Painting and Patronage

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Painting & Patronage is a prominent cultural and artistic exchange programme between Saudi Arabia and the international community. It was founded in 1999 by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, [1] son of the late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz. The organisation is chaired by Anthony Bailey [2].

President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal and Prince Khalid Al-Faisal open the Sintra exhibition
President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal and Prince Khalid Al-Faisal open the Sintra exhibition

The principal activity is to build cultural bridges of artistic and educational understanding between the Arab world and the West through establishing a deeper level of understanding of each other's distinct and diverse cultures and traditions.[3] .

The first Painting & Patronage initiative took place at the Banqueting House in London in June 2000 under the patronage of The Prince of Wales and Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and consisted principally of an exhibition of watercolour and oil paintings by both princes. A free entry summer school for young artists was established between the The Prince's Foundation and the King Faisal Foundation sponsored by British corporates BAE Systems and Shell.[4]

The Prince of Wales presides over the opening of the London exhibition
The Prince of Wales presides over the opening of the London exhibition

A return exhibition took place in Riyadh in 2001 attended by both princes. The bilateral events were said to be the largest ever artistic exchange programme between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. [5].Queen Elizabeth II visited the London exhibition and the Riyadh exhibition was opened by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia [6]

The third Painting & Patronage took place between Saudi Arabia and Portugal [7] and featured paintings by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and followed the same format as the London and Riyadh initatives. The initative was granted the high patronage of and was opened by the President of the Portuguese Republic Jorge Sampaio [8] at the Sintra National Palace[9]. The fourth initiative took place in April 2007 in Riyadh. It consisted of a large exhibition of Portuguese contemporary landscape artists and was opened by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and the Portuguese Minister of Culture Isabel Pires de Lima.


In 2007 Painting and Patronage was granted the High Patronage of King of Saudi Arabia and is an on-going royal initiative which plans further exchanges with other nations including Brazil in 2008. [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Painting & Patronage official website.
  2. ^ Painting & Patronage official website.
  3. ^ Saudi-US Information Service.
  4. ^ Shell Middle East.
  5. ^ Evening Standard 13 June 2006.
  6. ^ Painting & Patronage official website.
  7. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic
  8. ^ Painting & Patronage official website
  9. ^ City Council of Sintra
  10. ^ Painting & Patronage official website.

[edit] External links