The first Culture House in Saudi Arabia was opened at the Dammam Public Library in the Eastern Province by the Libraries Commission. This initiative was praised by Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, who described the Culture House as a beacon of life-long learning. The Culture House, supervised by the Culture Ministry, aims to boost advancement in the Saudi cultural sector by promoting creativity, innovation, and talent development. The edifice offers a variety of activities and serves as a center for the exchange of knowledge, intellectual enrichment, and cultural development.
The Culture House is designed to be a gateway to knowledge and a cultural and community platform that supports the development of capabilities, enhances cultural identity, communication, and interaction among individuals and communities, and fosters creativity and innovation. It includes multiple libraries for the public, adolescents, and children, technical spaces, workspaces, learning and innovation spaces, main theaters for children, as well as meeting, study, and music rooms, shops, printing centers, cafes, and other public facilities. Visitors can expect an integrated cultural experience when visiting the Culture House.
In June 2020, the Minister of Culture launched an initiative to develop public libraries in Saudi Arabia and transform them into cultural platforms with a modern social concept. The initiative is based on a field study conducted by the commission on the reality of libraries in the country. The development plan extends until 2030, during which 153 public libraries will be established in all regions, all of which will follow the concept of cultural houses that combine the cognitive roles of libraries with the cultural roles of these houses.
The Libraries Commission’s goal is to make public libraries interactive platforms that encompass all types of arts and embrace all creators with their various specializations within one framework. In addition to their cognitive role, the libraries aim to become beacons of cultural radiation in the regions where they are located. The Ministry of Culture seeks to make culture a way of life for society, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in its cultural, social, and economic aspects. The Culture House in Dammam is a step toward achieving these objectives and promoting cultural development in Saudi Arabia.
