French ambassador highlights growing Saudi interest in arts and culture
RIYADH: Culture has become a central pillar in bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia, according to the French Ambassador to the Kingdom, Patrick Maisonnave, who emphasized its growing link to the entertainment and tourism sectors as a driver for economic cooperation.
Speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah during the opening ceremony of La Fabrique in the Jax district of Diriyah, Maisonnave described cultural cooperation with Saudi Arabia as a vital element for the Kingdom’s global attractiveness in the coming decades.
La Fabrique, launched in partnership between the Riyadh Art program and the French Institute in Riyadh, runs from January 22 to February 14. The initiative provides an open collaborative workspace where artists can develop ideas and work within a creative and supportive environment.
The ambassador highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has fostered a new generation of young artists and creators, alongside a growing societal interest in global cultural trends. He described the relationship between France and Saudi Arabia as “profound, even cultural par excellence,” reflecting mutual curiosity and engagement in each other’s artistic landscapes.
French data indicates the culture-based economy accounts for approximately 2.3 percent of France’s GDP, generating more than 90 billion euros ($106.4 billion) annually and directly employing over 600,000 people in fields such as publishing, cinema, visual arts, and other creative sectors.
Maisonnave stressed that France’s established cultural institutions, combined with Saudi Arabia’s rapidly developing cultural sector, present significant opportunities for collaboration. This effort builds on the signing of ten major cultural agreements last year between French and Saudi institutions, designed to share expertise and knowledge to support the Kingdom’s cultural system.
La Fabrique showcases multiple contemporary artistic practices, including performance arts, digital and interactive arts, photography, music, and cinema. It also allows the public to observe the artistic production process and engage with creators, while offering Saudi artists opportunities to connect with French institutions and artists in Paris and beyond.
