New Initiative Turns Road Trips into Cultural Journeys
Saudi Arabia’s Roads General Authority, in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth), has launched an initiative called Wrth Saudi.
This program features signage on highways throughout the Kingdom, highlighting significant locations associated with national crafts.
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This initiative is part of the Year of Handicrafts in Saudi Arabia. The first phase of Wrth Saudi will focus on three major highways: the Riyadh-Dammam Highway, the Makkah-Madinah Highway, and the Riyadh–Qassim Expressway, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Future phases will expand the initiative to additional key roads across the country.
Wrth Saudi aims to showcase traditional regional arts, including Najdi door craftsmanship, mud construction, carpentry, wood carvings, and bisht making.
The Saudi Press Agency noted, “Saudi Arabia’s extensive road network, the largest in the world in terms of connectivity, serves as a platform to highlight the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and showcase its crafts.”
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts plays a crucial role in promoting Saudi traditional arts both locally and internationally, supporting artisans and fostering the teaching and development of these crafts.
Earlier this year, the institute also introduced the Wrth Community program to raise awareness of Saudi traditional arts and cultural heritage while empowering individuals to learn and develop these crafts.
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This program included discussion sessions with academics, artisans, trainers, and entrepreneurs, along with workshops focusing on four key materials used in Saudi traditional arts: stone, wood, ceramics, and metals.
The Ministry of Culture has designated 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, aiming to reinforce the status of handicrafts as an authentic cultural heritage.
This initiative will promote the practice, preservation, and documentation of crafts, ensuring their relevance in contemporary life.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Culture will organize a variety of events, exhibitions, educational programs, and competitions under the banner of the Year of Handicrafts.
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