Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture has instructed various ministries and government departments to display only Saudi creative works of art in their offices and premises.

They have also been directed to furnish the ministry with the list of artistic pieces they possess so that they could be added to the National Register of Works of Art, a report in Al-Madinah newspaper said.

According to the guidelines issued by the ministry, the gifts that are presented to guests of government agencies and public institutions shall either be Saudi traditional or locally made works of art that are commemorative of the Kingdom and have at least some symbolic value.

The directives included that the ministry of culture, in cooperation with various relevant government agencies, would discuss the best systematic ways to include Saudi works of art in the existing statutory regulations in this respect.

Several government offices display foreign works of art in their headquarters as part of office beautification and décor projects as well as to improve the work environment. Most often gifts that are presented to prominent Saudi officials according to protocols during reception of guests are mostly imported ones.