From October 16 to November 23, 2025 — A Celebration of Music, Culinary Arts, and Craftsmanship
Riyadh – Venice, October 16, 2025:
The Saudi Ministry of Culture announces an exceptional cultural program taking place within the Saudi Cultural Space in Venice from October 16 to November 23, 2025.
The initiative spans music, gastronomy, and traditional crafts — highlighting Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage while creating meaningful dialogue with Italian and Venetian creativity.
Through immersive installations, live performances, exhibitions, and panel discussions, the program reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to cultural exchange, innovation, and the preservation of heritage under the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.
Fusion of Saudi & Venetian Sound Landscapes
and the Panel “Music and Tradition”
October 16 – November 16, 2025
In collaboration with the Saudi Music Commission, the installation Fusion of Saudi & Venetian Sound Landscapes presents a 16-minute immersive sound experience composed by Italian multi-instrumentalists. The work transports audiences from the sands of Saudi Arabia to the Venetian lagoon, harmoniously blending Oud, Qanun, Al Qayla chants, and Baroque compositions into one contemplative journey.
On October 17, a special panel titled “Music and Tradition: Between Identity and Sound Experimentation” will be held in partnership with Biennale Musica. The discussion will explore how traditional music continues to inspire new forms of sonic expression and cross-cultural experimentation.
Flavors Without Borders: A Dialogue Between Saudi and Italian Culinary Traditions
October 18 – 19, 2025
Flavors Without Borders is a two-day culinary activation that celebrates food as a bridge between cultures. The event will bring together a Saudi Elite Chef and a Venetian Michelin-starred Chef, who will co-create a five-course tasting menu merging Saudi heritage with Venetian innovation.
The weekend will also include two thematic discussions:
“Activating Slow Food Initiatives in the Kingdom” – October 18
A conversation on how Saudi communities are promoting biodiversity and reviving traditional foodways through the global Slow Food network.
“Introduction to the International Food Atlas” – October 19
A presentation highlighting how Saudi heritage products and culinary stories are being mapped onto a global platform that celebrates diversity and local wisdom.
Through shared meals and open dialogue, Flavors Without Borders embodies the belief that food tells stories — of land, memory, and possibility. The initiative demonstrates how gastronomy fosters cross-cultural understanding while deepening appreciation for local roots in a globalized world.
The Year of Handicrafts Exhibition
October 22 – November 23, 2025
As part of the Year of Handicrafts initiative, the Saudi Cultural Space will host a curated exhibition celebrating artisanal creativity across the Kingdom’s thirteen regions. The exhibition will showcase textiles and Sadu weaving, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art, leatherwork, metalwork, pottery, ceramics, and bookbinding, highlighting both ancestral techniques and contemporary reinterpretations.
Developed in collaboration with WRTH and the Heritage Commission, the exhibition emphasizes preservation, empowerment, and craftsmanship as vital components of cultural identity and the creative economy.
In parallel, the Saudi Royal Institute of Traditional Arts will present a special activation titled “Doors and Windows – The Art of Two Buildings,” which reimagines Saudi craftsmanship through modern design and storytelling. This installation bridges tradition and innovation, inviting visitors into an immersive experience that celebrates the living spirit of Saudi artisanship in today’s global creative dialogue.
