Events Highlight a Thriving Visual Arts Scene in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah’s “21, 39” art week and a continuing exhibition shed light on an artistic environment that’s been gaining momentum for over a decade.
Court Rules to Close Moroccan Cultural Organization, Causing Alarm
A judge ordered the organization Racines to dissolve. Advocacy groups protest the ruling as a chilling attack on freedom of expression.
The British Museum Offers a Revelatory New Look at Islam and Art
The institution’s new Albukhary Foundation Gallery focuses on how Islam influenced the aesthetic designs of everyday objects across the Islamic world.
Ancient Cousins of Arabic Survive in Oman—but for How Long?
A chance meeting with a speaker of Shahri shines light on the value of indigenous languages and the wealth of cultural knowledge and history they embody.
An Encounter with a Mosul Photographer
Ali al-Baroodi’s photographs document an important period of time in the history of his city during the period of occupation by “Daesh”.
A Fine Arts School’s Comeback Raises Hope in Yemen
As the Jameel Ghanem Institute of Fine Arts reopens in Aden, officials look to the restorative powers of the arts to help the war-torn nation rebuild.
Iraqi Researchers Use Art to Help Sexual-Violence Survivors
In a region with a psychiatrist shortage, nonexperts are called on to help refugees cope with psychological trauma. Art therapy is one way this is happening in Iraq.
Exhibition Revisits a Revolution Whose Legacy Is Still Uncertain
An archival show at Tunisia’s Bardo National Museum chronicles the uprising that sparked the Arab Spring but failed to deliver on many of its promises.
In Jordan, Antiquities Sites Enlist Nearby Communities as Partners
A project that links archaeology to economic development and education is a model for preserving the kingdom’s wealth of ancient sites.
A Moroccan Publisher Reflects on the Struggles Independent Presses Face
At the Frankfurt Book Fair, Kenza Sefrioui gained insights on the problems faced worldwide by small publishing houses like hers.
