MINISTER of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad has appointed a new board of directors for the Kingdom’s General Authority for Culture, which handles and oversees all the cultural activities in the country.

Among those appointed were three women, two of whom theater and film directors.

Mona Khazandar, who is named to the board, is a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia’s art scene. She is the first woman and the first Saudi ever to be appointed as director general of the Institut du Monde Arabe, and is also vice president and founding member of the “Al-Mansouria Foundation for Culture and Creativity”, the non-profit cultural foundation that aims to promote Arab contemporary art.

Also appointed is playwright and theater director Maysa Al-Sobehy, who became famous for her work in theater and arts throughout the Kingdom. Her work was soon recognized in international festivals she managed to shed light on cultural and social topics.

Lastly, Saudi Arabia’s first female director, Haifaa Al-Mansour will be on the board of directors as well. Al-Mansour's work is renowned in the Kingdom where she has been very outspoken about the importance of culture and film in the Kingdom and has pioneered the industry for the country.

Awwad, who is also the chairman of the General Authority for Culture, said the board of directors’ main duty will be to develop the cultural and arts sectors in the Kingdom at a competitive level and highlight them. They will also work on cultural exchanges with other countries and introduce the world to the creative and cultural aspects of the Kingdom while disseminating a message of peace and love through literary, intellectual and cultural works.

They will also invest talents and energy to develop creative platforms in various segments of society in order to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan.

The authority will mainly focus on the sectors of film and content, literature, theater and performing arts, in addition to music and visual arts. — Al-Arabiya English