NEW YORK: A three-day cultural program organized by the General Culture Authority (GCA) began on Tuesday in New York. The event, opened at New York’s Allouche Gallery, is designed to introduce visitors to Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage and provide a platform to engage with the Kingdom’s creative talent.The curated program titled, “Whole-istic,” provides a glimpse into a wide variety of creative genres, including film screenings, music performances, art and photography exhibitions and a virtual reality experience. A highlight of the exhibition is the inclusion of King Abdul Aziz Library’s unique collection of historical photographs.“Saudi Arabia has a rich cultural heritage. Our aim is to open visitors’ eyes to the diverse culture of Saudi Arabia and to provide a complete image of what makes Saudi Arabia the country it is today,” said Ahmed Almaziad, CEO of GCA.During the exhibition, film screenings will shed light on the growing pool of young, talented filmmakers in the Kingdom. A panel, moderated by Raneen Bukhari, who runs the art gallery Desert Designs will examine the role of social media in cultural exchange, while Basmah Felemban, a graduate of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London, will host a question-and-answer session exploring the themes of self-expression through street art in Saudi. The exhibition will showcase a range of music performances by Saudi students studying in the US. The event will be open to the public without any entrance fee on Wednesday through Friday.