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Egypt Today
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with 15 Arab countries, under the auspices of the ALECSO Organization, led joint efforts to inscribe the ‘Arabic Calligraphy: Knowledge, Skills and Practices on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The inclusion of ‘Arabic calligraphy’ in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, effectively contributes to the promotion of intangible cultural heritage, and in particular the art of calligraphy in local communities.
Arabic calligraphy is a symbol of Arab identity and has contributed to the transmission of culture and religious texts throughout history.
Professional calligraphers practice Arabic calligraphy according to the knowledge, skills and rules acquired through apprenticeship. Artists and designers use it in their artwork: paintings, sculptures, wall art, etc., besides its use by artisans to decorate various handicrafts.
The registration of Arabic calligraphy on the UNESCO list is part of the strategic directions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the Heritage Authority and the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science. It is the ninth element registered by the Saudi Kingdom on this list.
