Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa chaired a UNESCO Creative Cities Network meeting in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, seeking to strengthen cultural cooperation and advance sustainable development. This initiative underscores the ongoing efforts to build bridges between peoples and cities, a vital pursuit in a Middle East frequently challenged by instability. Al-Ahsa Mayor Essam Al-Mulla detailed the city’s experience in leveraging culture and creativity to support sustainable development, fortify social cohesion, and foster connections among diverse populations.
The Role of Cultural Resilience
Representatives from 20 cities within the network’s Crafts and Folk Art subnetwork participated in the meeting, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Al-Ahsa joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network 11 years ago, in 2015, through an initiative by its municipality. The city maintains approximately 50 traditional crafts and folk art practices, including palm-based textiles, pottery, weaving, and joinery. These practices are crucial, supporting the local economy through markets and cultural festivals, demonstrating the tangible benefits of cultural preservation.
Al-Mulla emphasized the intersection of culture and innovation, technology, human skills, and investment in the future. He highlighted the critical role of cultural creativity in preserving identity and strengthening community ties, essential elements for societal stability. Al-Ahsa’s approach, he explained, is rooted in cultural resilience. This extends beyond mere heritage protection, focusing on developing methods to preserve, practice, and transmit traditions to future generations while adapting to contemporary changes.
Technology and Soft Power
Technology and artificial intelligence offer significant opportunities to develop traditional skills and knowledge, opening new avenues for artisans. Al-Mulla stressed that technology should complement, not replace, heritage. It helps craftspeople innovate, document their work, and reach wider audiences and markets, all while preserving the authenticity and identity of their crafts. Investing in culture and creativity is an investment in people and human relationships, strengthening belonging, communication, and social cohesion.
Ibrahim Al-Shubaith, coordinator of Creative Al-Ahsa and lead coordinator of the network’s Crafts and Folk Art cluster, articulated culture as a form of soft power for peace. He described it as an effective means of fostering understanding and bringing communities closer together. Al-Shubaith underscored the importance of coordinating efforts and exchanging experiences to develop the crafts and folk art sector, thereby strengthening its contribution to sustainable cultural development. The meeting aimed to expand cooperation and knowledge-sharing among member cities, advancing joint work in crafts and folk art and reinforcing culture’s role in shaping cities’ futures.