabic calligraphy by engaging government and private sectors, individuals, and communities through local and international conferences and events to promote and activate it. The initiative seeks to establish Arabic calligraphy as a cultural symbol and heritage, as well as an art form that reflects Arab culture, and to transform it into a model that expresses the identity of Saudi Arabia.
Objectives of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative
Through the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative, the Ministry of Culture worked to promote the use of Arabic calligraphy among all segments of society, unify the efforts of initiatives and sectors dedicated to preserving and safeguarding Arabic calligraphy, and encourage its professional practice. The initiative also aimed to highlight the culture and art of Arabic calligraphy as a significant aspect of Arab culture, in addition to presenting Saudi Arabia as a hub for Arabic calligraphy and affirming its position as a capital, supporter, and promoter of its presence and dissemination.
Activating local sectors in the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative
Many government and private entities participated in the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative. Among them was the sport sector in Saudi Arabia, where the Ministry of Sport collaborated with the Ministry of Culture to launch a campaign activating the initiative by featuring players’ names written in Arabic calligraphy on their jerseys in the Saudi League.
Additionally, the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with a local airline, designed and applied an Arabic calligraphy identity on two Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. One aircraft departed from the capital, Riyadh, and the other from Jeddah, heading to Heathrow Airport in London and Dubai Airport in the United Arab Emirates. The initiative also included several activities at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, such as having calligraphers write passengers’ names in Arabic calligraphy on their boarding passes.
The Saudi Post and the Ministry of Culture launched a series of postage stamps adorned with Arabic calligraphy to be used throughout 2021. The initiative also strengthened the identity and social presence of Arabic calligraphy through several additional activations, such as displaying the initiative’s logo in a digital visual projection on the summit of Jabal Tuwaiq and stamping the passports of arrivals to Saudi Arabia with the Arabic calligraphy logo.
Al-Khattat Platform within the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative
Al-Khattat Platform is the first online platform dedicated to teaching Arabic calligraphy and ornamentation through the internet, led by a select group of professional calligraphers carefully chosen to share their expertise through training courses. It was one of the winning initiatives of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy 2020 and has since been made accessible to all, offering free courses and lessons.
The initiative also included Arabic calligraphy murals, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, with murals created in various regions across Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the King Abdulaziz Public Library Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition was launched simultaneously in Riyadh and its branches in Casablanca and Peking University, with the participation of several renowned calligraphers specializing in Arabic calligraphy and its arts.
Achievements of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative
On December 22, 2021, the Ministry of Culture celebrated the conclusion of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative and the launch of the strategy of the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy.
Over the course of 2020 and 2021, the Year of Arabic Calligraphy Initiative achieved milestones that culminated in the successful leadership of Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with fifteen Arab countries, in registering “Arabic Calligraphy: knowledge, skills, and practices” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The initiative carried out fifty-seven direct national projects and 107 sub-projects that showcased the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and reinforced its role across various fields.
The strategy of the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy, 'Dar Al-Qalam', aims to transform the center into a global platform for Arabic calligraphy and calligraphers worldwide. It serves Arabic calligraphy as a universal means of cross-cultural communication in the fields of heritage, arts, architecture, and design, while also nurturing talent and advancing knowledge in various areas of Arabic calligraphy.