The CEO of the Saudi General Authority for Culture, Eng. Ahmed bin Fahd Al Mazeed, said the Authority, which was established by a royal decree in 2016, was working in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to develop culture, provide platforms for creative people to express their ideas and aspirations, and to make culture a key element of communication between the people. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al Mazeed said the General Authority for Culture, which is affiliated to the Social and Economic Council, was financially and administratively independent, and provided a unified platform for the various cultural activities and events taking place in the Kingdom under one umbrella, thus contributing to accelerating the work pace. He added that since its inception, the Authority has been developing ambitious strategic plans and a clear vision to enrich the Saudi cultural scene. “The General Authority for Culture is developing ambitious strategic plans and a clear vision and working on a steady pace since its inception, to enrich the Saudi cultural scene and create the cultural momentum required to highlight Saudi identity, ancient civilization and homeland belonging,” Al Mazeed said. He added that Vision 2030 has given special attention to culture, as one of the essential components “to create a vibrant society and environment.” “During this short period of time, the Authority has succeeded in organizing many cultural events in the Kingdom and some countries of the world, notably the Saudi cultural days in France, Britain, America and Tajikistan, to highlight Saudi creativity and the true and bright face of the Saudi culture abroad,” he stated. Al Mazeed also spoke about the Saudi Film Council, within an initiative to support five cultural sectors, namely literature, movies, theater, music and visual arts. “The establishment of this Council is a first step in supporting the film and creative content industry in the Kingdom," he said. "We are confident that the cultural diversity and creative energy of Saudi youth will enhance the Kingdom’s competitiveness in this field and contribute to the creation of a vibrant and commercially successful film and content industry,” he added.